Off to Christmas Eve Service

4 out of 5 smiling, not bad!

Twas the night before Christmas (Eve)

And we snuggled up and had movie night.

Sisters after school

I came upstairs after getting home from work on starting dinner to find my two lovely ladies playing away.  (Austin was playing the Wii and isn’t a fan of having his picture taken)

Just like big sister, she had on her heels, her purse, necklaces, and baby doll on her hip.

 

There has been a shift lately, subtle, but there.  All three kids have started playing a little more independently (Without parents, but with or without each other) and sometimes they even do it without fighting.  It isn’t all the time, but it is a noticeable and welcome change!

Austin’s school Holiday party

First I thought I was going to make it, then I was worried I wouldn’t, luckily Grandma Chris was able to come…and then I was able to make it after all.
Lucky Austin got us both:)

Would it had been the end of the world if we missed it? No, but, it sure made him happy to have us there.  I was failing a bit in my mommy duties this week, I missed pajama day and had to be reminded as he was leaving for the bus that he needed his book for book exchange that I was actually supposed to send the day before.   So, off I ran to the store before work to get it.  Some days I feel like I have it together and organized, but most days I don’t.  After talking to my friends though, sounds like we all feel the same way.  Surprisingly (at least today) it doesn’t bother me that much, besides I don’t think Austin will be in therapy years from now because he missed one pajama day:)

Happy Hanukkah

My dad is Jewish and my mom Christian, so I was lucky enough to get to celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas every year growing up. Although it was a little confusing at times…like calling our Christmas tree the Hanukkah bush:) I am so glad I was exposed to both religions and will always have fond memories of listening to my dad speak Hebrew and letting us kids light the menorah.
They must have been learning about the different celebrations at school, because yesterday Austin came home asking what a menorah was. I gave the best age appropriate explanation I could of what Hanukkah meant and decided it was best left up to Papa.
So, we headed over for a quick visit to my parents house tonight, for the first night of Hanukkah. It was well past sunset, and we had to pause until Reese and Ella stopped fighting over the baby doll stroller, but we got it done…and it was BEAUTIFUL!
In the haste to get over there, I forgot the camera, so iPhone pics it was.

The prayer book that my dad is holding used to be his dad's.  He carried it with him while he was in World War II.
  
Here we were on the first night of Hanukkah in 1986!  I was 8 and Nathan was just about to turn 4.  Like Austin, I appear to not be cooperating for the picture with my squinty eyes. But, there were no digital cameras then, so you got what you got. 
Wow, I just realized that meant my mom was my age now, 33!


So I can remember for years to come:

One candle is added to the menorah each night. The first night, you light only the shammus (the one at a different height) and one Chanukkah candle. By the eighth night, you light all of the candles.

Candles should be added to the menorah from right to left (like Hebrew writing). The shammus candle is lit first. While holding the shammus candle, recite the following blessings.

Blessing over Candles:

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olamBlessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe

asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanuWho has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us

l'had'lik neir shel Chanukah. (Amein)to light the lights of Chanukkah. (Amen)

What do you do on a rainy weekend?

Make a tent!

Our 11th Wedding Anniversary

Celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary in New York – December 2001.

 
10 years and 3 kids later, celebrating our 11th, December 2011!

Getting in the holiday spirit

What better way to get in the mood, than to bake (or brake off) Christmas cookies!

Ok, I didn’t do any baking, just eating:)

 

Note Ella’s headband…she insists on wearing one every day now.  No other hairstyle is allowed.  And, Yes, Reese’s shirt is FILTHY.  But, we had spaghetti for dinner and the bib was quickly pulled off.  Trying to choose my battles.

   

Sister snuggles and Reese discovers apples

Just a lazy Sunday morning:)

This girl can eat!  She eats breakfast at home every morning and then again at school every day.  She also insists on joining in on whatever I am eating.  This apple started out as mine and I didn’t think she would want to bite into a whole apple…I was wrong.  She loved it!

Grandpa Al’s 66th Birthday

I am short on pictures, as the kids were not cooperating with me this evening.

Either way, we had a good time and happy to celebrate with Grandpa Ooowll, as Ella calls him.

Ella, the ballerina

Ella had her first ballet recital last Friday.  She has been taking classes every Friday afternoon at her school.  Although she won’t tell me much about it, she does occasionally spin around for me and seems to love the classes. 
I set my expectations low, remembering the disaster that was Austin’s first soccer games.  (He sat on the sidelines and refused to play, though did come around towards the end of the season)

Well, she did not disappoint!  She smiled, she danced, and only got upset when she saw me smiling at her.  (Not yet a teenager, but already occasionally irritated by my mere existence).

       

Although upset, she quickly recovered.

Happy with a cookie and flowers from daddy. 

I don’t tell him as often as I think it, but I hit the lottery when I married this man.  He is not only an amazing husband to me, but such a great father and role model for the kids.  Growing up, my dad often brought flowers to my mom and myself.  He often told us both that we looked nice or pretty.  Jeff does the same for me and the girls.  I love how it teaches the girls how they deserve to be treated and teaches Austin how to treat a girl.  Not to get too mushy, but just sayin, he is a catch!

The other reason why it was so special, Addie Brown and Ella Perkins were there!  Even though we don’t get to see Addie as often, she still tells me that Ella Perkins and Addie Brown are her best friends.  Ella wanted to share her flowers and gave them to her “dance girls.”  Special thanks to Megan for some of her pictures, her skills and camera blow mine away.  Luckily, both Megans let me drill them with technique and equipment questions so that I can keep improving.

Although I do still get nostalgic for the times when I could swaddle her up or let her sleep burrowed on my chest (while letting out a little laugh in her sleep), moments like these make me so happy to see her grow up and try new things. 

We are so proud of you Ella bella!

All her students

If we are home, Ella is either playing “teacher” or mommy and daddy.

Here is her classroom/home.

Breakfast with Santa

The house is decorated and we are getting in the holiday spirit!

Yeah!! A fire in our newly remodeled living room!

We had breakfast with Santa this morning at church.  Although the girls were terrified of Santa, the church did an amazing job and now Reese is walking around saying “Santa lap” (as if she proudly got in and told him what she wanted for Christmas)

As you can see, that clearly was not the case. 

I think it must be a mom thing that we want to capture this moment no matter how unhappy the kids are to do it.  It’s classic, and they will never be this small again, so screams and all, I will cherish it.

 

Here were Austin and Ella with Santa in 2009.  I was pregnant wtih Reese and Ella was Reese's age now.  Austin was fine, but Ella also did not want to go near Santa.

Looking back to 2008, Austin was 3.5, Ella's age now, he wasn't scared then either.

Austin told Santa everything he wanted.

 

They also got to write letters to Santa.

     

Then they got mailed off!

We finished up with more crafts and story time.  I hope Santa brings them what they want:)