Christmas Day 2012

My kids are one thing.. late sleepers. At least at this stage in life.

So we all got up around 8:00 and headed downstairs.

Samantha creeped into the living room to find the stash Santa had left.. 

I brewed the coffee... got Sassy and Andrew their juice cups, and turned on the traditional Christmas Story to have playing in the background while we opened the gifts.

She had been asking when I put her to bed if Santa was bringing her Buzz Lightyear & Woody to go with Jessie, and he sure did! (thank god!)

She LOVVED opening presents.. Andrew's as well

 

He got the hang of it eventually.. He got a lot of "boy"stuff.. since up until now we've had a LOT of girl toys around here.. 

Big Dude on his FIRST Christmas Morning..

I cant beleive its almost been a year.. and he wasnt here last year at this time!

I had so much fun watching her eyes light up as she opened each gift.

We got Samantha some clothes, Woody, Buzz, Jessie, the DVD Tangled.. (which she's watching in the pic below),  Cinderella & her coach, Princess Tiana Doll, Sparkly Toms Shoes, Princess Slippers, Coloring books, Alphabet Writing Books, Hungry Hippos, and some other stuff I cant remember! ha!

We got Andrew some construction vehicles, a big semi-truck, a garage with ramp for cars, a little egg sorting game, golf cart, and little stocking stuffers.. we just needed a few boy toys around the house.. and his birthday is a month after Christmas pretty much, so I know he'll be getting more stuff ..

 

He pooped out after gifts.. and took a nice long nap

I got busy cutting fudge

and making roasted brussel sprouts with rosemary to bring to my Mom's for dinner 

We headed over my Mom's house around 3:45 for more gift opening..

these kids were truly spoiled beyond beleif! But it was so fun to see how happy they were opening gifts.. 

We had a nice dinner, Ham, Potatoes, Roasted B. Sprouts. It was delicious!

Here's Grammy and her two grandkids!

Samantha got a sit and spin and LOOOOOVED it.. 

 

Mathew and I agreed not to  buy anything for each other for Christmas.

I still got him a few small things.. and he got me some small things too..

 

 

But then surprised me with new pearl earrings!

Uh.. he knows what I like!

I love them!

We had such a nice Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2012

Christmas Eve morning...

It was semi-sunny.. and a little snow on the ground.

We decided mid-morning to take the kids for a walk at a nearby park where there is a creek that runs through a wooded area.

Samantha loves throwing rocks.. in any weather or season... 



 

Andrew started getting a little antsy.. but he was ready for his first nap of the day.



And on the way out of the park she had to go potty...

So we took a little walk into the woods, I pulled her snowsuit off and away she went.

It was her first public potty adventure.. and she did quite well..

And thats another memory for this blog, ha!

 

I wanted her to take a litte nap/quiet time..
We had a later night ahead of us, and I wanted to make sure she was in a good mood.

We went over to my Aunt and Uncle's house for dinner as we always do every year.

Andrew was in a very good mood.. thank goodness.

Their beautiful tree

We had to wear our sparkly shoes... 

Every year they always have a traditional meat-less dinner.

It was so good.. Carrots, Cole Slaw and the main event was yummy seafood stew.. Shrimp, Cod, and Lobster.. I could have ate two more platefuls.. But we had to eat in shifts with Andrew running around.. and around and around... 

 

We came home and sprinkled our reindeer food .. and I could tell she was kind of getting into Christmas this year. I got her all excited about the little things ...



Andrew cooperated and fell asleep around 8:45.. 

We told SJ she could open ONE gift before bed...

She opened Jessie from Toy Story and was SUPER excited..

She kept saying.. "maybe Santa will bring me Woody and Buzz"... the pressure was on...

Good thing Santa was prepared!

We set out Santa's milk and cookies, and carrots for the reindeers..

And she was in bed around 9:15.



Our babies were both fast asleep... and Santa got to work wrapping, stuffing, and arranging..

Just as Mathew and I were settling down and finishing placing the presents by the tree, a light snow started falling.. it was so perfect on Christmas Eve.

And then it was off to bed until morning.. 

Christmas Cookie Decorating with Samantha

We had the best Mother/Daughter time decorating cookies!

I used my favorite Sugar Cookie Recipe & Vanilla Butter Frosting.

I colored 3 ramekins with green, blue and red frosting and left one just white.

She was pretty excited when I told her to go at it and do whatever she wanted...

 

She was very meticulous.. and then realized she could pile high and deep on the frosting and sprinkles..

 

 

She also had about 10,000 licks... 

Her masterpiece..



Check out how THICK ... eeks..

We couldnt even eat it... it was rediculous

We decorated a lot of them... I love the colors and they tasted very good!

 

She had a ball..

Daddy watched over brother.. and they played so nice

We sat and decorated for about 30 minutes.

 

 

I decorated some circles with some Royal Icing .. just trying it..

It was fun, and I think I got the hang of it.

I cant wait to try more designs and colors.. but time for myself these days is slim... very slim..

so maybe on a miracle nap day or something...

'twas the few days before Christmas

Twas the first couple days before Christmas..

And this little guy was all through the house..

Here he is stealing sisters juice cup and hiding.

He loves to swipe her juice cup... he's so proud when he gets his little chubster hands on it.

I received some very nice gifts in the mail..

including this amazing cream I love from my one and only wonderful SISTER... I love you sissy!

Leading up to Christmas I was dragging Andrew all over town to and from stores.. Just to grab some little things.. I couldnt bring Sass.. she just loves shopping and I had little time.. so its nice to take Andrew... he's getting so good at being good in the cart! (sometimes....)



 

they are learning how to play nice.. (sometimes...)

We hung our stockings late this year.. I wasnt going to do it at all.. but Samantha asked me one day where they were.. so I did it mostly for her 

We got two surprises in the mail a few days before christmas...

So I let her open the gifts ..

Her face says it all.. Auntie Shauna sent us a box of Christmas presents... and Sass opened her toystory figures.. and this was her expression.. priceless

I had to make 1 more batch of cutouts.. and of course my little cookie dough eater/helper wanted to assist.

It got pretty cold the few days before Christmas..

I tried to be fashionable and busted out my leg warmers/boot socks....

I more felt like something out of an 80's workout video.. but I was warm... 

 

Cookie baking...

Present wrapping..



Smelling wonderful Christmas smells..

Lighting candles..

We were getting excited!!!!!!!

 

I even made fudge for our homemade family gifts we do each year.

Uh.. to die for..

 



The recipe is just so simple:

 

1 14oz can sweet condensed milk

1/2 cup heavy cream

 

Mix that over medium low heat until steamy or until it coats the back of a spoon.

 

then add 3 cups chocolate or semi sweet chips.. (I used a mixture of semi sweet and milk chocolate)

and a 4oz bar of baking chocolate.

 

Stir and let sit for 10 min.

After that put the pan back on low-med heat and stir with whisk until shiny.

 

Pour into parchment lined 8x8 pan and let sit for 12 hours or overnight

Thats it!

 

I cut mine into little squares and wrapped them in parchment and then in glassine bags.

 

Nursery School Christmas Party

Wednesday was SJ's last day of school till 2013.

We all went in together at 10am.

There was a little singing & Santa visit first

Then a party afterwards.

It was just too cute for words..

She was so happy we were there..

Every time she would make eye contact with Andrew (who was with Daddy in the back of the room)

She started yelling... "muska!... big dude" It was hysterical

 

 

She did so well and you can tell she's totally at ease and so comfortable with school now.. uh.. my prayers have been answered.

 

IN fact ... there was a little boy who wouldnt participate at all and sat on the aid's lap the whole time..

They sang songs, and everyone was so cute.. paying attention to the teacher who was in the corner singing along and directing the kids.

They had their "snack" table all decorated, and had fruit, cookies, crackers, punch.. it was so darn cute!

The teachers all gave them gifts

The kids all made gifts for us..

and Santa visited and gave each child magic dust to sprinkle on the lawn on Christmas Eve.

Samantha even went and stood with Santa as the teacher called each child by name..

You could tell she was nervous.. but the old Samantha would have had her "debbie" at her side... and would have burst into tears at the thought of going near Santa..

 

Im so proud of her!!!!!!!!!!!

Opening her teacher gifts..

The teachers gave them a gingerbread  themed gift..

The Gingerbread Man Book, a cookie cutter, felt craft, playdough and some other goodies.

Her teachers are so sweet.

 

We are so blessed that her first school experience is with two amazing teachers who truly truly love their students.

It was such a great way to end the year!

Her reindeer dust... 

She made the cinnamon gingerbread ornament 1 of 2 as our "gifts" at her party.

She tried eating them because they smelled like cinnamon.

Oh my girl.... gifted with Mama's sweet tooth.

Im sorry my love.. its a dangerous dangerous sweet tooth...