Seriously?

I'm quite embarrassed to admit this, but I'm going to anyway! 

I've been talking about and working on the "real" meaning of Christmas with Katie over the last month.  So while passing a nativity scene with her at Busch Gardens, I took a moment to point everyone out and explain the story of Jesus birth.  Now, I'm going to blame it on the fact that I was tired and honestly I just can't be on top of everything 100% of the time . .but after showing her baby Jesus and Jesus mommy Mary, I go . . ."and that's Jesus daddy, David, his daddy and your daddy have the same name . . . seriously WHAT?  As soon as it came out of my mouth, I was dumbfounded by my own stupidity and right then a train whistle signaled it's arrival and the teaching moment was lost. 

So since Tuesday I've been working on correcting my mistake, explaining how Jesus daddy's name is really Joseph and sadly she's not having it . . insisting his name is DAVID, just like her daddy!

Tonight I took Katie to church to visit the living nativity.  I knew she'd enjoy it and it was yet another way to explain the miraculous reason why we celebrate December 25th.    I explained the story of Jesus's birth, about the Wisemen, about the Sheppard's, the Angel and of course took the opportunity to reestablish who Jesus parents were, Mary and Joseph . . . I thought I almost had it when she corrected me :).

Just a year ago . . .

. . .look at them, both so tiny!   We were on our way to a birthday party, the girls in cute matching "owl" outfits when we stopped by the pediatrician because Caroline had a cold and with being so little I wanted to have her checked out, the result RSV.  Not something to fool around with, especially in tiny ones, so back home we went.  Whenever I see this picture I think Caroline is looking towards her big sister asking "What are they gonna to do to me Sissy?"  

They're definitely sisters!

Katie ~ July 16, 2010 ~ 15 1/2 Months Old

Caroline ~ December 23, 2011 ~ 14 1/2 Months Old

Countdown to Christmas

On Tuesday we headed down to Williamsburg to visit Busch Garden's Christmastown.  The weather was in the high 50's, the lights were beautiful and the girls had a great time.   The highlight of my evening was Katie riding the train clapping and singing Frosty the Snowman!

The plan was to arrive at six, be home by ten . . .we actually arrived at six, walked out of the park at ten, home by eleven thirty!  Caroline was done by the end of our visit . . .

Girls . . .some times your mom can let go . . .

So when you're mad and complaining that I'm "forcing" you to tidy your rooms, empty your plate into the trash and helping with household chores  . . I want you to realize, that there are times when your mama will allow you and your friends to a create a mess that can only cause me to shake my head and smile, because you're having so much fun playing . . .and there's always tomorrow (or the next day) to clean it up!

Katie's room from last nights party!

Another Christmas Inflatable!

When the girls woke up today, I had an early morning surprise for them - a Christmas Mickey and Minnie blowup! 

Caroline feeding Minnie - Just her size!

Katie Checking it Out

Dancing with Mickey - Needless to say this was money well spent!

C O O K I E S!

And let the decorating begin!

Checking out the goods . . . .

Always a smile when there's cookies (or candy or cakes) involved.

This is a favorite, four pairs of hands all reaching for toppings!

Letter to Santa

Renaissance men!  Fixing the meals, mowing the carpet . .who's watching Minnie?

Friends

Worth mentioning -  Katie's classmates (Jackson, Nelson, Sofia and Emerson) and their moms are awesome.  I've said this before and I'll continue saying it!  AND three of these classmates have siblings that will be with Caroline, couldn't be happier about that.   They brought cookies, more decorating tools, craft supplies galore and other things to help out, I couldn't have been more appreciative. 

Turns out we were aiming a bit high in regards to cookie decorating in a bigger group (five kids and three infants), the sprinkle mess that followed was of EPIC portions, I'm quite certain that I'll be finding wayward sprinkles long into the new year.  I'll take the blame since some of the sprinkle containers didn't have shakers and therefore just dumped the entire contents on the cookie (why would they even make a container without a shaker?).  Either way, we'll be better prepared when doing this with Caroline and her classmates . . . when they're four.  Floors are easy to clean though, and currently mine look the best they have in years!!!!! 

Katie also learned that not all parties include a "bounce house," she was slightly disappointed and I couldn't blame her, every party we've thrown in the past year, this being the fifth, has had one.  We just needed to reeducate a bit and she "bounced" :) right back, she was so thrilled to have her friends over and that's exactly how it should be.  Caroline, as always, was right in the middle of the older kids, loving every second of it!