Preschool Program

Went from this...

to this...

I Knew this would happen. All week long Gracie was so excited to perform her Christmas songs for us. She practiced the words and the movements and couldn't wait to show us. Although, she also kept asking all week, "What if I have to go potty while I'm up there?" I told her she would be fine and we'd go before. "But what if I really have to go again?" So, the night of the performance we went potty right before we left and I asked her again if she had to go before she went on stage.

You can guess what happened. Of course, during the middle of one of the songs she starts crying loudly and saying she has to go potty. After pulling her off stage and talking to her (to find she actually realized she doesn't have to go) she was all smiles. That little stinker had her own little solo performance planned all along!

Gingerbread Party

Gracie's playgroup did an awesome Christmas party this year for the kids based all around gingerbread. They read the story, went on a scavenger hunt, made gingerbread houses and place mats, had a gift exchange, and enjoyed some yummy good food. Ms. Bridgett had it at her house and did a wonderful job. We've been meeting with these girls weekly since Gracie was Abby's age. We all met way back at the library or music makers, formed our own group, and have been meeting ever since. I've loved the time with all the Mom's and the kids have loved growing up together.

Grace thought this was the best party until this...luckily after about 10 minutes she decided she did like her gift. Poor girl who gave it to her and saw her cry after opening it.

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

Or should I say it's Been looking a lot like Christmas. We've had our decorations up since a week before Thanksgiving. We were really excited this year and since Ben had the time off we took advantage of him being around.

Tonight the girls and I made and decorated a graham-cracker house. It was a lot of fun and reminded me that I haven't blogged about Christmas time yet.

I must brag about this 8 ft. tree I got this summer from a yard sale for only $10. It's so much better than our 5 ft. one we use to have.

This is a tradition that Nana gave us many years ago that my kids love. Every morning in Dec. they take turns opening a present until Christmas (or in our case this year...until we visit Nana and Pop in Guatemala).

A new tradition that Grandma sent us was an "Elf on the Shelf". It has been working wonders and the girls love finding "Flash" every morning (the name chosen completely by Gracie).

I'm Thankful for my Family

This Thanksgiving I had many things to be thankful for, but my Family was at the top of the list...

Due June 1, 2011

Sutterfly is "FLY"

I love Shutterfly. Not only for making photo books, and printing pictures, but they offer some pretty "fly" photo Christmas cards. Many of the Christmas cards that I have gotten throughout years have been from Shutterfly and I always think they look the nicest and are the cutest. Hopefully this year our picture will be as cute as the card itself. Go here or here to find some of the amazing offers they have this year. They also have some cute calendars here that would be great for the new year or even as a gift. Not to mention they are offering the BEST promotion right now. Just for blogging about Shutterfly I receive 50 free Christmas cards...you should do it too!

What we've been up to

It's finally cooled off a little. Sunday we had a fire in our fire pit, roasted marshmallows, and had our first cup of hot chocolate for the season. Both were a big hit.

Gracie had her first dentist apt. and did great. I couldn't stop smiling watching her the whole time in the chair. Besides trying to put her tongue on every instrument that went in her mouth she was a still as could be.

Halloween Week

I love Ben's new schedule! Basically for the past two weeks he's been going in at 7 and been home by 3. Most of the time it has been noon. He took off Thursday and Friday (in addition to the Saturday and Sunday he already had off) and we decided last minute to go to Sea World (since we have season passes). The weather was perfect, there were no crowds, the girls were wonderful, which meant we all had a great time.

Halloween week included a play date Halloween party, preschool party, and ward carnival/trunk or treat. The plan was for the girls to be cupcakes and we would be the bakers. Gracie insisted on being a fancy witch (which fit her perfect for that particular day) then decided to sweeten up and wanted to be Tinkerbell (dress up we already had that was very worn)...whatever makes the girl happy.

Pumpkin Patch

Last Saturday we took the girls to the Silo Pumpkin Patch. It's a cute family owned farm that we have enjoyed going to the past 3 years.

Disneyland

The last Friday we were in California we went to Disneyland. It is such a magical place not only for the girls but for me too. Something about all the characters, music, and everyone smiling really makes it the happiest place. Gracie's favorite thing was having the characters autograph her book. This year she was tall enough for the Matterhorn and the roller coaster in Toon Town. She Loved both of them...the faster the better. Abigail would get off a ride and say "more rides" and loved Its a Small World. We miss you Disneyland!