What's on the list?

Every year as Christmas approaches, our family loads into our vehicle and drives about 30 minutes south to a local mall.  This isn't the closest mall to our house, but it's tradition.  This is the mall we have taken the kids to, to see Santa since Sassy's first Santa visit when she was 9 months old (13 years ago).

While a couple of our kiddos were definitely a bit reluctant (and perhaps thought I was crazy for having them do this), they smiled and had fun with the experience ~ for their little sister's sake!

Speaking of their little sister, Smiley was fun to watch.  She was filled with nervous excitement and couldn't wait to give Santa her list and tell him what she really wants for Christmas.

As she was waiting in line, you could simply "see" her little brain working as she was rehearsing what she was going to say.  While I couldn't hear what she was saying to herself as she waited in that line, I could see her little mouth moving as she was preparing for her minutes with Santa.

When at last, it was our turn, the kids sat around Santa and posed for a picture.  Then, they each had a  moment to tell him what was on their Christmas list.  Sassy expressed she wanted books and movies, Action: an iPad mini and Minecraft for our playstation.  And Smiley, well, after all of that mental preparation, she asked Santa for.........warm pajamas.  Her wish made me giggle a little bit.

Here is a pic of her list (front and back) before she gave it to Santa.

Curious, what are your kiddos asking for this year?

Preschool Teacher Gift

Just about two weeks ago was Smiley's last day of preschool.  She has had the same two teachers for the last two years.  These are also the same two teachers Action had when he was in preschool.  Since we don't have any more little ones in our house signing up for preschool, I wanted to do something special for these two wonderful women who have played such a huge part of our children's lives and instilled a love of school early on. 

Every year these teachers ask our children questions and somehow present their answers to us parents in some sort of gift ~ there have been cookbooks, end of the year books, pictures or simply door displays.

I wanted to turn the tables and have the kids answer questions about their teachers.

I created a questionnaire (Here is the one I made for Smiley to fill out).

Handed them out to the parents along with instructions on what to do and when to return them to me. Sent out a few reminder emails :) as well as a request for pictures from any of their time spent at school or on field trips.  

I created one binder for each teacher.  Each binder contained a filled in questionnaire from each child along with simple collaged and scrapbooked pages of pictures (I put all pages into clear 3 ring binder sheet protectors).

A few examples:

They LOVED them!

Here are Smiley's finished questionnaires:

And I ended the books with a poem.  I found a poem on Pinterest, but some of the wording wasn't pertinent to our kids, so I changed some of the wording and created a chalkboard like design.  Currently, I can not find the original online, but I never saw an author listed.  

Here is my version:

Need a teacher gift idea?  I would definitely recommend something like this!

Linking up at:
Hope Studios
A bowl full of Lemons

Is it really over?

2 weeks ago my house was still decked out with greenery, ribbon and wreaths.

Today, my tree and those of my neighbors lay alongside the road.

Waiting to be picked up.

Disposed of or perhaps recycled.

The gifts have been given and received.  Put away in new homes.  After all, a place for everything...

So,

Christmas is behind us.

Is it?

Should it be?

I hope not.  After all, Christmas isn't just about receiving.  It's about giving.  Giving of our gifts.  Not just material things, but the gifts of us:  our time, our energy, our patience, our praise, our prayers, our love... for everyone.

You maybe saw our Christmas card this year:

(yep, I got the idea via Pinterest)

But many of you probably haven't seen the inside.

This is the quote I chose to use this year:


Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself...

~Norman Wesley Brooks, "Let Every Day Be Christmas," 1976


This is how I want to live this year. 

But it's easy to get stuck in a rut.  Feeling weary, run down, busy and worn thin.  I don't want to be that person.  The one who finds themselves easily frustrated because the toys on the floor never go away.  (Actually I think two more come out for every one I put away.)  Or the dinner that gets scowls as I set it on the table.  I want to be the person who is able to choose Christmas everyday, not just once a year.

Joy. Generosity. Love. Prayers.  Happiness. Anticipation. Excitement.

This is my resolution.

Picture Me {IM}Perfectly

The Theatre

As a Christmas presents for Sassy and Action, I gave them tickets to go see a children's production at our downtown Children's Theatre.  The plays there are always fabulous.

Sassy had been there before, but it was Action's first time.  Actually it was the first play he'd ever seen.  And, he wasn't so sure it was anything he was interested in.

The three of us went out for dinner, then drove downtown to the Theatre.  Sassy loved the way it looked from the outside and snapped a picture.

Then we took a few of us inside.

The kids both had a great time.  And Action ended up being pretty happy with his gift!  

Windy Wednesday

Windy

definition: • (informal)  using or expressed in many words that sound impressive but mean little

Since I haven't been blogging lately, I have a whole lot to say.  Here's where we've been, what we've done and potential random thoughts of my own:

Christmas was nice.  Busy but nice.  Holidays get a bit crazy for us as our families live out of state and we try to see everyone.

The 22nd ~ Our little Christmas at home.  Pizza and gifts from each other.

Passing out gifts and new rollerblades for Action

A Minnie Mouse blanket Sassy made for Smiley

Sassy modeling some new clothes

The 23rd ~ hubby's parents and Christmas Celebrating with his parents and sister's family

Pittsburgh Steeler golf towel and snowball gun

Movie watching with cousins

Someone was wiped out

Hot-tubbing 

The 24th ~ Hubby's Grandma's house to celebrate with Grandma, Aunts, Uncle and cousins.  Chili, Oyster Stew (I stick to chili), gifts, cards, midnight mass.

The 25th ~ my Parents house.  Here we celebrate with any of my siblings who can make it (this year it was only my youngest sister and my little brother), Aunt, Uncle, Cousins and their kiddos.  This year was very low key, which was ok.

The 26th ~ Home sweet Home to see if Santa made a stop.  AND....... he did.

Relaxing at home

Hubby had the week off of work.  We spent some good quality time picking out new bathroom tile and accessories.  Then he "relaxed" by ripping out the old and putting in the new ~ floor anyway.  I am still working on painting the trim and next up are the walls, now that I've decided on a paint color.

Goodbye old powder room! 

At the end of the week, we decided to head up to another state to see my sister and her family.  Her and her husband just built a new house and moved it just before Thanksgiving.  We had yet to get up there for a visit and decided it would be a good weekend to go.  So the kids exchanged Christmas gifts, we went to a college basketball game and rang in the new year together!

Admiring the gift for her cousin

Fondu time

Ringing in the new Year!

Hey Auntie E..... next year, wait LONGER than 7pm to pass out noise makers! :)  

Live and learn ~ HA!

Happy New Year everyone!  

And don't worry, I have lots more to say :)