Embracing Life

My sister invited Keira and I to head into Chicago to see the Marshall Field Macy's Christmas displays and visit the American Girl Doll Store. The thing is... Keira didn't have her AG doll yet.  Santa wasn't bringing Saige until December 25.  So Mommy called in a favor, and St. Nick dropped her off on December 6! The boys' gift and Keira's doll Yesterday, my sister, niece, Keira, and I drove into the city.  I hate driving in Chicago. But we had a blast! It started snowing right about the time we got there, and the snowy roads made for a loooonnnngggg drive home, but we girls had a fantastic time! Lexi, Julie, Keira and Saige Stopped for a quick snack After lunch at Macy's on State Street The great tree in the Walnut Room Walking back to the car Keira picked up a couple of goodies at the AG store, and Mommy bought herself a new purse as an early birthday present at Macy's.... All in all, it was a wonderful day!!!

  Keira, my sweet little girl, is deathly afraid of the elf on the shelf.   Read about it here: The (Evil) Elf on the Shelf So last year, I found a stuffed polar bear that used to be my grandma's. I don't know where she got it, but it was in her curio cabinet, and I asked my mom if I could have it. I figured a polar bear was a lot less menacing than an elf.  The experience went pretty well, Keira loved Peppermint, as long as he doesn't move around too much AND because he can't go upstairs. (I called Santa and specifically made this request.) With Thanksgiving break last week,  Peppermint the Polar Bear made his grand entrance,  and brought along 3 baby polar bears to keep an extra special eye on the kids.   Because the babies are so small, Keira is ok with keeping hers in her room.   (And apparently in my work bag, because that's where I found one this morning!

When I was a little girl, my mom ordered this book from Currents (apparently in 1985).  Every Christmas, she would bring it out and read it to my sister and I.  Now that I am a mother, I wanted to continue this tradition.  I found a used copy of the book on Amazon a few years back.  Last year, I pulled it out, but with the busyness of the holiday season, we only read a few stories. This year, as part of our Advent calendar, (actually it was day 2), "a new Christmas book" was the activity.   Since then, we've read a story every night.  The kids LOVE it. It makes my heart smile, especially since as I am reading the stories aloud, I am reminded of snuggling up with my mother *cough* 30 *cough years ago as she read the exact same stories.

Sunday's Advent calendar activity was to go see Santa. 4 out of the 5 of us had a great time seeing Santa.

Had some technical difficulties with posting last night, so here is yesterday's post. Keith surprised me last night with two of my favorite things: Movie Popcorn One of my favorite Christmas movies. Keith even sits through it year after year!

Our Advent calendar is ready to go! Connor moved the candy cane today and our activity was to make snowmen! The kids had a great time doing that while drinking hot chocolate and listening to Christmas music!

Yay for iPhones! (Even old 3GS ones like mine.) Trying out blogging from my cell phone to see how it works. And also posting a favorite Christmas thing that I enjoy doing:

After two failed attempts at having an elf come stay at our house during the Christmas season... The Evil Elf on the Shelf describes the first year..., Santa thought it was best to send something other than an elf. So here is Peppermint the Polar Bear, who has traveled all the way from the North Pole to keep an eye on things and report back to Santa on if the kids have been naughty or nice. He doesn't do much, but does move from time to time, but never when you are looking. It's been promised that he will never go upstairs into the kids' bedrooms... although Colin has requested that Peppermint sleep in his bed.  Keira is adjusting well. So far.

Can you find the cat?

A couple of weekends ago, we took the kids to the library's Christmas party.  Keira had big plans to stand near Mrs. Claus, and not cry about Santa being nearby. As you can see, that did not happen the way she planned: Rather, I got to enjoy her screams from the other side of the library..... But she did have fun a little later:

Due to Keira's extreme fear of being near Santa, we skipped the traditional Breakfasts with Santa in the area. Instead, we headed over to my parents' house on Saturday to have donuts and see Santa... from afar. Even Lucy the dog was excited to see Santa! 

As a little girl, before the age of DVD players and OnDemand Christmas shows, I waited eagerly for the one night that Frosty the Snowman or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer would be on tv. Over time, as toys were replaced with books, and books with boys, and boys with life. Frosty and Rudolph were of the past. Yet every year, my grandma would call on some random night, a few days before Christmas, to say - "Frosty's on!" I'd turn it on maybe for a few minutes, but why watch something I've seen 15 or 20 times before? So I'd move on. Last year, both shows were on later than the kids' bedtime, so I dvr'd them. Connor would ask to watch the shows, but around February, we needed the space. He hadn't asked for awhile, so they were deleted. Out of the blue, every so often, he'd ask if we could watch one, but I told him we had to wait until Christmas. In November, when the Black Friday toy ads were abundant, he saw both movies advertised for $5 each....

December 6 is celebrated as St. Nicholas' Day.  I grew up with the tradition of leaving our shoes by the back door, and while we were sleeping, St. Nick would stop by and leave us a small gift. Keira's excitement over her new sparkly headband. She won't take it off, even for bed. She told me she would show it to her teachers at school, and they would be so happy to see it. This year, St. Nick left my kids some Mickey Mouse ornaments and a Christmas sing along with Mickey and friends DVD. They got to watch part of it last night and loved singing along with their friends! St. Nick also stopped by Connor's classroom at school, but he left their gifts (a snowman pencil, a candy cane, and a note about remembering the true meaning of Christmas) on their tables.  What's funny is I remember being in the same grade school, and we would leave a shoe in the hallway during class.  I had totally forgotten about it until Connor mentioned St. Nicholas stopped by his ...

Falling behind... here is day 5... Last Friday, we were able to go to the Polar Express.  The kids loved the train and hearing the story in the old school house. Santa was a different story. We walked into the building where Santa was, although from the hallway, you could not see him.  Keira caught a glimpse, and yelled: We gotta get out of here guys! And promptly ran out the door. Please open your eyes Please close your mouth Come ON! Please turn around! Good enough

For the last three years, I've been lucky enough to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra in concert. Their music is amazing, and the show is filled with loud rock music, lasers, and fire.  The fact that it's Christmas music makes it perfect. Not only is it a wonderful show, but the words of the songs are beautiful: Kyrie among nations Kyrie among nations Kyrie among nations Hear as they ring through the night Listen to the bells as they ring Listen to the message they bring Listen to the sound As they sing as one voice in the night Hoping that we'll all understand Every dream we have's in our hands And for every bell May they ring all through the night Sorry these are only cell phone pictures, I forgot the camera amidst some chaos.  Someone, not naming any names: dumped out the full laundry hamper so he could wear it on his head right before we left.

I bought this ring yesterday. Pro: It jingles. Con: It jingles. But I love it anyway. (And I may have developed a slight addition to picnik.com because they helped me make that pretty picture.) 

Welcome to my Christmas countdown! Above is a picture of my Advent calendar.  One of the best dollar store purchases ever! Each day in December, the kids are able to move the candy cane to the current day.  And each number has a pocket underneath, which has a slip of paper in it with a Christmas activity. Tonight, for example, we are going to put up the small tree in the downstairs family room. (It's the room with the tv, so I like to have a small one down there so I can see it while watching tv.) The kids had great fun decorating our big tree, and I've saved some of their ornaments to put on the small one. The month is filled with a lot of other fun activities, such as Polar Express, making Christmas cookies for their teachers, Holiday Lights at the zoo, seeing Santa, and more. And for fun, here is a picture of Santa's sleigh. Apparently the Three Wise Men, the innkeeper, and an Angel are also needed to help the sleigh fly.