December 22, cooking with Grandma, Barrett Christmas

Christmas is ON! Today, we felt like baking! We headed to Grandma's house to make Nutter Butter Snowmen and Reindeer cookies. The girls made these mostly on their own. It was fun helping them this year, rather than letting them think they "helped." The cookies turned out really cute!

Tonight, we did Christmas with the Barretts! It was great. Nanner fixed stew for dinner then we opened presents :) The girls all wanted American Girls and they all got them! Eva Grace got Kunani (the doll of the year) and the dog, Grace. Emma got a Just Like Me doll and named it, Elizabeth. Ella got twin babies and is still trying to name them. All 3 girls carried their dolls around all night and are sleeping soundly with them now! :) When asked their favorite part about the day all 3 of them said, "AMERICAN GIRLS!"

They also got several other things they had on their lists (calendars, Emma got a peace sign lamp and some new books, Ella got some dress up stuff and new footed pj's, perfume, Eva Grace and Ella got a new pink chandelier, American Girl activity kits,...) I got some new ceiling fans, a church cookbook and house stuff and Burt racked up some new work shirts and ties, pj's, movies and a GUITAR! Eva Grace was so jealous about that guitar. (She has a turquoise sparkly one on her list)!!

Christmas Play 2011

The Chrismas play was this Sunday evening! Emma was Mary and had a solo with Joseph (Trey Norris). They did a fabulous job. Eva Grace was a wiseman and also had a solo and did very good!! Ella was a dove, along with her friend Ella Mae). They were kept in line by Avery Collins, an angel. It was sweet, as always. Nanner directed the play and did a fabulous job again this year. I laughed so hard I cried a few times. It was a hit!

Emma's Fine Art Festival Artwork and Choir Concert

Emma was one of the 10 kids at her school chosen to paint a canvas to auction off at their Fine Art Festival. She worked on this for 2 weeks. I have to say that I was super impressed when I saw it! She is very talented (that didn't surprise me!). Her artwork sold at a higher price than most, which made me proud. Unfortunately, we weren't the ones that left with the masterpiece. There was a bidding war and I lost. A teacher at her school really wanted the art. I bid 3 times in the last few minutes, but got beat in the last few seconds. It was an honor that someone wanted her artwork so badly! The lady stopped her after the auction and told her it was for her new Grandbaby's nursery. That made Emma feel good. She is now in business making some artwork for our house! After the auction, she also performed in the choir concert.

Christmas fun-filled weekend

Who is your favorite reindeer?? This question was asked over the radio Friday morning on the way to school. Without missing a beat Eva Grace chimed in, "Dancer." I was very curious why ... She said, "Dancer is Santa's right hand reindeer. Dasher is on the left, then Dancer on the right, then she proceeded to list the rest of the line up. Dancer is Santa's first reindeer." She was very sure about this and it required NO thought. She does know her Santa trivia, basically has The Santa Claus book memorized and has for years. I was impressed. Emma and Ella both picked Rudolph.

Friday night the girls wrote their letters to Santa then Saturday we went to the Post Office to mail them. They have a special mailbox just for Santa that is kid sized. Rumor has it that Santa will write back so we are anxiously awaiting that!

Saturday, we went to Storytime with Mrs. Clause at Barnes and Noble, followed by a girls lunch and some Christmas shopping. We ended up shopping ALL day and had the best time. We also did several RAKs to add to our list. The favorite of the day was getting hot coffee for the Salvation Army bell ringer at Walmart. She told the girls, "You girls are the BEST." Eva Grace said, "Mama, did you hear her? She said we were the best! I feel so good right now!!" (Lesson learned, Acts 20:35 "It is more blessed to give than to receive.") My favorite stop was at Hancocks. All the girls decided they were going to make Christmas presents so one by one they stood in line at the fabric counter with their bolts of fabric as big as they were (especially Ella)and got the materials they needed for their projects. (scarves, shhhhhh!!)

Sunday night they were very excited to get started on making their gifts. It went so well we even decided to monogram them, which made them even cuter! They were so proud of themselves, as they should have been. I wanted a scarf myself. They plan to finish these up tomorrow. Eva Grace needs to add bling to hers, she says! ha. Emma had to make a scarf for some girl in her class. She struggled to remember her whole name. "Angelica...Emily...Brown. Ya, that is it." It was also on a green scarf, my favorite :). I love Christmas manipulations and secrets!!! I love my girls.

25 Acts of Random Kindness

Our family is doing 25 acts of random kindness throughout this holiday season. These acts can't be things we regularly do! This will forsure be a tradition in the upcoming years. Here are our 25 acts :)

1- My friend broke her leg so I helped her put up her decorate her house for Christmas.

2- We took a family a meal. Their mom just had surgery.

3- We bought a Salvation Army bell ringer a hot cup of coffee.

4- We donated some money to the Ronald McDonald House charity.

5- We bought groceries and donated them to our church's food pantry.

6- We donated some clothes to a family.

7- Eva Grace took her teacher her favorite drink to school everyday for two weeks. (Diet Coke with Lime is hard to find).

8- I took pictures of a family and made them all copies.

9- Made cookies for our hard working mail man.

10- Took some cookies to Mr. Jerry and Mrs. Ann from church.

11- Got some paint and took some fresh cookies to the paint guys.

12- Gave some cookies to the cable guy who was fixing our cable.

13- The girls went Christmas caroling at the nursing home with Grandma and her friends. (AWESOME!!) Ella took her Santa hat of and an old lady yelled at her to, "Put it on, It's cute!" Thankfully, it didn't scare her and she did. After singing, the girls mingeled through the crowd with Grandma. The residents seemed very happy to see sweet girls. I was a proud mama. This was my favorite RAK so far!

14- Taped quarters to vending machines at Salsas. We put them on notes the girls made saying, "Please enjoy our Random Act of Kindness. Merry Christmas. Luke 2."

15- Eva Grace and Ella went caroling with Grandma in Bay. They sang to some of the elderly and shut-ins. This was one of Eva Grace's favorite RAKs.

16- Brought shopping buggies inside from the parking lot at the Dollar Tree... and it was raining... and cold. I have to add that we had joyful hearts :) No complaining was heard from anyone.

17- We wrapped a dollar in a note (like on #14) and left it on the toy aisle in the Dollar Tree.

18- Ella fixed her friend's toy.

19- Ella prayed for Eva Grace when she was sick. (unprompted)

20- We brought in the neighbors' trash cans after the trash ran. We did all down the street!

21- Burt paid extra on someone's Verizon bill!

22- We opened doors for people everywhere we went!

23- Helped an older lady in Hobby Lobby parking lot get in the store with her small kids.

24- Eva Grace did Emma's chores one day.

25- Emma made Eva Grace soup when she wasn't feeling well, and cooked supper for the family a few nights!

This project was a lot of fun and very rewarding. We all learned, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35~ Can't wait to see what we do next year!

Nutcracker

One of Eva Grace's Christmas favorites is The Nutcracker. She started collecting the figurines last year and has several friends that are in the musical production at the Forum. Saturday night, we went to see it. She took her friend Abby Bunch with her. (Emma went to see it with her school on Thursday). They loved it and sat on the edges of their seats the entire time, very excited to see each friend perform on stage.

Sophie was a Snow Flurry :)

Lucy :)

Emma King :) EG was also excited to see and get hugs from Evie and Claire Pulliam, and Anna King.

It's Christmas Time!! Elfie is back and our halls are decked!

It is finally Christmas time, The Barrett Five's favorite time of the year. I wish there was a way to blog about all these festivities, that is why there is an annual Christmas book made! We put up our tree the weekend before Thanksgiving. The girls were excited about Elfie's return (our Elf on the Shelf). He sent them this postcard in the mail. On the back he had written, "Emma, Eva Grace and Ella, I can't wait to see you soon. Love, Elfie"

Elfie made his return the Saturday after Thanksgiving, also Emma's birthday. He had the girls a special breakfast made of powdered donuts and hot chocolate. He also had them an "E" ornament for their Christmas tree, Christmas pajamas and house shoes.