December Happenings

I must be excited for Christmas because I can't sleep. Reviewing and posting a few pictures seems like a good way to spend the wee hours on Christmas morning. :) Here goes.

While taking a bazillion pictures Sunday before church, I managed to nab these half decent ones. I'm biased, but I think my two little girls are the cutest!

 

Skylie playing dress up with her friends, Lisa and Allison

An unseasonably warm December prompted us to head to Fort Harrison State Park one Saturday morning. Our trip was cut short due to a sicky in the bunch. We knew something was wrong when Skylie Bug began acting lethargic and calm, and she only wanted to lay on the blanket. Kaitlyn had a blast though, so in my book the trip wasn't a waste.

Visiting Santa at the Children's Museum

Skylie told him she wanted lots of presents, and dare-devil Kaitlyn was not afraid of the Jolley Red Elf.

Matt and I regularly walk the neighborhood with the girls so they can see the Christmas lights. One neighbor saw Skylie admiring their inflated decorations and offered us this snow globe they had in their attic. I tried to decline, but Skylie insisted, "No, I do want it." For better or worse this beast graces our yard now, and Skylie loves it.

Matt's parents came to town for a visit, and while they were here we went downtown and checked out the Christmas lights with Dave and Jenny's family. After taking pictures with Teddy, Skylie offered him a hug. So cute!

Little Miss Independent now refuses to sit in a booster seat. She stands proudly on a chair (or the table if she's lucky) in all her glory.

Skylie decorated a ginger bread house with Nana. I regularly find that she's climbed up on the counter and is snacking on her creation.

Last Thursday I took the girls to the Lilly House, the greenhouse, and the gardens at the Indiana Museum of Art. The Lilly House is a great, big, old mansion that's decked out with holiday decor. I loved doing something a little out of the ordinary with my kids, and the girls liked it, too. "Did we go on an adventure!?" Skylie asked when we arrived home.

On Friday, December 21 we awoke to snow! I invited Skylie to look outside while we ate breakfast, and from that moment on she wanted to be out playing for five minute intervals all day long. It didn't really snow in Indiana last year, so I think she had no prior memories of playing in the snow. She and the snow became fast friends.

Kaitlyn was not a fan. Don't judge my parenting by this picture, please. I put her down just for a moment so I could snap this picture. A child's first experience with snow is worth capturing, right?

Peach came to play, and of course they wanted to go outside--for about three minutes!

Sky and I went on a Mommy-Daughter Date on December 22. We went downtown where she got to pick out a treat from a candy store and eat it. With millions of options, she chose Mambas.

We (or more accurately I carrying Skylie) walked the 330 steps up the inside of this monument to lookout over the city. My legs were burning, but it was worth it!

And now I'd better head to bed. Two little girls will be up in a few hours wanting to open presents.

Merry Christmas!

Hearts to Newtown

The incident at Sandy Hook Elementary last week was truly a tragedy. My heart goes out to all those affected by the shooting, and I hug my little ones a little closer as I try not to take them for granted. Not every mother gets to kiss her babies goodnight.

If you'd like to help but don't know how, you may want to consider this "Hearts to Newtown" campaign. My friend shared this information on her blog, and I think it's worth passing along.

The idea is simple: spreading love, goodwill and cheer through the heart of a child. We are calling for elementary-aged children's art on paper hearts of all sizes, to be plastered all over Newtown, CT. Include child's first name, age and state. With these hearts, we hope to spread a tangible expression of the love felt by so many people, all sharing in grief for those suffering. Send your paper hearts to:

P.O. Box 754
Bethel, CT
06801

If you'd like to know more, here's a link to their Facebook page. 

Skylie decorated a heart, and this Sunday the Primary children in our ward will, too.

Knowing Skylie wouldn't--and shouldn't--completely understand why we were sending a colored heart, I simply told her that "we're coloring a heart to send to people who are sad, and it'll help them be happy." 

I should've known my inquisitive three-year-old wouldn't be satisfied with that explanation.

"Why are they sad?" she asked.

"Because something sad happened at a school."

"What happened? What happened?" she questioned further.

Knowing she wouldn't comprehend, I told her, "People got shot."

I'm sure she sensed more from the tear in my eye and the choke in my voice, than from the words I'd said

"Oh! Are their mommys' and daddys' sad!?" She asked.

Yes. Yes. I'm sure their moms and dads are very sad.

***** 

My friend, Sara, also shared this link to a talk Elder Holland gave about finding comfort when tragic things happen at Christmastime. Elder Holland's talks are always great, but this one seemed especially moving to me.

From the Mouth of Skylie on Family Date Night

On Saturday night we took the kids on a Mommy-Daughter-Daughter-Daddy Date. Really, it was just a family outing, but the kids like it when we claim it's a date.

I had to park our van in a tight spot, so it took a minute.

Seeming desperate, Skylie called out the window:

"Help! Help! Everybody help!"

(Does my driving really cause her that much anxiety?!)

We hit up the Flying Cupcake store for a sweet taste. The pictures are from my phone and aren't great, but the subjects are cute.

Please tell me you have dinners like mine

Skylie's dream of having her very own dog came true for about a week while we took care of a friend's pet.

Picture this at our dinner table last night:

Skylie stark naked, except for the one frog shoe she's wearing from her Halloween costume. She's sitting on the floor sticking grapes in between her toes.

She holds her foot up to me with two grapes wedged in between those little piggies.

Skylie: "Here you go, Mom."
Me: "Thanks, Sky."

I take both grapes.

Skylie: "No just one!"

I give one grape back to her outstretched toes.  She lifts her foot to Matt.

Skylie: "And here's one for Daddy."

Dinner etiquette at it's finest, I'm sure.

**In case you are wondering--neither Matt nor I ate the grapes that had been on Skylie's foot. It's slipping, but we still have a small sense of decency around here.