Did you hear?

Today I won
Mom of the Year.

Wait, you didn't hear?
You must not have been at Academy when they
locked the front doors
and began to announce
over the store's loudspeaker
what my daughter was wearing
and what she looks like.

I stopped him midsentence when I saw her little Keds and heard quiet giggles.
Right in the area where I'd called her name 17 times.

She thought my Mom of the Year award was hilarious.
I did not, and we booked it to daddy's office to conference together!

Alex and I both recall hiding in the middle of clothes in stores as children.
Not at all funny now on the parent side of it.
She looks so peaceful and lovely
with her 6 stuffed, named companions
that she sweetly thanked God for
during our dinner blessing last night.
But, boy, she gives us a run for our money.

I am grateful for hiding places and not the alternative!

Christmas Traditions

So we started writing this 2 weeks ago and never got around to posting it. Anyone else feel ambushed this year?? Crazy how I felt more prepared last year when we had Jay in Dec. I spent nap time yesterday typing up a to do list for the season -- I am that crazy!

Traditions seemed to be a hot topic this year. Maybe because our kids are getting to the age that they remember them?? I've hesitated to write on this topic since we're three years into this parenting thing, but Alex has really pushed me to get this out there. So take it or leave it, these are Christmas tradition thoughts from parents three short years into it! :)
Alex and I have talked about what we remember from Christmases past as children are our activities and not the presents. His favorites -- long trips to Texas to see family and adding his favorite ornament to the tree (Kermit the frog -- and they saved this for him to add well into his college years). My favorites -- car rides to find Rudolph on Christmas Eve (we opened gifts right after that ride) and Christmas cookie baking with my mom and grandmother. For our little family, we've talked a lot about how to keep the focus on Jesus's birth and get too caught up in the commercialization of it.

There has been many a discussion about Santa and gifts. Our stance on it is that, yes, Santa Claus is coming to town, but he's coming on Jesus's birthday! This article on Santa that Emily found was great along with this Veggietales movie about how the original St. Nicholas gave out of his love for Jesus have really helped us tie Santa into Christ's birth. This helped get the focus off of being good/deserving gifts onto joyful giving and blessings.

Other thoughts on presence have hit me hard this year. It is SO easy for me to get lost in the shuffle of a mile-long to do list. Both of these blog posts brought me back down to earth a little bit -- one on presence not presents and one on being with our children. Both popped up on my reader and were a needed reminder to me to get down on the floor more and enjoy my little ones.
We've also talked a lot about presents and how to keep it toned down. We've always done three gifts on Christmas morning. This article really solidified that decision and almost had us forgoing the three presents all together. We decided to keep the three gifts for each child and also asked grandparents and other family to keep it at three gifts or less if they can too. I love this article on sweet activities for Christmas day to get the focus off of the gifts. Kirkley heard somewhere about lots of presents and asked if she was getting lots from Santa. I explained Jesus got three presents, and she dropped it.


This was also the first year I attempted a pre-Christmas toy purge with Kirkley -- her room is busting at the seams. It was hard! It seemed like an abstract concept for a three year old -- gathering old toys for those that need them. The questions fired away, "Who doesn't have any toys?" "Why don't they have any toys?" "Does Ford have any toys?" I made it out of her room with one little sack of stuffed animals to take to Mission Thrift and one pouty little girl! Which opened the door to talk about 2 Corinthians 9:7b, "God loves a cheerful giver" and an almost daily favorite, Proverbs 15:13a, "A happy heart makes the face cheerful." We took them to the thrift store together, and she looked all around for the children that needed them. :) We'll try this again pre-birthday! We've really lacked as parents in teaching about the importance of giving to those in need. I'm hoping this concept isn't so abstract next year!?

Our favorite fun things we (the parents) love...can't wait to look back at this one day and see what our kids think our traditions are...

Decorating the tree right after Thanksgiving. This was always done by Alex and I (and last year I was very pregnant and we had the help of my aunts!) the evening of Thanksgiving while we watched Elf, but this year with Kirkley old enough to help, we wanted to switch it to the morning and she of course picked Rudolph and Frosty to watch. We slacked getting this done this year, but both agree, we'll be doing it the morning after Thanksgiving from now on! :)

Kirkley has always built a gingerbread house with Alex in the weeks before Christmas. This year I think we're switching teams and doing a boys vs. girls building competition!
My mom and grandmother take Kirkley to the Teddy Bear Tea. This was a first last year and became an instant tradition. They go this week!
I have a sweet friend that does a CHRISTmas cookie tree party for us to swing by and grab cookies off of. They have a tree in their front yard covered in bagged cut-out cookies of Christmas symbols and all with a tagged explanation of how the Christmas symbol relates to Christ's birth. This is a sweet night that we'll ride by, grab cookies, then continue riding and looking at lights! I need to grab pics this year!

All of the Christmas programs have been a sweet addition to our Christmas season. Between CBS, choir, Sunday school, and preschool, there are so many sweet influences in her life outside of us pointing her to the Reason for the season!
We want to stay at our own house for Christmas while the kids are young. So far we've been able to do so. On Christmas Eve, we get our cookies ready for Santa and our cake decorated for Jesus's birthday. Cookies are baked (and usually in the freezer well before) so we can just decorate. I'll have a mix angelfood cake in a star pan ready for Kirkley to help decorate with cool whip for an easy Happy Birthday Jesus cake.

We then attend the Christmas Eve service at our church. Last year's was especially sweet taking in our new one. Alex dropped me off with the kids to go park, we took the elevator up, and as soon as we walked out into the balcony, the power went off. I was grateful to not be in the elevator with them at that moment, and we enjoyed a candlelight service!

After the Christmas Eve service, we head home to host an easy Italian dinner (thanks to Provino's salad and Stouffer's lasagna) with whatever family is in town and Jesus's birthday cake. Our first married Christmas together was spent in New York City -- we didn't pick a family to spend it with, we just aggravated them all by heading out together! Our first Christmas dinner was in a family-style Italian restaurant so we keep the Italian going!After dinner and cake/singing, we do the whole cookies for Santa, read The Night Before Christmas, and tuck in. Then Santa gets busy putting together toys!

Christmas morning we video the kids coming out to see their gifts. The past two years, eating Santa's leftover cookies has been more exciting than the gifts. She's already asked if I think he'll share with her again. After the hubub of gifts, we settle down to read the Christmas story. Then later in the morning we have whatever family is in town over for brunch and play the video.

Christmas dinner with the fam is at my mom's after naps by all! :) I think our big boy will really love him some Christmas dinner this year!

So there's a rundown of traditions we're trying to put into play. Nothing really original, and all collected from a little bit of everywhere -- I might have stolen yours! I'd love to hear some of your favorites. I have friends who have big enough families to act out the first Christmas, others that go caroling together, etc. What traditions have become your favorites??

Anyone else plagued by the Santa/no Santa debate? We have a long while to discuss for next year -- the issue is not dropped in our house (not shocking, I know). We found it hard to keep the balance this year. Gifts, Santa, etc. are so flashy compared to the celebration our Savior's humble beginnings. Lots of time to think on it till next year! :)

Christmas Morning

Our morning began with peppermint chocolate coffee and waiting on Kirkley to wake up...

It is super fun to be parents of little ones thrilled to wake up and run out!

The kids came out to see what Santa had brought...

Kirkley's Go Go Puppy is a hit with both kids!

We've all had fun playing with Jay's race track -- fun to have boy toys here!

The fact that Santa left some cookies to share was just as exciting as the three gifts!

Her twinn doll is pretty right on the money --
hoping this wards off questions about when she'll be a mommy!
She added the last ornament to our Jesse Tree...
Opened presents from Texas...

Then the fam came over for brunch!

A fun, sweet morning followed by naps for all!

I love this on the shepherds --
I had never pondered much on their role in spreading the Gospel.
I love how God plants surprises in His story I think I know so well!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

"‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.’ "
Matthew 3:3b

Christmas Eve came with many preparations from preparing Santa's cookies...

To preparing our hearts...

Which for the second year in a row, we had both children at the Christmas Eve service. It won't be many short years from now, we'll wish for these squirmy little nuggets back again!

And preparing a birthday cake for Jesus...

The kids added a new tradition this year -- Christmas concert!

Not to be outdone by his sis!
Then it was off to bed for these tired nuggets!

Callaway Lights

The Callaway lights were a hit with both kids!
We took a fun trip over complete with Christmas movies, hot chocolate, and cookies!
Next year I'll pack a picnic dinner so we don't have to eat at KFC :)

This one wanted to play peek-a-boo the whole time...

Till I bailed him out of his carseat, then he was mesmerized...

Kirkley loved the 12 days of Christmas!

Mimi wanted us to do something special with our Christmas money she sent -- we had a great night! Thanks Mimi!!!

Teddy Bear Tea

For the second year, Kirkley went to the Teddy Bear Tea with her Grammy and Great Grandma!

Not so sure about the teddy bear...
But loved the treats!

Thanks Grammy and Grandma!

Gingerbread Houses

Teams got switched up this year and we had a boys vs. girls house building competition!

This little man was just happy to be a part! Free food!

Kirkley was much more into it this year!
Free food! :)
The girls may have an advantage...

Christmas Cut-Outs 101

These have been a tradition in my family as long as I can remember. This year someone told Alex homemade cut-outs were on their bucket list and wanted me to help! This is my attempt at showing the process as best I can with a 3 1/2 year old assistant. This is really the first year she's been able to help in the baking part of it. I have to take a lot of deep breaths and remember it can all be vacuumed up. And note that you can buy cut-outs ready to bake, and I'm positive they're just as much fun to do!

BUT before we go any further and I appear to be some kind of Martha mom, you should know my dining room currently looks like this:Yep, our sweet Jesse Tree surrounded by gifts to be shipped/delivered and craziness! I've decided this Christmas season to stick with what I think is fun...all of that will still be there and waiting on the to-do list! My mom is totally cringing.

First things first, I use this recipe -- both the chocolate and the regular are great! Just trust the 1/2 c sour cream -- this is the least sticky dough I've ever used. I did chocolate ponies for K's pony party and just had to pipe on details! Would be great for Rudolph if you have that cutter!

Chill them in waxed paper and set out while you gather your supplies: cookie cutters, roller (I use spacers on mine), parchment paper cut on insulated cookie sheets, and I mix flour and powdered sugar 1/2 and 1/2 to roll out with.

I make my dough ahead and
then we usually get to baking it a few days later so it stays in the fridge till then...

Mix up a small bowl of half flour and half powdered sugar for rolling out...

Spread it on the counter then also put on both sides of your dough
before rolling and as needed...

Roll out -- the spacers help me not to roll too thick or thin...

Cut out with floured cutters...

Keep rolling out the dough till it's all used. You'll need to re-flour each time.
You'll also need to repeatedly assure your 3 1/2 year old that
if she continues to eat the dough, she will get sick and possibly throw up. :)

Put on parchment paper lined sheets.
I use parchment paper so I don't have to spray each time (I don't spray Pam at all) and
you can keep reusing the same sheets without changing the paper out.
Bake until just turning golden around the edges. Leave on the sheets 2-3 minutes to cool then transfer to baking racks.

The baby-sized cutters are great for little hands
but bake for a min or two less. Mine got too done.

At this point, they usually all go into plastic containers, separated by waxed paper to go in the freezer till decorating time. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

Now for decorating, I do not use royal icing -- tastes gross. The Pioneer Woman did an awesome how-to decorating post here -- ours are not elaborate though. We put icing on with a knife and add sprinkles and decorations.

Our traditional shape is the Christmas tree.
I used the icing recipe below for the whole cookie, then the garland is the can stuff!

I do use paste food coloring -- just better colors than normal drops but not a must.

Icing

4 1/2 c powdered sugar

3 T milk

3 T light corn syrup

1 t vanilla or almond extract

paste food colorings

- Mix powdered sugar, milk, and corn syrup on low until smooth. Mix in extract.
- Test spreading on a cookie to see if it's too thick (add more milk) or too thin (add more powdered sugar).

- Separate into bowls and tint with paste food colorings. Use a toothpick to put just a little bit in (a clean toothpick each time you add). Stir well with a fork.

- I spread on cookies with a knife but you can also pipe the edges and fill.

- Let dry overnight before stacking.