Christmas Cookies

Most people would call me crazy but earlier this week I decided to let the boys make sugar cookies AND decorate them. 4 days later I'm still finding sprinkles in every corner of my kitchen. But the mess was worth it because they had fun.

The recipe I used for icing was really neat. I gave the boys paintbrushes (new ones) and they could just paint it on.

Mmmmm.....looks tasty doesn't it?

The best part of cookie making is taking that first bite.

Oh to be a kid again.

This will be our 4th Christmas with kids (really? 4 of them? Wow time flies!). And while we've enjoyed each one this one seems to be a little more special. Between preschool and home there have been many conversations and lessons about what Christmas is. As with any 3 year old Santa is usually at the top of the list and what he is bringing in his sleigh (which by the way changes every day...how Santa can keep that straight I'll never know). Carson has lit Advent wreaths at home, at school and at church. We have several Advent calendars in our house counting down the days until its Jesus' birthday and its the first thing they want to do in the morning and they ask at least 47 times throughout the day when they can put the next piece up or have another "tootsie woll." We have the supplies ready to make cupcakes for Jesus' birthday. We've donated some of our toys to those less fortunate then us. We bought our Christmas tree, decorated it and put an angel on the top of it. We've done some Christmas shopping. We'll be ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. We'll be buying and wrapping gifts to give to the less fortunate.

All these things in anticipation of Jesus' birth. I've always loved Christmas but watching all this anticipation through these four little eyes has been amazing. When I was little it took forever for Christmas to come but this year I want to hold on to this anticipation and wonder that our boys have. It's so much fun to watch.

Holding on to daddy's leg for dear life as he tried to get out angel working (which it didn't and we had to make a Target run for a new angel).

The boys and their tree.

A Birthday

Happy 60th Birthday Grandma!

Love, Carson and Declan

P.S. Thanks for lunch!!

O Christmas Tree

We may have picked the coldest, windiest day to cut down our Christmas tree. It didn't seem to stop Carson but as you will see from the pictures Declan was less then thrilled to be out in this weather. The farm that we went to was fantastic. The tree is incredibly full and smells wonderful. I think cutting down our own tree will be a new tradition. Next year I'll just hope its a little warmer!

Santa was even there. And both boys were willing to sit on his lap. That may have something to do with the fact that he offered them candy.

Doesn't he look thrilled to be doing this.

Carson tried to cheer him up but he didn't want to move. The tree was blocking the wind for a few moments.

Trying to warm up those cheeks in the gift shop.

Enjoying pretzels and apple cider.

Oh and in my previous post. Yes Declan is saying the Lord's Prayer, the end of it at least. He knows most of it. And if you listen carefully you can hear him say, after Amen, "I did it!" So proud of himself.

Too Loud

For a few weeks Trevor and I have been talking about how we should go about taking Declan's plug away. This summer we cut him off to just at nap time and bedtime and he did really well. But there's no denying it, he's attached to that thing when he sleeps. I knew he would never just let us take it away and we tried to convince him that big boy's don't need it but he wanted nothing to do with that logic. (Reasoning with a 2 year old....I have no idea why that didn't work!) So we decided that we would "leave them at grandma's" over Thankgiving weekend. So Sunday night when he asked for his plug we showed him they were all missing (we stash them on our dresser). He was sad but reassured himself that grandma would bring them back to him. For the first few days he was reassured (mostly by Carson) that grandma would bring them. But the last two days he hasn't even mentioned them. Now, I'm just hoping that by next week when both grandma's are here he has totally forgotten about it. And then I can say this was WAY easier then I thought. But, I'm not counting any chickens yet.

One draw back of not having a plug is that it takes him longer to fall asleep. With the plug he was out before I left the room but without it he's laid in there and talked for over an hour a few times. Carson's even complained that "brudder is being too woud. Tell him to be quiet." The other day during naptime I caught something on the monitor that was too cute. See if you can hear what he is saying.

Did you catch it?

The Gingerbread House

Before we get to the gingerbread I had to share this photo.

Such a cutie and so proud that he got the hat on all by himself this morning.

The boys and I decorated our gingerbread house last night. Declan probably ate more then he decorated. Bad timing on my part since we did it right before dinner. Oops! Oh well the boys had a blast and it didn't turn out too bad either. Now if I could just keep their paws off it.

In the season of giving

MckMama over at My Charming Kids has started a raffle of sorts. Make a donation to a very worthy cause and you could have a chance to win a new Canon rebel XSi plus a boat load of other fantastic prizes. Head on over to her site to check out the details. Good Luck!