We enjoyed many things this Holiday season. The kids were very ready to put up the Christmas tree. Of course they were ready to put on the ornaments the instance that I got the tree down. Never mind that it takes me 2-3 hours to put on the lights. Katie was kind enough to help me check the strands.
After all the lights were on we started on the ornaments. The kids favorite ornaments were the ones that had their pictures in it. Those ones are always special to me as it helps me remember all my Christmas memories with them. After all the ornaments were successfully in the middle of the tree I noticed that one of the strands of lights was out. I finally decided that I it just added character to the tree and went on with the Holiday season.
For some fun this holiday season we went to the Arlington Christmas parade.
The kids favorite part was the light sabers that Mimi got for them.
We also did some cookie decorating. I got all the cookies made and made the icing and then discovered that I couldn't find the Christmas sprinkles - not remembering that we took them to Mimi's last year to decorate and left them there. We ended up with lots of pink and blue stars and bells.
When I asked the kids to get dressed to take some pictures for our Christmas card I didn't get a great response from the kids. It is not until I let them do silly pictures every other time did I get them to give me a half smile.
On one of the pretty days during the Christmas break, we went to Fossil Rim with our cousins. Katie's favorite animal was the giraffe. I don't think there was one of the animals that wouldn't come up and stop your car for food.
The kid's also liked the petting zoo a lot. I don't think I have ever seen a goat just jump up on a bench before and relax.
After we were done with our adventures to Fossil Rim we returned home for the first of Katie's 4th Birthday Parties. Katie requested that I make her kitty cat cupcakes from our birthday cake book. Thankfully none of the ingredients were hard to find.
With all our cousins over we did a photo scavenger hunt which all the kids from 4-15 enjoyed. The kids had to do things such as do the YMCA to all sitting in one chair.
For Church on Christmas Katie was very happy to finally get to wear her Santa dress. She has been wanting to do that for months. For Christmas Zach really enjoyed getting his singing machine and David Murphy Rangers shirt and Katie was all over her pull string Jessie and Bullseye.
On her real birthday we just had a small family dinner of Chicken nuggets, tater tots and cupcakes with lots of sprinkles.
There was also one more party at her Granddad and Nana Linda's. Katie enjoyed getting cash and a Rapunzel doll:)
Now that the new year has begun, Zach has started playing basketball. Yesterday he got his first two points - 2 free throws made. Normally he really just liked to throw the ball in but this time around he was actually rebounding a ball and got fouled while trying to throw the ball in. He looked over to me after he made each one and just smiled. I almost cried because I could see how proud he was.
This past week Katie did something really big - she finally gave up her pacifier after 4 years. The Paci Fairy came on Friday night and took her remaining Pacis and she got $10 and some candy. We went to the store and bought a stuffed clown fish (Nemo) and a princess camera.
Today we went to see Tangled at the theatres. Although it was just a movie I had a smile on my face just seeing Katie laugh at the movie and smile at it. Why is it that seeing your kid enjoy themselves makes Moms and Dads so happy.
When we got home from the movies Katie finally wanted to put her name on her Jessie doll like Andy puts his name on his Woody in Toy Story. She was proud after the name was put on in black marker. About 30 minutes later I found Zach putting his name over hers on the Jessie doll. Of course that sent me over the edge. Luckily it was only green washable marker that he used. I think he did it because he also wanted to put his name on his Buzz Lightyears. Hopefully that was it.
