Auds & Allie

21 December 2011

Fa-la-la-la-la

Tonight, we went caroling. Audrey joined her neighborhood friends in going door to door caroling for almost two hours. Audrey stood in the front almost the entire time and sang, loud, in front of strangers. Her favorite song was Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. It was a tad cold but the kids didn't seem to mind. Jeremy pushed Allie in the stroller while I sipped hot cocoa and took pictures. Afterward, we came home and all had hot cocoa and cookies. Then, we prepped for Christmas at Grandma and Grandpas.

Sarah

A Secret Santa Breakfast

Today the Ladies of Bunco arranged a Secret Santa with our kiddos. My children have had limited playtime at any McDonalds Playland so they both thought that was pretty fun, although Allie got stuck a few times thinking she was bigger than her britches, trying to keep up with big sis. Being very pregnant, I couldn't just climb up to get her. Thankfully several kids took turns and at least one adult, getting her down. Thing was, she'd cry to get out, and then scream to go back up.

Tonights agenda: caroling.

Sarah

19 December 2011

Advent Calendar

Our Advent Calendar this year. I got the idea from Pinterest. I wrapped up 25 Christmas books and the girls got to open one a day until Christmas. Some were books we had, others were new. They never knew if it was going to be an old book or a new one we got to read that day.

This idea worked great until one day the girls got present happy and unwrapped five books. By the time we caught up to the right day, they had pretty much lost interest.

Sarah

17 December 2011

Allie's birthday celebration, Day 2

Allie didn't get to open the rest of her presents from us at her party, so after we went to the Kindermusik play date this morning, we let her open the rest of her gifts. Her big gift was of course the Thomas Train Table and accessories. This morning she opened the Winnie The Pooh movie, Winnie The Pooh character figurines, and a princess nightgown. And for a snack the girls got their cookies out they decorated at Allie's party last night.

Allie's cookies she decorated at her party last night

Inside Audrey's goodie bag. Lots of glittery sugar on hers

Allie loved opening gifts. She didn't need any help at all.

she loved the nightgown so much she had to put it on

she loved her movie

Daddy helping with her figurines

Sarah

Visit to see Santa

This morning we went to see Santa at a Kindermusik play date. Although super excited about seeing Santa, Audrey was more comfortable seeing him from afar once it was our turn. Allie sat in between Santa and Mrs. Claus and we were able to get someone to take a picture of the four of us. Afterwards of course there were cookies!

trying to figure out if she trusts Santa

not so sure about getting any closer

Sarah

16 December 2011

Allie's 2nd Birthday Party; Milk and Cookies

Allie's 2nd birthday celebration was themed around milk, hot cocoa and cookies.

Lots of cookies.

On a Friday night in December, with family and a few close friends we celebrated Allie turning 2.

It seems that this year with every party we've thrown there was a mix-up, a delay, a product malfunction, a recipe malfunction, lack of time, or a catastrophe of some sort. This night was no different.

Today was a busy day. It was Allie's actual birthday, so celebrations for breakfast, lunch and then her party, and Audrey's school Christmas party sandwiched in between. Picking up balloons, cupcakes, etc. all left me with the exact time needed to make the main dish for supper and finish decorating. A chili bar is what we planned. The plan did not allow time for me to deeply cut myself while chopping up the celery, onion and pepper for the second batch of chili. Doing my guests a favor, I opted to just throw that batch out, since the celery was a bloody mess (gross, right?) and I had chopped off half my finger nail.

Since the cutting incident took about 20 minutes to clean up and bandage and bandage again, the appetizer got scrapped, leaving us with only one batch of chili, some toppings and a pan of cornbread. Yes, we ran out before everyone could eat. Why not make the chili ahead of time? Life got in the way there too.

Again, trying to make it mostly, if not all, gluten free I didn't think to order pizzas when the second batch of chili got scrapped. That would have been brilliant.

Being born in between cookie exchanges, family Christmas gatherings, caroling and holiday parties...it seems could be easy to forget. It seems you have to shout to be remembered. I want Allie's birthday to be just as special as a June or August or April birthday. And so, we will make every effort to make sure that happens for her.

cookie table. my sister in law, Hannah, helped me make the cookies. About half are gluten free. I found "Got Milk?" straws you use to make regular milk flavored. Flowers of course, and the cute little milk bottles I borrowed from a friend didn't get used at all. We should have put the "Got Milk?" Straws in those instead of the crazy fancy straws. Oh well.