Christmas...the Event!

Christmas Day:

Morning, Santa Came!

Every "peasant" Stella opened, she wanted to play with right then.  I do love her fairy princess outfit!  "I'm a furry pincess Mama!"
What you didn't see through these pictures: 
- We slept in about an hour (nice if you are not hosting Christmas dinner!). 
- The oven caught fire when it was preheating for the turkey from the cinnamon that flaked off the Monkey Bread (our breakfast) that had risen too high. 
- The toddler who NEVER slept during nap time and greeted her Mama at the bedroom door fully naked holding her diaper that was full of a good size number two. 
- The toddler's room from not napping and taking off a dirty diaper (dresser emptied, floor decorated with babies and stuffed animals all of which resulted in a very large load of laundry because Mama did not want to decide what was clean and what wasn't). 

The Snow...Thursday through Saturday, it snowed.

Ben had to shovel a path for the dogs.

 

She did not want to get dressed. She was perfectly happy to run around in her new penguin socks and rainbow mittens (it was 10 degrees outside).

Christmas from Yaya and Papa!

The pink cowboy hat and horse-y.

The Doll House (one of my favorites).

Dinner...Hmmm...looks like if Mama is cooking pictures are a lacking.  There was fondue, there was wassail, a gingerbread house to be made, a great turkey, undercooked vegetables, a toddler sleeping in a living room chair during dinner since she didn't take a nap, and best of all...great company!

 

She fell asleep in Grammie's arms while reading books.

Christmas with Grammie and Kate:

New soft blankies from Aunt Kate, the girls have slept with them every night since Christmas.

I love the picture of Ben with the girls.  I love this very old quilt.  I love the following picture of Stella making sure  there is nothing else in there...

 

 

 

Christmas with K-K, and THE gift:

 

THE FLY BOAT!!! w/ Ming-Ming, Tuck, and Lenny too!!!

 

The night ended with a good old horse-y ride with Yaya.

The day after Christmas:

More snow...

 

Over the meadow and through the woods to Yaya's and Papa's we go.

A re-gift exchange won us an Obama Chia head.

Yeah, ok, we get that it was supposed to be a joke, but we voted for him, so we will probably grow the fro.

 

Some Wii...that is right, I bowl with a glass of wine in my hand.

And some more Wii...oh boy...that is some serious playing.

Good food, good company, good wine, good wii, great times.

Sunday after Christmas: 

There wouldn't normally be any "peasants" on this day, however, we left the gifts from Ms. Joy in Ben's car Wednesday night.  This was a mistake due to the ice on Thursday preventing us from opening the doors until Sunday when the sun came out.

Stella's first Barbie! Thank you Ms. Joy!

Thank you everyone for all the wonderful thoughts and gifts.  This Christmas was beautiful and memorable.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family in our lives. 

I'm Dreaming...

of a White Christmas.

The Night Before Christmas

Stella got a little excited about leaving cookies and milk for Santa and celery for his Reindeer.  She started putting anything she could find on the fireplace hearth.  Take a close look at the celery.  Notice that it was much longer when originally placed out. 

No, that wasn't the "reindeer" who ate the celery.  Our daughter decided she wanted to eat some celery before she went to bed.   "NO REINDEER, MY CELERY!"

Are you ready?

It is Christmas Eve, are you ready?  We are hosting Christmas dinner tomorrow.  I am so excited as I love to cook and host, but we left the grocery shopping until last minute.  Here we go! Starbucks, watch out, I will need a double shot, venti to get through this morning!
Here are a few shots from around the house...

This is Ben's childhood Advent Tree that his Grampie made him, pretty cool, huh?

I hope your Holiday is full of Peace and Joy.

Projects

Stella and I have completed several projects in the last week; snowflakes, paper garland, sewing, craft kits.  We have discovered she doesn't like glue on her hands.  We were making an ornament and the glue she had spread with her finger dried.  She whined to have it off; she whined even more when I started to "rub" it off her finger and it fell off in white flakes.  It has been fun.

These foam pieces/puzzles come like stickers and you put them together.  She loved these. 

Santa, the Mall, Cookies

So we decided to see how much we can cram in to the days remaining before Christmas.  We packed supplies, loaded the girls up, and braced ourselves for the mall to go see Santa tonight.  Stella was excited.  Good thing, as the mall was crazy.  Yes, we expected that, we just aren't big mall people to begin with.  The line for Santa really was not that bad either.  Stella was very interested in the other children waiting in line and patiently watched them sit on Santa's lap with such curiosity I felt like I might be missing something.  When it was her turn, she very quietly said "Hi Santa."  He asked if she would like to sit on his lap and tell him what she wanted for Christmas.  She nodded.  That was the last of her communication until her feet were on the ground and she was running towards the Merry-go-round.  Her face was priceless, as he tried to talk to her.  She looked at me or Ben the entire time with a confused expression that I interpreted as, "are you serious about this?"  Esme sat for one picture and was totally indifferent.  To sum up, this is her first visit to see Santa and will probably be her last until she asks us to take her.  I really thought the whole thing was silly.  I am not saying I do not want her to experience Santa.  I will, however, offer to pay one of our friends to dress up and visit the kids as Santa so they can experience the Jolly man with as much patience as they need.  I personally do not need a picture that badly.

 

He is a good Santa, isn't he?

We also made sugar cookies today.  I tried to involve Stella in decorating them.  With every swipe of frosting and sprinkle of colored sugar, she would ask, "Can I eat'em now Mama?"

I was going to post that picture...Ben mistakingly erased it. Here is one from Thanksgiving with Isabelle. 

Beautiful!

Mama I'm Stuck!!!

Stella is semi potty training.  I say this, because mentally I think she could be there, however I am not sure her body, nor Ben and I are ready.  That is some commitment folks.  However, we do make a good effort to expose and encourage her.  Along with potty training, we are teaching her good hygiene ("wash your hands after you pee pee in the potty").  And that brings us to the picture below.  Tonight after bath, Stella wanted to "pee pee in the potty" before she put on her diaper and jams.  I could tell this was going to be a long one as she asked for a book to read while she sat.  I gave her a book, and decided to pick up the play room in the meantime.  The next thing I hear is: " HELP!  MAMA I STUCK! " 
I came around the corner and saw this.  Yes, that is right, I left her there to get the camera to take a picture, laughing the entire time.  She was trying to wash her hands.  To her, she really was stuck, whining for help.  I had to pick her up so her tummy wouldn't stick/twist on the sink. 

Sick Baby

The photo is a little grainy - it was taken from my phone.

Is this one of the saddest things you have ever seen? My lack of blog updates last week is due to caring for and worrying about our little Esme. She fevered all week last week.  What the Doctor thought was the beginnings of a cold on Monday turned out to be a UTI on Wednesday.  Friday morning we took her to the hospital for a high fever following anti-bioctics and dehydration.  She is too "padded" so they had to put an IV in through her head.  Good news, she is well now.  Ben and I are thankful it was not more serious; we know there are many babies out there that are not as healthy. However seeing tubes attached to your child is a difficult sight and makes you feel so powerless when you are their protector.

Blue Eyes

When Stella was a  baby-baby, Ben used to sing "Blue Eyes" by the Cary Brothers to her (great song on the Garden State Soundtrack - if you don't know it, check it out).  There are times, when her eyes are as blue as they can get and the memory then plays in my head...I can hear him singing that song to her in the living room of our old house, while swaying back and forth.

Wearing Daddy's hat - Go Jayhawks!

The Cradle

Today was Esme's turn to lay in the Cradle.  When I say cradle, I am referring to a very old, very cool cradle that has been in Ben's family for 100+ years.  At one point that cradle was used for real purposes, now it serves as a great photo prop and keeping a bit of vintage history alive.  Stella did it two years ago and now sweet little Esme has been added to the long list of family members to lay in "the cradle."

Stella reading with Grammie.  I love that she loves reading with Grammie.

Esme with her Aunt Kate.  Esme loved her green fleece. 

I wanna a Snaaaaack Mama!

...says Stella as she tries to open our locked pantry.  Ok, here you go...for us to share.

She thinks this is so fun, it's a game. 

Resemblance

Esme is starting to show similar features to her Mama and Daddy.  I think she has Ben's eyes/brow. 

I think she will be our second girl to have Mommy's nose though.  

Silly Nilly

Stella will call any thing she finds silly "Silly Nilly" now.  I love hearing her squeaky voice laugh out the words.  I know she picked up on the phrase from me calling her that.  This is my silly nilly at the dinner table.  She does not like to get food or drink on herself.  However, she will not wear a bib and as a result has to take her shirt off 50 percent of the time during a meal. 

(singing)

Oh silly nilly, your face is so much worse than the applesauce on your shirt that is now serving as a rug on the floor for Phoebe dog. 

Awe.....

She crossed her feet on her own.  So peaceful.  Esme truly has a serene temperament. 

The Russian Hat

Stella:

Esme:

Snow Day?

Where is the snow?  I am a disappointed child on a school day.  I told Stella when she woke up, she would see snow outside.  Ben laughed at me.  Stella told me the snow was "sleeping."  Anything she can not see is "sleeping."  Pretty cute.
We are still house bound either way today as it is cold and icy out.  We "went to the beach," Stella wore this:

 

Boo!

Stella is so fun right now.  Her mind has no limits on the ability to absorb new information.  Even cooler, she retains, recalls, and uses this information randomly surprising her proud Mama and Daddy.  To say the least, we were very excited at how responsive she was when we were educating her on Halloween festivities and "all things Fall."  She truly has some spirit when talking about these things or pointing out pumpkins on doorsteps.  However, it is now December and we are even more excited to educate her on "all things Christmas."  When we draw, we draw pictures of Christmas trees, snowmen etc.  We take the long route home in order to pass more houses that are decorated (and people REALLY decorate in our new neighborhood).  We let her watch more TV than usual to really expose her to traditions.  She has watched and enjoyed "How the Grinch Stole Christmas (classic version) and Polar Express (thanks Grammy!).  All said, we are really pushing this Holiday on her (she even has a mini tree on a shelf in her room), BUT....

DO YOU SEE IT???

It is a Ghost.  Pretty good I must say, but this picture was taken after Thanksgiving.  She drew them all around my Christmas trees today.  When I drew a Snowman, she grabbed my pencil and said, "NO MAMA, draw a Witch!"   Ok, Stella.