Chocolate from California...YUM

The girls got a package in the mail this last week. They LOVE packages.

Inside we found Avent calendars from Grammie and Grandpa. The girls LOVE them. Especially because they have chocolate inside.

Thank you Grammie & Grandpa for the cards and the calendars. They were a huge hit.

O Christmas Tree, how bare are your branches

While I was pregnant I opted for a fake tree. I didn't think I was going to be able to shimmy under a real one at 6 months with child to water it. Especially since they die about 3 days after you get it.

Or, if you're my friend Dena, you get a tick infested one! I feel SO bad for her.

This year I realized that I have a toddler. So this is our tree. Only about half decorated. The bottom half includes plastic ornaments that bounce really well on the kitchen floor. Plus the garland that D made over Thanksgiving.

It's our very own tween tree. 1/2 child friendly, 1/2 adult.

The Living Nativity

On Saturday we had the opportunity to take D, E & Zoe to a living nativity. I have to be a bit honest, I was a little unsure myself. I wasn't positive how they would do it and it was close to -10 degrees ourside, so it was chilly to say the least.

We figured we could bundle up, blast the heat and enjoy driving through the nativity scenes in the comfort of our own car.

As we were driving to the church that hosts the event, we saw a huge sign on the side of the road that said, "Nativity Staging Area Next RIGHT." Staging area? I had a moment of panic at the thought of getting out of the car. Thankfully it was just a Disneyland-like line to make sure 100 cars weren't stopped on the highway to get to the actual nativity.

That baby Jesus can sure draw a crowd!

We made it through the line and even got some hot cocoa in the process. Those staging people sure know the way to D's & E's heart. We made it over to the church only to discover another Disneyland-like line.

We answered the question, "are we there yet" about 600 times while we drove the opposite direction of the church. We decided to play a little "Bethelehem Trivia" in our car. Basically took some time to tell the Christmas story to the girls.

Zoe was more interested in staring into the dark night. Partly because that's cool and partly because she can totally see herself in the window tint. What's cooler than looking at your self?

We've gone through our version of the story and made it to the front enterance on the actual nativity. We popped in the CD and let a very nice man guide us through the story.

I was speechless. I've heard the Christmas story thousands of times. I played with the nativity as a child. Nothing could prepare me for seeing it "in person." It was so well done. We got to the stable, which was flanked by cows and sheep and I couldn't stop the tears from streaming. We rolled down our window and in the dark was a choir singing "Hark the Harold Angels Sing." It was a feeling I cannot describe. You know Jesus was born in a barn. You know there were cows and sheep in there with them. Yet to see it with your own eyes and know that it's like -11 degrees outside is something all together different.

As I was trying to compose myself after the stable scene, they had three, live camels with the wisemen wondering in a field. Live camels. -11 degree weather. It was truly a site. It was the favorite scene for the under 10 crowd.

What made the story even cooler was the very end. In front of this church are three crosses to signify Calvary. As you cross in front of the church, there was a spotlight on the middle cross with a lamb just hanging out at the bottom. The CD talked about Jesus as our gift, our lamb.

Honestly it was the coolest part of the entire weekend.

Until after we celebrated Jesus's birthday with some cake.

E asked what it meant to go to heaven and how to pray to make sure you get there. At our dining room table, E asked Jesus into her heart.

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.

10 Lords a Leaping is Overkill or Friday Five Faves - vol. 20

This year I've had a REALLY hard time getting into the holiday spirit. I think it can be related to several aspects of life right now. I realize this will probably be a downer of a post, but if you can't be honest with your blogmies, who can you be honest with?

I think I'm just burnt out. All the stresses that had kept me awake at night the last couple years are now gone. Which is a blessing, but I also don't quite know what to do with myself.

So to get into the holiday spirit, I thought I would do a Christmas meme for you all!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, with all the extra decorations. I spend way more time wrapping than anyone spends opening.

2. Real tree or Artificial? We've converted to artificial. Quite honestly, it's not the same, but I don't have to shimmy underneath it to water it.

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the weekend after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? Try to take it down on New Year's Day.

5. Do you like eggnog? Not in the least.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My new Huffy 10-speed. I was so cool.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My nephews and my step-daughters.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Husband, daughter and mom

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Sadly no.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail with a family picture. I may try a newsletter this year.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can't think of one.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Frosty The Snowman. Brings back my childhood.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually sometime in November or on Black Friday.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can think of.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? popcorn balls and little smokies. YUM! Not at the same time.

16. Lights on the tree? Heck yes, white ones.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Angels We Have Heard on High or What Child is This

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We travel to my mom's on Christmas Eve for a rockin' good time and then Christmas day is at our house.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yeppers, there is a song afterall!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star, I always feel bad for the angle with a tree limb up her...

21. Open presents on Christmas eve or morning? Christmas Eve with my sister and her family, Christmas day for my family and my mom. If I can convince N to wait that long. He's more of a kid at Christmas than I am.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The word Xmas. I hate it. People don't say Xtine's Day. Why pick on Christmas?

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love all the ornaments from my childhood. We always had a tradition of going to a local nursery and getting a new ornament. I have no idea why I picked the ones I did some years.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A salad spinner. Don't laugh, they're really cool.

It's raining bows

One of my favorite things about Christmas is wrapping presents. I love to wrap. I've also been known to bust out an actual rap while I wrap. It can get confusing. We won't talk about my aspirations to be the Christmas time version of Salt-n-Pepa. We'll save that for another post.

What I've discovered this week is that wrapping is harder this year. Mainly because I have a little helper who has her own ideas.

Last night for example, this is what we did.

About 15 times.

Maybe Santa should think about bringing her some bows for Christmas.

Going for the poker face

A little over a week ago we had family pictures taken. We've made this a holiday tradition. Last year the experience was less than stellar. Mainly because Zoe was 11 months and the photographer thought saying "smile for the camera" was enough to enduce hysterical laughter from the baby crowd.

It's safe to say I was a little worried about this year's experience. Namely because Zoe is a toddler now and likes to showcase her opinions whenever she feels. Plus we had D & E with us. If you've ever tried to coordinate three genuine smiles on film, you'll know how difficult this can be.

These little holiday moments have really taught me a lesson in patience (and perhaps a reason to self-medicate pre-shoot). If Zoe wants to cry and get all hysterical during the shoot, then that's the picture we'll get to remember the experience. When she's 23 and looking at these photos, I can tell her where the gray hair around my temples came from.

It's part of the circle of life.

This year the shoot was more comical than anything. Zoe wouldn't sit on the toddler sized couch to save her life. She thought it was so cool she could get off it so easily. When she was forced to stay seated, she let us know this wasn't part of her plan.

Then when it seems she would be cooperative, N & I were not what you call camera ready. Quite frankly we look like we're trying to ruin the pictures with our unprepared looks and double chins. I only like to hang flattering pictures of us on our walls. The girls look cute with their attitudes or crooked bangs that they cut themselves. People pass that kind of thing off as "part of childhood memories." Adult double chins is more along the lines of "that's too bad."

Without further ado, some of our shots from our newest holiday tradition. Apparently the under 2 crowd was less than pleased with the gold ornament and Santa bear. She had her eye on a basketball she found off to the side.

She is a giant

I'm starting to feel we watch a bit too much television in our house. However, only a few of them truly entertain Zoe. Typically she likes some background noise. Personally I think it is her excuse to use her outside voice all the time.

The Backyardigans are quickly becoming one of her favorite shows. It's a cartoon about 5 friends who all share a backyard and each episode is some adventure that they've created. Sometimes their backyard is turned into a swamp or an underwater adventure or the wild west. Zoe loves it.

Her favorite is the one about the giant. Tasha (one of the characters) is pretending to be a giant and walks around saying, "boom boom BOOM." Zoe thinks this is hilarious.

Now she wants to be a giant too. She will walk around the house saying, "boom boom BOOM" each time she takes a step.

Then she'll walk over to the oven and watch herself stomp around like a giant.

I love watching the things in life that make her smile. I love watching her mind work.