Merry Christmas!

A belated Merry Christmas from the Whitfields!

The final week before Christmas came upon us quickly; we were busy celebrating the most wonderful time of the year! The kids and I spent a few days in Spokane kicking off the holiday early with Grandma and Papa.  Highlights included: popcorn and pajama reading of the Polar Express, sledding and snowball fight with Papa, cookie making with Grandma, lots of playing, and lots of presents! My parent's house is a Christmas wonderland filled with the most spectacular decorations.  Sophie was in awe.  

Our plan was to spend Christmas abroad with Doug's mom, sister, and brother-in-law.  Unfortunately, those plans did not work out, so it was just the 4 Whitfields for Christmas.  We decided to head to snowy Suncadia resort for the holiday.  It was the most incredible WHITE CHRISTMAS and Santa and his reindeer found us! (I am on day 3 of a terrible flu, so please understand my inability to chronologically arrange these photos.)

Cam's Christmas presents were apparently the hot ticket items...very popular with the 3-year old...

Sophie lined up all of the presents (Cam's included) and read to them. 

S watching "Frosty the Snoman" while cuddling her stuffed Rudolph

haha

Sophie squealed and giggled when she read Santa's note and exclaimed, "I wanted this gift so hard!!"

Christmas Eve: family tradition of new jammies and Doug's homemade traditional AU meat pies

Most adorable no-nap-on-Christmas baby ever. 

Other non-snow, non-Christmas updates: Cam crawls, he claps, and he climbs up onto his knees.  Sophie intentionally nailed Cameron in the head with a bouncy ball, threw her hands up in the hair, and yelled with joy "GOOOAALLL!"  Doug explained to Sophie that he was a little preoccupied with some items.  She reported this back to me, saying "Daddy is a little, pretty porcupine right now." She also loved to sing the classic Christmas carol "Police Mommy-God" (Feliz Navidad).  I am a mommy-god, so I did appreciate this song the most.

Days of December

December 9th: Zoolights







December 10th: Cookie Decorating Party with friends!









December 11th: Polar Express Drive (pajamas and hot cocoa in the car to see neighborhood lights and decorations)

December 12th: DADDY'S BIRTHDAY, Preschool Sing-a-long, and Family Black/White photos




December 13th: Arts and Crafts
December 14th: Gingerbread Festival
December 15th: Christmas brunch with friends
December 16th: Snowflake Lane....rained out :(

Amidst all of this Christmas cheer, both kiddos have been "bite-my-lip" adorable---I feel like Max from the book, Where the Wild Things Are, because I constantly tell Sophie and Cameron, "I'll eat you up, I love you so!"





Sophie notables:



"I am pretending my spit is hand sanitizer" (whilst spitting into her hand).
"I wish I had a wand to make mommy disappear and get a dog instead."
(Talking back to the radio DJ who wished the listeners a 'Merry Christmas'): "It's not Christmas yet GUY!"
(Responding to us telling her that she is too funny): "I'm sorry cuz I can't be too funny everyday.  I need to skip days."
When playing pretend with dolls, stuffed animals, cars, etc., Sophie will instruct us to "Talk _____".  For example, the command "Talk Lambie" means that I should pretend that I am Lambie and talk in character.  (Talk Rudolph.  Talk Pegasus. Talk blue truck.) This week, I was "talking Santa" and Sophie was "talking Lambie".  In character, I asked Lambie, the stuffed animal, what she wanted for Christmas.  Lambie (Sophie) responded, "I want a human stuffed animal."

Cameron notables:







This boy is incredible.  His huge grin lights up the room, and we honestly melt with love for his smile and pure joy.  Sophie still has celebrity status; when she enters the room, Cam squawks, slaps his hands in the air, and tilts his head back with laughter.  He is on the move.  It isn't a fluid crawling motion, but if he wants something, he will eventually scoot to it. I know that I say it every week, but Cameron is the most joyful, sweet, and hysterical baby.  I could cuddle and squeeze him tightly for hours.  He loves songs, he lives for 'peek-a-boo', and his whole face lights up with a huge smile whenever anybody is near.



Doug and I have been overwhelmed with grief the past few days for all of the parents who now must put one foot in front of the other as they bury their babies.  The tragedy is unimaginable.  I want nothing more than to be able to ensure that my sassy daughter and my sweet son never feel fear, never feel pain, never face evil... while we continue celebrating this season with our two babies, we pray for those devastated families.