Christmas, Days 12-18

Enjoying a cupcake after sitting on Santa's knee

December 12th:  Daddy's Birthday! 

We took a break from our Christmas month extravanganza to give Doug his due honor---Jesus wasn't the only guy with a birthday this month.  Sophie picked out a bouncy ball for Daddy (I think I'll learn from her present-giving tactics, and next year, I'll give Doug a new pair of women's shoes for his bday).

December 13th: Finishing Touches on Ornaments and Tissue Paper Wreath Craft

December 14th: Visit to Snowflake Lane and Mitten Crafts

December 15th: Family Tradition Gone Awry

For the past two years, the three of us have taken black and white strip-photos in one of those little photo booths.  We have the photos framed in our house, and we plan to have an entire gallery wall for each year's photos.  The tradition then includes going to a particular Irish restaurant for dinner.  Each year has been so fun--first, with our nearly 2-month old and last year, with our 1 year old.  This year, we got excited and dressed, Sophie practiced all her funny faces for the photos, and we headed out...only to find that the arcade with the photo booth was closed for a private function.  I nearly threw a tantrum.  So, we decided to go to an Italian restaurant for dinner to drown our sorrows/disappointment in pasta...this photo was taken when we were all happy...

Minutes later, just as the food arrived, a 2-year old tantrum began.  I left the restaurant with Sophie while Doug wolfed down his lasagna and asked for the bill.  Later that night, Santa called Mommy on the phone because his elves had heard about naughty Sophie.  They had already made her green oven mitt (remember, that's what she asked Santa to bring...) so Santa talked to me about Sophie's naughty behavior.  The look on Sophie's face was priceless.  I'm not sure it was my finest parenting moment (what will I do for the other 11 months of the year?!!), but it worked short-term. 

December 16th: Making Reindeer Treats and Family Tradition Gone RIGHT!

Sophie filled baggies with treats for the reindeer; they will get to enjoy the delicious mixture of oatmeal, raisins, mini marshmellows, red and gold glitter, rice krispies, brown sugar, and sprinkles.  She made her first couple bags for Rudolph and his friend, Clarice (from the movie).  When I asked her what other reindeer we should make snacks for, she said "Dashaway."  Think: "Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!"  Funny.

We also loved getting our black and white photos.  Sophie is the queen of funny faces, so this adventure was perfect for her.

December 17th: Santa Train!!

For the second year, we rode the Santa Train from North Bend to the Snoqualmie depot.  This year, the Nivisons joined us.  While we didn't see Santa, we did enjoy the cookies, the trains, and the Christmas decorations.

December 18th: Christmas Tree Picnic Dinner and Snowflake Lane Date with Daddy 

D texted me these photos.  Sophie had talked all week about going back to see the Polar Bear. I think she's ready for Disneyland....!  

1 week until Christmas!! Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas, Days 5-11

December 5th: Cotton Ball Snowman and Pine Needle Painting Crafts (FAIL--S was not into either of these options, so neither project was completed.)

Can you see the Christmas joy and enthusiasm that was lacking with this craft?!!

December 6th: Salt Dough Ornaments

December 7th: Snowman Doughnuts and Pajama Ride through the Neighborhood to See Lights



 

December 8th: Sophie's Choice (she chose to "play with play dough by the big tree with pillows and blankets." We also enjoyed another pajama run in the car to look at lights.)

December 9th: Christmas Love

(Nothing says Christmas Cheer like time with your best friend/boyfriend/first love during the holiday season. Several hours before heading to Connor's house, I asked Sophie if she was excited to see Connor. She replied, "YES! Connor give me a wedding ring like mommy's." Sure enough, when Connor opened his front door, he handed Sophie a felt ring box with a bracelet in it. Another highlight occurred with Connor's and Sophie's "Jingle Bells" duet. Absolute Christmas Joy.)

    

December 10th: Seattle Symphony Children's Christmas Concert--a Mommy and Sophie date

 

December 11th: Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments (ssshh....don't tell the grandparents!)

Daddy returned home after a week away for a work conference.  I'm sure he is looking forward to Days 12+ of Christmas crafts, treats, and adventures!  We are excited for him to express his creative, holiday side with us.

In addition to the fun that Sophie and I have had together, she has been in a Pee Wee Picasso class and her farm class.  So, our house is overflowing with holiday-related toddler crafts.  Daddy got quite the show and tell when he returned yesterday.

Love this time of year and love my 75% NICE and 25% NAUGHTY daughter.

Naughty B2

A quick update: B2 was uncooperative (S advised me to put a check in B2's naughty column--see previous post), so my doctor wasn't able to 100% confirm the gender. She did give me a very strong indication one way, but D and I have decided to keep that information within a tight circle rather than publicize it. We will hold off on the big announcement until we receive final confirmation which will occur after the holidays.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch....look who is running the farm? Whose child is this?? And why won't she sit up that straight and focused at the dinner table?

She cracks me up. She is bursting with this dynamic personality. There are moments when I get so overwhelmed with EXCITEMENT imagining two children taking control of this house...and then there are moments when I'm just plain overwhelmed imagining two children taking control of this house...

25 Days of Christmas

Having a child makes the holidays sooo much more FUN! This year, Sophie understands Christmas traditions, sings carols during our dance parties, loves all of the decorations, has practically memorized The Polar Express, and enjoys a mini-candy cane or two after naptime! I love seeing her face light up as she explores every ornament or when she discovers a new present under the tree! She is into Christmas this year, and you have no idea how excited that makes me!

During her recent visit to the DRW Salon, Doug tells Sophie how her Christmas joy and enthusiasm bring happiness to her mommy:

Although it is highly unlikely that Sophie will happily/eagerly sit on Santa's lap (Remember, last year?!), she does have an interesting list of items that she wants from him. Consistently, she has advised us that she would like an "orange cat like the one in my Christmas book" (sorry, Soph, not getting another pet), a "horse" (again, nope), "milk" (ok, why not?!), "a green hot mitt" (this one cracks me up), and a "baby in her belly" (hopefully not for 20++ years, but it's cute how she wants her belly to be big like mine...).

I registered Sophie and her nanny, Whitney, for a Little Farmers class at the local farm. I had nightmares that they would make Whitney shovel manure and Sophie would be screaming in the pig pen. Fortunately, Day 1 of the class was awesome, and Sophie helped feed and tend to the goats. She thought it was hysterical that the goats had beards, and she's talked about them all week. Last night, when I asked her again what she wanted from Santa, she scrunched up her face and said "Ummmm, I want...ummmm, a goat beard."

Because she is a 2-year old, we've been experiencing the joy of those tantrums....On her chalkboard door, we now have a NICE and NAUGHTY checklist to document her behavior and help Santa determine what gifts she has earned. Last week, she came out of her room and said "Mommy, you look pretty." After I thanked her, she handed me a piece of chalk and said "Sophie's nice." That manipulative little girl knows exactly how to beat the system...the only reason she gave me a compliment was to receive a check in the NICE column! On another occasion, after a battle at the dinner table, Doug stood up to go add a check in the NAUGHTY column. He asked her to please stop crying to avoid getting another check. But, she said "No, I want two naughty checks." She's got so much personality that I wonder how B2 will ever get any attention in this house!

In honor of my obsession with this holiday, I've developed the "25 Days of Christmas." Each day, we will do a dedicated Christmas craft, activity, or adventure. We did start a little early by getting our tree after Thanksgiving, visiting the Botanical Garden light show, welcoming Santa to Bellevue at a festival, and a few other holiday activities. But, I will be documenting our 25 Days with photos and posting them on the blog to celebrate our festivities.

December 1st: Decorating Little Trees

December 2nd: Making a SOPHIE Snowman

December 3rd: Visiting and Feeding the Reindeer at a Christmas Festival

December 4th: Painting Paper Plate Christmas Trees

Hope you all are enjoying this most wonderful time of year!

PS. CHECK back in the next couple days, because with all luck, we will know and announce the gender of B2!! Time is FLYING with this pregnancy....