A Shake At The Diner And A Visit With Santa

This weekend we headed down town to the Old Fashioned Diner! The kids love eating at the Diner because they know they get a yummy shake.  Shane thinks the cherry on top is just the best!

Yum, Yum!!!

The girls thought the shakes were pretty tasty as well!

We finished lunch and then walked a couple blocks to visit Santa.  The girls were chatting at lunch about what they were going to ask Santa for and when they asked Shane he said, "You're going to have to wait and see!"  We thought that was so funny! I wonder what he has up his sleeve?

Alexa was a little nervous as you can see as she is holding on to her fingers.  She doesn't like to be the center of attention like that.  She asked Santa for some Polly Pockets and an American Girl doll! 

Santa took one look at Emma and said, "I know what you need for Christmas, a front tooth!"  Little did he know she knocked it out when she was 2 and we are still waiting for that tooth!

Emma was all giggles with Santa.  She asked for Polly Pockets, Barbies and some lip gloss!

Shane totally cracked us up.  He anxiously jumped on Santa's lap.  We were wondering what he was going to end up asking Santa for.  Well Shane had already thought about this moment and within a matter of minutes he didn't skip a beat and had rattled off a huge list of things he wanted.  He listed off at least 10 things and we were so shocked I can't even remember what he said.  The people behind us said, "Wow, he has quite the list!" 

 

This look was in the middle of him rattling off his list! I love this boy, there is never a dull moment with him around!  Does that sweet face look like trouble or what?

I think he was still rattling off the list as he was saying good-bye!

Santa with my 3 little blessings!

I love this picture! I think it captures their personalities.  Shane is being silly and didn't even wait a minute before he had that candy cane open.  He loves treats!  Emma is always full of expressions.  She wears her emotions on her sleeve! And Alexa is our first born who is wondering what in the world her siblings are doing since they are supposed to be looking at mom who is taking a picture.  

We had a fun family afternoon!  We are excited for more Christmas fun this week!

Milk And Cookies Night At Preschool

Shane had Milk and Cookies Night at his preschool.  The kids were supposed to wear their pj's and there were various activities for them to do, story time and of course cookies and milk.  Eric took the kids while he sent me off to have dinner with a friend and then we headed to an event at church.  I always love the events that they plan at preschool.  The preschool director and teachers do such an amazing job so I was sad to miss it but it was fun for daddy and the kids to go together.  I told Eric to snag some pictures for me! 

Of course Shane's favorite part was the cookies and milk!

The kids said they had fun picking out all the different items to put in their snow bottles. They found letter beads to spell their name, snow flakes, jewels and glitter!

 

Emma checking out her finished project! 

Shane adding his finishing touch, the glitter!

The kids also made some bookmarks!

Emma and Alexa had fun making "My Favorites" books ....

 

and Shane decided he would rather play trains.  

They also listened to a story about a fairy and her baby that was read by one of Shane's teachers.  

Isn't her little girl, the baby fairy a little doll!

The kids had a fun night out! 

Cozy December Nights

We love books at our house!! I was a 2nd grade teacher before I became a mommy and have always had a love for Children's books.  Eric might call it an addiction.  I am so glad the kids follow in their mommy's footsteps and love books and reading!  The kids always get excited when December hits and we are ready to pull out all of our Christmas books.  I started my collection when I was teaching but we add a book or two each year.  The kids look forward to seeing what the new book is for the year.  It feels like Christmas when all the books that have been put on the shelf since last year come out to be read! 

I asked the kids which books were their favorites and they just couldn't decide so these are on the top of the list at the McDonald house!

The weather has been super cold this week so we have enjoyed afternoons and evenings cuddled on the couch and reading books.  On Tuesday we had a below zero temps and a big snow storm roll in so after school the kids got their pj's on and we spent close to 2 hours reading books.  I sure hope the next couple weeks lends itself to more of those days.  When I broke the news the kids that I did need to make dinner for the evening Alexa jumped in to take over.  I couldn't help but to snatch a few pictures of my 3 little cozy, Christmas blessings!

I love this expression on Alexa's face!

Stay tuned for the new books for this Christmas season!! One of them is especially special to our family this Christmas!

It's Starting To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I love the Christmas season and everything that it involves.  It has been fun seeing the kids eyes light up and look forward to some of our traditions.  They were very excited when I told them we were going to decorate our Christmas trees. 

Shane was so excited to get his tree out and wanted to set it up all by himself.  He diligently pulled down all the branches.  I helped him a little but he did the majority of it and was very proud! 

He carefully placed all his ornaments all on his own.  As you can see he liked to hang them in bunches.  He has shifted and moved them numerous times.  He thought it was fun to take some of daddy's trucks and train ornaments from when he was a little boy and put them on his tree.  He also was excited to have a giant night light in his room!

The girls love their VERY pink tree.  It is quite pink but they absolutely adore it.  

It was fun seeing the excitement in their eyes and listening to them chatter about where they were going to put it in their room and how they were going to decorate it! 

Alexa thought her tree was just beautiful.  She said, "Mom, I could just sit for hours and look at our tree!"  The following morning I heard noises in the girl's room at 6:30 which is unheard of because I or their alarm wakes them up every morning.  I opened the door only to find Alexa sitting and staring at their tree! That tree is pretty special to get her out of bed because usually I have to peal her out of bed in the morning for school!

We then moved on to the tree in the Family Room! Every year growing up my mom and Eric's mom both had the tradition of giving us ornaments each year.  We also started doing this with the kids so we have a lot of memories that come alive as the lid of the box comes off.  Alexa once again was so cute.  As she was taking ornaments out of the box she said to Shane and Emma "There are so many precious memories here!"  She cracks me up with her mature statements.  They had fun remembering when they got certain ornaments and when they made others.  Note to self never throw those homemade paper ornaments away! The love looking at them from year to year! 

Trimming the tree with love!  I let this also be their tree and let them put the ornaments where they wanted.  

 

The night flew by so I finished up our "fancy" tree in the living room after the kids went to bed! Note to self next year start in the afternoon! 

The other tradition that we started is that they each have a nativity for their room.  They know when the Christmas trees come out so do the nativities.  They love retelling the story and setting up their very own nativity.  

Shane had fun taking his out and setting it up in his room as well.  I found him often in his room playing with his nativity.  I love it when he pretends he is baby Jesus and is talking to the animals!  

We had a fun evening! It was so much fun watching the kids eyes light up.  I love seeing the memories they have already about the Christmas season in these few short years.  It makes me want to continue to be purposeful in the time we spend together and the things we do during this Christmas season.  

There will be more fun, more traditions and more surprises to come!  

The Nutcracker Ballet

Some friends asked me and the girls to go to the Nutcracker Ballet with them.  I decided to surprise the girls.  I was bummed we couldn't take pictures so I had to grab a couple in the lobby to remember our first trip to the Ballet.

The girls were anxiously awaiting for the show to start! 

At intermission the girls snacked on a little popcorn!

The had fun watching all the dancers.  Alexa liked the mom and the her daughters and Emma liked the candy dancers.  We may have to have a girls day out again and hit the ballet again!