Reese's MDS Christmas Party

Yesterday was Reese's preschool Christmas party and she was just so cute! Here's her entire class. That's right...10 girls and only 2 boys! Pobresitos!

Reese modeling her reindeer antlers and red nose.

Food is always a reason for a party. Caden was lucky enough to be a part of the fun too.

Her class Christmas tree with their book exchange gifts under the tree.

Reese with her bells ready to sing "Jingle Bells" with her class. She really enjoyed this part of the party the best.

Seriously, just check out her smile.

Now check out her jolly voice in video.

Reese received "Merry Christmas, Mouse!" from the "If you give a mouse a cookie," series. She was quite happy with that.

Then it was time to say her final farewells to friends until the New Year. Awww, I just love my girl!

"Baby" Stocking Explained

Apparently lots of you were expecting to see the picture above with this post. Not so. I am sooo NOT pregnant. Sorry to disappoint, Mom! Didn't mean to stir-up such a ruckus! And we aren't adopting Baby R. We made a small stocking (note: not a "baby" stocking) for Gavin's classroom pet, Buttercup, a Guinea pig. She wants carrots and oranges from Santa!

She made her appearance this evening and the kids have been on cloud nine! This is the closest they will ever get to a pet. Gavin is keeping her over winter break....two whole weeks! I just hope I can hold out that long!

Gavin and Reese are really good with her, but that came as no surprise. They are really gentle with animals and babies...which I am NOT pregnant with. Caden has surprised us. He normally is a rough and tumble kid whose concept of "gentle" is a body slam jump off the top of the couch! I hope it lasts.

Isn't she cute?

Yeah, I'm not so much a fan of the Guinea pigs either...but this is my Christmas gift to Gavin. I will put up with her love her until the new year when she can go back home to his classroom.

Buttercup is living large too, let me tell you. Check out her mansion of a cage! It has 3 stories! That's more than we live in! B.c it's on wheels, we call it her "triple wide" and we can roll her where ever her heart's content.

See there you have it! Chelsea, you can just keep Jarom's Christmas gift at your house...at least it wasn't a stocking for Mr. Cat!!!!!! I have told you all time and time again, I am so done having babies. I'm enjoying raising my babies now! And loving on yours! Good night...

Attention Twilight Fans

Hilarious Twilight Puppet Show!!

2008's Hung by the Chimney

Every year we make up our own stockings for the new year and give away our old ones with goodies as explained in this post. This year Christopher and I decided that we wanted to do cowboy boot stockings. However, not too traditional as we all know a pointed toe boot is just wasted space for Santa loot! I like to have these done the first week of December, however, I just haven't had the time.

I stayed up into the wee morning hours Monday night and finally finished sewing (our own pattern included) our stockings. Everyone got to pick out their own fabric to add to the stocking. Unlike our button explosion stockings, the kids had minimal contributions this year. I made Christopher add the rick rack trimmings while I baked all day and night for the past couple days...and well, we finally finished.

It's official, our family is complete. We have no more room for stocking on our mantel!

Christopher's.

Sariah's.

Gavin's.

Reese's.

Caden's.

...

Our families stockings hung by the chimney with care,

with hopes that St. Nicholas will soon be here.

Next year, Retro Stockings.

Santa Play

The other day I heard all three kids playing together nicely and figured I'd better go check out what was actually going on as it most often leads to trouble. So, off I went and found this:

Santa (Gavin) was digging around his bag full of toys in his sleigh with Caden as 'Rudolph' looking on.

Reese "asleep" on the couch while Santa is leaving gifts for all the good girls and boys under the tree. Rudolph was keeping a look out...can't be seen.

A lovely assortment. It was so cute to watch them play Santa. Now, do you think I can get them to act out Luke 2 scripture with me on Christmas Eve?

Roller Skate Reese

Reese had a birthday party for a friend this past weekend at a roller rink. Reese has never been on skates before, so this was a real treat. I went Christmas shopping with the boys and Christopher took Reese to her party.

Christopher said that she was a natural. We'll have to plan more skate dates. I didn't even know their was a rink anywhere near us.

She had a lot of fun with her friends and I think she particularly loved that she spent time with her daddy.

Reese loves to be silly with daddy!

She left the party with a new found love of skating, a roller skate cookie and a lunch date with daddy! She was more than satisfied and certainly a happy girl when she got home!

The Pretend "Santa's Village"

Title taken from this post.

History repeats itself once again with the Forney Five. Every Christmas we have been in Texas we have gone to the Richardson Santa's Village and has always proved a fun family affair. There are a variety of elf dwellings that each offer a different activity. There’s everything from taking a picture with Santa, to visiting with Mrs. Claus (and cookies..YUM), to making an ornament, to writing a letter to Santa, feeding Santa's reindeer, an animal petting yard....you get the point! LOTS!

Christopher and Caden waiting outside Frosty the Snowman's house.

Gavin (top) and Reese (bottom) making a few holiday jingles with various musical instruments.

C, R and G outside the Elf's Ornament making house. They look so amused, no? I had a hard time getting a picture b.c my camera would take 7 seconds to focus and by that time...just give it up with kids! Besides the kids behind us kept standing in front of my camera while I was trying to take a picture staring at it like a deer in head lights! Some kids (and parents) have no clue!

The kids got their balloons from the balloon elf. The boys got a T-Rex dino and Reese a blue reindeer.

Caden visiting Mrs. Claus for some cookies. I was a little disappointed to see that Mrs. Claus wasn't sharing with the parents!

Christopher and I had the same thought when we walked past this theater house....take a picture of that poor guy! Look closely.

Christopher liked the tree over Santa's cottage. There are 16 little "dwellings" as they call 'em. Much too crowded to take individual pictures, but you should check out this page for a shot of each. SO CUTE! Of course, my kids didn't care to see Santa or his house (line was super long anyway). Don't get me wrong, they love the idea of Santa, they just don't care about all these "posers".

"Look at the camera and say cheese, Reese!" R, G and C saddled up at the Reindeer barn. Gavin and Reese got their nose painted red for a little Rudolph love. Caden would have nothing of it!

Gavin and Reese trying on real firefighter jackets. Gavin, "wow, this is really heavy, dude!"

We went inside trying to find the Forney Five famous poinsettia tree from last year.

Even while making their silly faces, Reese STILL can't manage to look at the camera!

Maybe this is our Christmas card picture! I give up!

Caden has been carrying this little whistle red light thingy-ma-bob all day long. Everything and I do mean everything had to be lit up by him before he would continue on!

And finally I end this post with the best! My goosey love and I!

Seriously So Blessed Giveaway

TAMN at Seriously So Blessed has another giveaway! Go check it out!

HERE