Christmas Prep

It seems like ever since Benjamin was born, we hit the ground running: new baby, interviews for fellowships, Thanksgiving, and then , Christmas!

We were busy, and often times, sick, but we did our best to celebrate the season!

Here we are at the park down the street, where Santa came, on his sleigh! It was Bekah's first Santa experience of the season and it went really well! The concept of the whole family getting into the sleigh was much less intimidating than having to sit in his lap : ). Great idea, if you ask me!

And still, close enough to him, to get a good glimpse, and not be scared! You can tell she is a little unsure, therefore, happy, sitting right where she is, with her daddy!

It was a fun morning, spent with Santa and friends!

One of Bekah's favorites, Colt!

Once mommy mustered up the energy to take down the Thanksgiving decorations, we were on to the Christmas decorating! And the thing is, Bekah had a cold that week, and it ended up being the perfect "stay at home" activity to do!

(Playing with the nativity scene, pretty much her favorite decoration this year, we have 3 of them!)

You should have seen this girl's face when I brought out the Christmas Minnie that my mom bought Bekah the Christmas before she was born. Instant best friends! I still don't have the heart to put her up yet . . . She may be  around all year . . .

Our Tree

Thanks to Robyn, we had this paper that listed a verse each day for us to read from the bible, sort of like an advent calendar, that Bekah would then color after daddy read it to her.

"Igor" the Elf was back for yet another year of mystery!

The tree and all it's ornaments was a constant source of entertainment  . . .

My friend Courtney was so sweet and had Bekah over to make Gingerbread Houses with her friend Colt. She had a blast!

Bekah's school had a "living nativity scene" one night up at the church and we went. It was really cool, she got to see "shepherds" and got to "look all over the town" for Mary and Joseph,

and finally found them in the stable with all the (real)  animals!

Bekah was sick for the ornament exchange for our playgroup, so Benjamin went in her place  : ).

We were especially excited about spending Christmas in Houston this year,

 in our house that we love so much! Since we will be moving next year, the timing was perfect for us to have a Christmas in our own house, for the first time.

Our friends, the Byrds', invited us to "Breakfast with Santa", where they had cookie decorating,

(Bekah sending her letter to Santa- out of order, I know, can't switch it!)

Eating breakfast with Santa : ).

Bekah, Jack and Grace:

She was really excited to give Santa his letter and he was pretty much the best Santa Zack and I had ever seen, hands down!

( yeah, after we "mailed it", I told her that the elves sent it back to her to hand to Santa herself, since she would be seeing him the next day. I had not quite thought that out completely when we "mailed it!")

Gramommy came down to help take care of the sick kids while mommy did some Christmas shopping : ).

Thank you Gramommy!

While Bekah was sick, we watched lots of movies and ate "picnics" in front of the TV. It made her happy, kept us all sane and got her to get down some nourishment.

After she started feeling better,  we had a few habits to break, but she did a pretty good job of it.

On Bekah's last  day of school before the break, we took some pics in her Christmas outfit and it reminded me of how I don't do monthly posts for her anymore, so here are some things I want to remember about my sweet baby girl:

- She talks all the time and is constanty asking me for the meaning of words, she keeps me on my toes!

- any time we hear a new song, she wants to know "what it's about," funny when we are listening to George Strait, "it's about a cowboy who likes 'his friend,'" "it's about a cowboy who misses 'his friend,"

- What she loves to do most in this world is read, and if she could decide, it would not be on her own, she wants you to read to her! She has an endless attention span, there is no book too long for Bekah! For daddy or mommy? Maybe : ) , but not for her!

- Because of her love of books, she gets a "bonus" book if she doesn't go to time out that day. It's the best incentive there is, even more so than sweets.

- We go to time out about 4 times a week, and if it is 4,those 4 may have been all in one day, we tend to have good days and not so good days

- school is still going wonderfully, though she may not be the sleeping child in the corner during naptime, I am told she does well and is always engaged.

- potty training is still going well, hardly any accidents at all. going #2 continues to be super successful too! she does still get rewarded with a gummy bear, but that is just not a bridge that i want to cross right now, givng up the rewards! she seemed to forget about it for awhile there, but then, when benjamin was born, she seemed to "need" them again

- the unsolicited "I love you's" have begun! She will say things like, "mama, you know what I want to tell you? I love you!" oh gosh, it just melts the heart!

- she sings alot of things that she wants to do, such as, "i'm going to go to the potty and then, we can take a bath and brush my teeth!" teehee!

- the musician in her came out comically during Christmas too! once I laid her down for her nap, I was almost always guaranteed a version of Noel, Jingle Bells, Hark the Herald Angles Sing, 12 Days of Christmas, Frosty, Rudoplh or Gloria! Hearing her hit those high notes on the monitor made me giggle daily!  

- she always has, and continues to have an opinion about what she wears, this season, you can typically find her in a longsleeve dress with leggings/tights and cowboy boots.

- she continues to be a wonderful and proud big sister!

- she is always saying, "you are so cute benjamin!" and always wants to kiss him and touch him. while they were sick, it was VERY hard on her to stay away from him.

- lately when he cries, she will say, "he needs his pacy!" or "he needs to nurse!" and can be found sh-shing him.

- she considers him her friend and is always wanting me to "talk for him" so they can have a conversation together. very cute!

There are a million more things I could say, but

Bekah, you continue to amaze/challenge me with your memory, kindness, stubborness, curiosity, intelligence and imagination every day!

The annal Christmas block party was a success, once again, though Mrs. Claus did not make her appearance, like in years past, too bad mommy had already started talking her up! When she met Santa, she even asked him, "Where's Mrs. Clause?" To which he replied, "I brought my elf this year!" ( the "elf" is sitting next to Santa) She wasn't too impressed, and neither was I, Mrs. Clause would have been WAY cooler! 

It was a gorgeous day to hang out with neighbors, and let the kids take over the block, Bekah had sooo much fun! She even wanted to break out her bike, something she NEVER shows interest in! Maybe it was all the big kids around her that sparked the interest!

And now for the actual Christmas Post! Coming soon . . .