Celebrating Christmas - Our Family 4

Since we would be in Wisconsin on Christmas day, Santa was notified to come early.  On Sunday the 23rd, we went to church and out to brunch.  When we returned home, SURPRISE!!!  Gifts were under the tree and the stockings were full!  Morgan had left a letter for Santa on the fireplace.  He was kind enough to reply.

 Her note said:  Dear Santa, I watched a show called Yes Virginia and it said if you see it in the sun its true that Santa is real.  But I don't know if you are real still because the movie wasn't real.  So please tell me the truth.  Oh do you know if the tooth fair is real?  Write it down on this paper under the plate.  Thanks, Morgan
There was not a plate of cookies since they didn't know he was coming.  But Santa still found the note and replied:
Hi Morgan, Thanks for your note.  I get questions like this a lot.  Think about what your heart tells you.  As far as the Tooth Fairy goes, I've never met her since she only visits when you are asleep.  Have a Merry Christmas, Santa.

She was soooo happy to get a response.

slightly excited!

 annual ornaments - Angry Bird Santa

 Cheerleader Megaphone & Pom Pom for our little cheerleader

ready to open Santa's gift

they had to work for it

there were several small boxes wrapped inside the big one

 Santa came through big time with ipod touches

We spent the rest of the day loading fun stuff on the ipods and watching the movie Brave that Shelby got in her stocking.  Morgan got Madagascar 3.  We saved that one for another day.  The nice thing about young kids is they don't really care when the big guy shows up as long as he does.  That helps considering we are never home on December 25th.  To me, Christmas does not have to be tied to 1 day.  The most important thing is that my kids know the true reason for the Christmas season.  And HE is not celebrated only 1 day a year.

Winter Party

The last week of school before break was full of all kinds of fun.  I think the teachers realize little minds are tired and full and are not focused for too much learning.  Morgan's teacher was brave and let them make gingerbread houses.  As she would say, her BFF Kate's mom was nice to send me a picture.

I took a close up of her house when I went to assist with the class party

Class party was Thursday.  Shelby woke up not feeling good but went on to school.  At 11:30 I got a call from the nurse that she needed to come home.  She had a fever and just wasn't feeling good.  I don't think she even cared she was missing her party.

Thankfully Nate was able to come home for a few hours so I could go to Morgan's party as planned.  they did a fun painting project for a craft

some coloring when they were done painting

As the party ended and they headed to art, our first snow began to fall.  I headed down to Shelby's room to drop off the stuff I planned to provide for her party and then Morgan and I headed home early so Nate could go back to work.  Only 1 more day until break!

Morgan's 1st Grade Music Program

Tonight was Morgan's 1st Grade music program.  The performance was performed by the 4  Kindergarten classes and 4 1st grade classes.  It was the usual short and sweet with a Winter Theme.

all dressed up and ready to go

but not so willing to get her picture taken

 keeping warm during winter songs

 had to chew on her freshly painted fingernail at least once

 the performers

 I liked this one with all those mouths wide open

Aunt Ashley came and so did Papa Russell and Nonny Martha.  Then we ate at every one's (but mine) favorite restaurant.

Annual Christmas Tree Decorating

My mom made the trip down this weekend to help the girls decorate the trees they have in their rooms.  As usual, there just isn't enough time in the weekend to get everything done that we want to.  They did get both trees done and Morgan helped my mom with some baking.  We quickly squeezed in a trip in the neighborhood to see some lights on Saturday night.  Morgan had a birthday party Friday evening.  After she got home from that, she helped my mom make carmel corn.

Friday was a late night and Saturday was an early morning.  Morgan had her first cheerleading practice with Upwards at 9am.  We came home and she got started decorating her tree.  This year my mom let them do it themselves with her assistance as needed.

 TASTY!

 STREEEEETCH

 all finished

Part way through they took a break so we could take Shelby to her first Upwards basketball practice of the season.  After we came home, my little baker helped Nonny mix up Gingerbread Cookie dough.  Shelby went to a play date and we did a little shopping.  The girls cleaned up for bed while my mom was gone for a bit, then we checked out the Christmas lights.  Before bed they cut out and baked the cookies.

 a few of the finished product

ran out of time to decorate them so I get to do that

After church today, Morgan crashed and had a long nap.  Shelby decorated her tree.  My mom gets them a new ornament every year.  She found the perfect one for Shelby while we were out shopping.

 finished!

she was pooped!

Thanks Nonny for making the long trip to keep the tradition going!

Morgan's Turkey Program

Morgan's class performed a Thanksgiving program.  It was a little Deja Vu as Shelby did the exact same program 2 years ago.  They even had the same part:  Narrator.  Also the same alphabet letter "A".  They both had the job of handing out programs.  Here is the star performer handing out programs to the guests who arrived early.

 the class

 everyone was there except 1

 Morgan and her best buddy Kate

 with Miss Corcoran

 she is now Mrs. Crow as of yesterday

Aunt Ashley's first school performance of the girls

They sang several songs and mixed in was a little play called Hooray for Thanksgiving.  This is where her Narrator part came in.  I don't have a picture because I tried to video tape it.  I don't have a video to load because my camera is junk and it wouldn't focus.  And if I did have a picture all you would see is Morgan holding her lines in front of her face.  Other characters were:  the boy Narrator, Puritan Women and Men, Native American Women and Men, Turkeys, Corn and the Puritan Minister.

Shelby was finishing up lunch when we got there so I met up with her teacher in the hall to see if she could get out of class to come watch.  She joined us and I think she enjoyed seeing the program again, especially since she had heard them practice several times when she passed by their room or the gym.

Calling the Tooth Fairy

Shelby took a bite of some french bread and out came another tooth!  That makes #6.  It is on the bottom on her left side.  The one on the right has started to come through although not a lot.  Good thing it is no longer corn on the cob eating season.  She's already concerned that she needs braces since the one on the bottom is coming in a little crooked.  I am trying not to be concerned and more hopeful that as more teeth fall out they will naturally correct themselves.  I hope that is not wishful thinking.