Lights in the parkway

Tonight we went to the Lights in the Parkway display in Allentown. It was pretty, but not sure if it was worth the money... we were going so slowly that the kids sat up front with us to see better! The shots didn't turn out that great, but we can all use our imagination!! :)

Cinderella display

Reality Check

I should really be going to bed right now, but I felt I had to write about my day with my little ones.

I have been so wrapped up in the comings and goings of Christmas... from buying all the special gifts to baking cookies to wrapping presents that the time seems to be flying by.

Today I took some time away from the hype of Christmas and took homemade Christmas wreaths to the graves of my grandparents. It is a tradition that I have done since... forever with my parents and will continue doing with my family. So often we forget about the ones who have passed that this few hours out of one day during the holiday season is the least I can do for them who loved me so much!


Although RJ was running up and down the row of graves (literally on on the graves), and Morgan lost one of the anchors to keep the wreath in place we had a nice visit to the graves... did I also mention that between cemeteries there was construction and stopped, slowly creep, stop traffic on the blue route (thank goodness for the DVD player... Elmo's Countdown to Christmas) and the tons of deer poop at the second grave sight that freaked Morgan out, our visit was very nice.

I explained to Morgan what a cemetery was and I think she understood. When I tried to explain to her what graves meant and explain that the bodies were buried in the ground, but the people's heart and soul went up to heaven she asked with ALL seriousness, "Momma, what about there head? And there hands? And there hair?" A bit more explaining and I think she understood the best a 4 year old can! Until she asked when we were going to see them again? I explained a little more (using Polar-Bear as an example), stating that they are with Jesus so we won't be able to see them again for a long time, we just have pictures to remember them by.

We said our prayers while holding hands and asked Mom Mom, Nana, Grandpop, and Granddaddy to watch over us and help us make good decisions throughout the coming year. We told them we hoped they enjoyed the wreath that will remind them of all the wonderful Christmas holiday memories.

Preparation!

Christmas Preparation yesterday!

I took a day off from school yesterday so that we could as a family: 1. Get Morgan's four year old photos taken 2. Get our pictures with Santa 3. Cut down our tree

It started out ok... I got up at the crack of dawn (6:30am start time) and went to mass for the Immaculate Conception (holy day for us Catholics). As I'm leaving with all the elderly folks, one gentleman says, "Must be pretty bad when I can't find my white car when there is only 20 or so cars in the parking lot." I smiled, politely commented something, and got out of that parking lot fast!! Can't find your car... it's white and there were only a few cars in the lot... yikes!

I got home and everyone was still sleeping... I gathered all our stuff together for Morgan's pictures, for Santa pictures, and for braving the cold weather to find the perfect tree.

Everyone got up and dressed and we headed out the door to make it on time for Morgan's pictures. Her pictures turned out great, the photographer at Picture People (most of the time they do a great job!) was good with her! Then we headed to find Santa... put in doomed sound effects here...

After over an HOUR wait we finally got to see the big guy!! NOTE.TO.SELF - - don't take off next year on a Catholic holy day, all the catholic students are off and parents take all their kids to the mall to see Santa... what was a short wait last year turned into an insane wait this year!!! NOTE.TO.SELF!!! As you can see from the photo posted yesterday, even with the extended wait, we got a great picture.

We grabbed some food in the food court before heading out to find our tree. Needless to say because of the mall picture crowds we didn't have time to go to the tree farm we went to last year, instead we went to one closer to home. After a trip and fall from RJ = a bloody nose Bob picked a tree (that I wasn't fond of, but just gave in), we cut it down, bought it and headed home.

Bob helped me put the tree up in the family room before he took a quick nap and headed to night shift. I stayed up late and got the tree almost completely decorated before hitting the hay. I paid for the late night today, but it was worth it!! The tree looks better with the lights and ornaments, but last year's tree I think was better... I have to stop being so picky!

SANTA!

No time to write, just wanted to show you our gorgeous shot with Santa! Go RJ!! Go Morgan!! More to come later...

Watch out Maryland!

Watch out Maryland... here come the Lee's!

This weekend we had a wonderful weekend in Maryland with Aunt Megan and Uncle Andy. Uncle Andy had a union Christmas party that we all went to! It was a lot of fun! They supplied lots of yummy food, lots of fun activities for the kiddos to complete at the tables, Christmas movies playing in the background, and most important an appearance by Santa himself... bearing presents!!!

We thought RJ might have been scared,

but as you can see he was even happier to see Santa than Morgan!

The men watching TV... do we have to mention it was Rudolph or should we pretend it was football?

while...

The girls played princess bingo!

On Sunday after church and before we packed up to head home we went to an inside play center that was right near Aunt Megan and Uncle Andy's home. The kiddos had a blast!! As you can see in the following pictures, they had a really fun time and there were many neat areas to play in!

Thanks Aunt Megan and Uncle Andy for having us come down and visit!! Hopefully we didn't destroy your home TOO much and you will have us back!! We love you lots and lots!!

Smells are in the Air

Today Aunt Jo, Uncle Sean, Claire and Zandi came over for our annual cookie making event!! Aunt Jo DOES.NOT.BAKE so starting last year we started a tradition that she will come over and we will make chocolate chip cookies for her and sugar cookies for Sean. It was a little early this year so Morgan and I helped them make their cookies, but we didn't make any for us yet... I just couldn't have cookies in the house ALL December long!! (poor self control!!)

We had a lot of fun! Uncle Sean even helped out a bit!! Zandi and RJ helped a tad bit, but they took a nap during some of the cookie creating! Morgan and Claire helped a bit more, but Claire lost interest pretty quickly and then Morgan wanted to go play with her...

It was just so nice to spend a big chunk of the day with such dear friends! We love you Gardiners!

When we were done, RJ THEN wanted to help... or eat the product!!

Happy Thanksgiving

We were blessed to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with our loved ones. Daddy had to work today, but the kids and I headed over to MeMom and PopPop's house between 2-3 so that they could take naps before everyone showed up for turkey day. We enjoyed lots of moments together with the family. Morgan loves playing with Felicity and RJ tags along too!! Daddy made it for the tail end of supper and visited for a couple hours before the gathering broke up and everyone headed home.

I am thankful for a wonderful family that would do anything for me and my kiddos. Thank you everyone, I love you!!

Hard to get three little munchkins to sit still and smile all at the same time!!

Happy Birthday baby girl!!

From this...

TO THIS!

I can't believe my little girl is 4 years old!! Oh my goodness, where did the time go!? It was just yesterday she was a teeny tiny baby... and now she is an active talkative little girl!!

I have been thinking about little things like... I remember wishing she would get more hair, and now look at her gorgeous hair!!

This year has been so much fun! You are learning so much about your world!! Lots of questions, but not just the why's anymore!! It is so neat to see you learning all the new vocabulary that is being introduced to you!! You have been attending preschool and have been very successful so far!! You don't tell us much about it, but you seem to really enjoy yourself!

You are such a mother hen to RJ! You love to play with him, watch TV with him, get him snacks, and cuddle with him... BUT you also like to make sure he doesn't sit in your red chair and that he doesn't play with certain toys of yours! You are learning to share, and that is a skill that will be hard your whole life. I know, sharing is still hard for me sometimes!!

You also don't like when I start to count leading to a time out. You say, "Don't count, I'll stop" and you usually snap out of your grouchy mood! You don't need time out as often as you used to, but sometimes they still helps you calm down.

You are teaching me more about myself! I love you more everyday!! You are my princess! You love to dress up like a princess, you love to wear dresses with tights, and you love to have your hair down ("like Sleeping Beauty"). I have succumb to the fact that you are a girlie-girl and I am not... but that unconditional LOVE for you comes in and I play dress-up with you, and tell you everything you want to hear!! Anything and EVERYTHING about princesses! I just can't believe we have had you in our lives for 4 years!! Daddy and I can still remember getting ready for your arrival... and now we await what you are going to tell us, what you are going to ask us, or what you will show us!