Kitchen helper
“It’s like a frosting sucker!”
Tag: Shecklet #3
Sun and snow
The temps are finally warm enough to (safely) send the kids out to play in the snow. It’s amazing how warm 20℉ feels after weeks of negative windchills. The sun definitely helps, too.
So tired
This is what happens when you get up at 6:45, play all morning with Grandma, and don’t have quiet time.
Little #3 fell asleep trying to get out her fruit snacks this afternoon. And we only went 5 minutes from the house to pick up her brothers.
Christmas Day 2013
The Littles got up filled with excitement this morning! They went downstairs and quickly found their stockings filled with an assortment of stocking stuffers and new pj’s. Once Jake and I came downstairs they started handing out gifts – finding the ones they picked out for me and begging me to open them. My heart melted. They didn’t want to open THEIR gifts, they wanted me to open mine. (I told them I was excited to see what they picked out for me, but did convince them to open some of their gifts first.) When I finally opened my presents, I found that once again, they each picked out something that was extremely thoughtful. Little #1 knows I love elephants, so he chose an elephant calendar for my office wall. Little #2 overheard that my hand mixer had seen better days, so he selected an amazing replacement one for me. (I opened his present a day early because (1) he couldn’t contain his excitement and (2) he wanted me to use it for mixing up the batter for the cookies we made on Christmas Eve morning. Little #3 apparently made a bee-line for the nail polish at Target when she went shopping with her dad and selected two nail polishes. (She’s big in to having me paint her nails and then wants to paint mine.) Little #4’s gift was a set of four mini-spatulas, which I have been secretly hoping would show up in my kitchen. Four wonderful, thoughtful presents from my four Littles.
The gifts the Littles received were theme based this year. I had heard about the idea of giving kids something they need, something they want, something to read, and we added giving them something to share among the four of them. I wrapped each theme in similar paper and the kids took turns opening their themed gift. I thought it worked quite well and would like to use the same idea next year.
After quiet/naptime, we loaded up the truck and headed for Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Everyone was home for the afternoon/evening. We had dinner as a family and then took a few group photos before opening presents.
It started with two:
Two became seven:
Add six more:
And it gets crazy!
The kids of course, thoroughly enjoyed opening their gifts. Little #4 was delighted to play with the paper and boxes.
Christmas Eve 2013
Today was the start of our Christmas celebrations. My parents went to Christmas Eve mass with us and then came over to the house for dinner. They left just before we put he Shecklets to bed so the house could get prepped for Christmas morning.
Christmas Eve baking
Nana and Papa are coming over tonight after we all go to mass. The Shecklets are baking Papa’s favorite gumdrop cookies for dessert. (Great Grandma Fran’s recipe.)
Bow and arrows
I am going to see the second movie in the Hunger Games series with one of my besties tonight. Can’t wait! (Our husbands then get a night out to go see the second Hobbit movie.)
The accessories above were all created by Little #3. No prompting on my part. Looks like I have a mini Katniss Everdreen. Little #3 loves to make bows and arrows out of these balls and sticks we gave the boys for Christmas two years ago. In fact, she already has a pink bow picked out for when she is considered “old enough.”
Sisters help each other
“I’m doing a good job feeding [Little #4]! I’m a big girl feeding [Little #4]!” said a very proud Little #3 this morning.
First bus ride
We parked at a different school and rode the bus with Little #3 to the boys’ Christmas concert at school tonight. She loved it!
Lego Shecklets
The kids got a good laugh out of seeing themselves as Lego figurines tonight.
My first attempt at Lego-izing us had Little #4 symbolized as a pink stroller, but I like my second attempt below, better. In reality, she hates wearing hats, but it’s winter (absolutely freezing right now!) and she has very little hair – so a hat it is!
