It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

It's been a super crazy, super busy, super fun month (and there are 11 more days to go).

Here is just a glimpse of our scorecard:
Days Steve's been traveling: 7
Sick trips to the clinic: 1
Days of anitbiotics: 10
Missed days of school: 2  (this is a problem for a mom that needs to get stuff done!)
Broken gas tank door: 1
Days of snow: 2
Broken jacket zipper: 1
Preschool Christmas Party Volunteer: 1 (really crazy person)
Stove that won't work: 1
Sewing projects: 376
Trips to the Post Office: 278
Iron that won't heat: 1 (this is a problem for a mom that needs to sew!)
Hours of sleep we're getting: not nearly enough
Fun we're having: way more than we deserve

The girls are having fun with their nativity advent calendar again this year.

From Winter 2013-14

From Winter 2013-14

From Winter 2013-14

We are also attempting a "Jesse tree" this year.  I found some scripture readings and printable pictures that are kid-friendly.  There are a bunch of different ones out there but I thought the girls would like to color a picture/ornament to add to a tree each day.  The tree looked much cuter in my head before I made it.  Oh well, one more reminder about what's important and what's not!

Ruby's been asking to make gingerbread cookies and, while I like to bake and I love my kids, I don't actually love baking with my kids.  So I finally summoned up the strength this weekend.

From Winter 2013-14

From Winter 2013-14

(Not many action shots because...sugar, sprinkles, icing everywhere.)  They turned out cute, it wasn't nearly as painful as I'd anticipated, and Ruby had the idea to deliver them to our neighbors- so sweet!

We bundled up after dinner last Saturday night and headed to the zoo for their Wild Lights.  Hot cocoa, cookies, and lots of pretty lights!

From Winter 2013-14

From Winter 2013-14

From Winter 2013-14

(Love that hat hair!)

We had a bit of snow last Monday and cold temps so it stuck around.  I pulled the girls around on the sled a few times and they had fun eating it (yuck).

From Winter 2013-14

Then we woke Saturday to a few more inches of wet sticky snow that we played in all morning.  Attempted a couple little snowmen, shoveled, made angels, ate more snow, and then trudged to the park to go sledding.  I thought Ada might be scared but Steve gave her sled a push and she giggled the whole way down.  She wasn't too happy when she had to wait for Ruby to take her turn too.  Guess we need to get another sled.  The girls loved the snow!  Ruby even said, "It must be real Christmas!"  With all of our Christmas festivities she can't hardly wait for "real Christmas".

From Winter 2013-14

From Winter 2013-14

From Winter 2013-14

From Winter 2013-14

From Winter 2013-14

From Winter 2013-14

St. Nick came again this year and brought Christmas jammies, slippers, and chocolate coins.

From Winter 2013-14

From Winter 2013-14

Ada's pj's look just like the ones St. Nick brought for Ruby when she was two!  I think he knew that Mommy recently discovered 10 pairs of winter jammies in size 2T when digging through clothes bins.  Ten.

We have a few more festivities to round out the week and then we are piling in the Prius for a fun holiday road trip!  So excited!