Creative Beginnings Christmas Show 2011

 Maisy had her Christmas show the other night. For the past two weeks, Maisy has been singing around the house, so I thought she would be belting them out when she was on stage. Well, not so much. For most of the show she either rubbed her eyes or played with her dress. Then for the other parts she kind of moved her lips like she was singing and she even threw in a few hand and arm movements. All in all she did great. I give her a lot of credit for standing on stage in front of all those people and not crying or running off the stage. Good job big girl!

Day 2 and 3

Day 2 we read "Jingle Bells" and made jingle bell bracelets 

Day 3 we read The Biggest Most Beautiful Christmas Tree
and made ice cream cone trees. 

December Daily /Advent 2011

Once again I am doing both a December Daily and and Advent activity this year. I have completed my Dec. Daily album, and it is just waiting for photos and journaling to be added. As for the advent calendar this year, I am doing it different this year. In the past, the kids would open a door on their calendar, and it would have a slip of paper in it explaining the activity we would do that day. This year I have wrapped and numbered 24 Christmas/holiday/winter books. The kids open a book each day we read it and then there is a craft or activity that goes along with it. I found this idea at www.oopseydaisyblog.com
Day 1 "Here Comes Santa Claus" the activity is filling in Santa's beard. We add one cotton ball a day to his beard until there are 24 cotton balls and his beard is full.
Miles and Maisy are very excited about this and I like the change. I will post some pics as we go along.

Wrapped and ready to go

Excited about their book and activity.

Saying for Santa's beard activity

Santa's beard is missing right now, check back later to see it filled in. 

2011 Advent Books
(Most of the book ideas I got from the blog mentioned above,
I changed a few)
Here Comes Santa Claus
Jingle Bells
The Biggest Most Beautiful Tree
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
How Santa Got His Job
The Mouse Before CHristmas
Olive the Other Reindeer
Mortimers Christmas Manger
Snowmen at Christmas
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies
Snow Day
Merry Christmas Mom and Dad
Santa's Toy Shop
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
Little Robin's Christmas
The Gingerbread Ma
The Polar Express
The Bakers Dozen
Merry Little Christmas
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
Pointsetta
Snow Dream
Frosty the Snowman
Twas the Night Before Christmas

Earthquake Soccer 2011

Saturday was the Earthquakes last game of the regular season. Miles has had a wonderful season.  He has grown so much, I think he is actually getting it. He played goalie at least one quarter every game. Not his favorite position, he doesn't get the opportunity to score when he's stuck in goal. As for scoring those goals, Miles had his first goal every this season. He was so proud of himself (mama was very proud too).  We had our end of the season pizza party on Saturday as well. I love the way his coaches hand out medals. They call each player up and say something nice about the player, the growth they have made, how hard they play,etc. Coach said Miles found his left foot this year and was happy with how much Miles has grown as a player. Not sure if Miles will play again next year, but we had a fun season this year.

Yup, right through his legs!

Coach Isreal and Miles

PJ Party

At Maisy's preschool, instead of wearing costumes on Halloween, they wear their PJ's. Maisy loved it! They sang a couple of Halloween songs and then feasted on lots of goodies. Before I took Maisy to school today she asked if she could have another pajama party, I told her to ask her teacher. When Maisy came home she said "the teachers said Halloween is all done." Guess she asked about the party, too funny.

"Stirring and stirring and stirring the brew"

"Whhhhhooooooo"

"God is great, God is good and we thank him for our food"
I think Maisy was REALLY hungry.

Halloween 2011

Since we carved pumpkins the other day, Halloween preparation went very smoothly. I did Miles' make-up, with no stress, we ate dinner and had time to spare to take some pictures without rushing. In the past, Maisy has not been into the whole trick-or-treating thing. Not this year, she LOVED every minute of it. She would yell at Miles "I want to ring the bell." So the kids took turns ringing bells. Also, she would say that light is on we can go there or no light we can't go there. She totally got the concept. She walked almost all night, but we knew we were done when she handed me here bag and asked daddy to carry her. Miles got so many compliments on his costume. Even teenagers would walk by him and say cool costume man. Miles was very excited and loved all the attention. Since he had such a positive experience with coordinating costumes this year, maybe he'll let me do it again next year... A mother can dream right?
We all had a wonderful Halloween!