Middlebrook Family Christmas

This year, we celebrated Christmas with the Middlebrook Family a week before Christmas on December 19th at my brother's house. Nathan and Bella were only in town for a few days, and then Holly, Philip, and Thomas were heading to Costa Risca on December 23rd.

We made gingerbread houses. You can see the crack in Bea's house that Popsey had to fix. I gave up after the piece broke.

Hayley and Hannah take a break to give me a smile.

The finished houses.

Holly and I take a picture with Charlie.

Thomas and his "stash".

Bridgette and her sister, Heather.

Time for the kids to open their gifts. This year they did a Secret Santa exchange.

The kids and their gifts.

This year, Goosey got a gift. The kids were all so excited to watch her open her gift.  \

Goosey realizes in this photo that she got an American Girl Doll of her own.

Goosey and Felicity

The kids sang some carols on the front lawn before heading out to look at Christmas lights.

Teddy Bear Christmas Party & Gift Exchange

A classmate brought red noses for the class. They were such a hit, as the kids enjoyed wearing them and watching them blink.

They completed a fun craft, scratching the black surface to reveal many colors.

Apparently, making snowmen is a Christmas tradition at our house, in Houston, Texas, where we are lucky to get a sprinkle of snow. Who knew? Why she didn't mention the Advent candles, or the Advent calendar, or decorating the tree and house, or baking cookies, is beyond me. I think in her dreams, she would like making snowmen to be our Christmas tradition.

Yummy cupcakes

The class sang a very special "one of a kind" song: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. The noses were quite fitting!

Not sure what Beatrix is doing here. Big exhale?

It's time for the gift exchange.

Getting excited!

Waiting for the gifts

Beatrix gets her gift.

She opens it to find...

The most perfect gift she could have received. A Hello Kitty doll. Very fitting!

A photo with one of her teachers, Ms. Blewer.

Merry Christmas!

Teddy Bear Class Celebrates Ms. Shurter's Birthday

The Teddy Bear class was so excited to celebrate Ms. Shurter's birthday today. We decided to get a group photo at the school Christmas tree. I have to post several of these, as you know, getting a photo of a group of kids is challenging to say the least. That being said, it is so much fun looking at the series of photos and wondering what the heck some of them are doing, and why?!?!

Now, in this photo, the kids so another classmate coming into school.

And, finally, most of the class with the birthday teacher!

Third Week of Advent

This week's song is: "Light 3 candles, Christ is coming. Christ the HOPE of the world. Light 3 candles, Christ is coming. Christ is coming soon." We *finally* got to light the pink candle! Beatrix has been anxious for this moment since the first Sunday of Advent.

Beatrix saying her prayers.

Charlotte prefers her yogurt to praying at the moment.

Lights in the Heights

This year, we decided to brave Lights in the Heights with the Pessoa's and Guyton's. I say "we", but Steven opted to run some much needed errands (smart guy!). No really, aside from the crowd of people, it was a very festive, small town feel, celebration of lights. There was a small parade, brightly lit homes, singing and re-enactments, and people handing out yummy treats down the streets at several homes.

The decorations ranged from the sincere...

...to the silly!

This live manger scene was probably Beatrix's favorite. The kids were singing Christmas carols, and there was a real miniature horse next to the stable. I guess a real miniature horse is close to a donkey or camel, right? It doesn't matter...the thought was there, and it was really sweet.

Trouble

Trouble. That's the only word I can use for what we are in for. Omi sent Charlotte an early Christmas present, which she wanted her to start using immediately due to her need to climb everything. I took the parts out of the box, turned around, and took a call from Steven. When I got off the phone, I turned around and noticed that Beatrix had already put the wheels on along with the nuts and bolts. She told me she knew how to put it together.

She managed to complete steps 1 & 2 without looking at the instructions.

If we are lucky, she may take after her Daddy. We can always hope anyway!

Beatrix found some other uses for the slide, including propelling herself from it to the sofa. She also fastened it to the sofa like a slide so she and Charlotte could slide down it. God help us!

With Beatrix's help, Steven was able to assemble Charlotte's bus so that she could enjoy it the way it is supposed to be enjoyed. (last 2 photos taken 12/12/2010)