Monday, December 12, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
December 11
Day 11 Advent activity: Audrey's Sunday School Christmas program at church.
This program for the preschool Sunday School classes is a major event at our church! Tons of people come to watch these little ones sing their songs and recite a few things. It's a big deal.
So Audrey loves singing. She loves singing her four "Christmas songs," which is what she calls the songs from her program. She sings them all the time at home and does all the actions. In her Sunday School class, she is one of the best singers. Yes, I'm bragging about her....she is all about the singing.
Until you put her on stage, and then she does this:
She knows "Away in the Manger" so well, it probably took a lot of concentration for her NOT to sing.
Since she didn't sing in her program, we decided to record her singing all of her songs at home instead. I'm going to post them all here for the grandparents (and anyone else who cares!) to watch:
Jesus Came at Christmastime:
Oh Christmas Brings us Joy:
Away in a Manger:
Bells are Ringing:
This program for the preschool Sunday School classes is a major event at our church! Tons of people come to watch these little ones sing their songs and recite a few things. It's a big deal.
So Audrey loves singing. She loves singing her four "Christmas songs," which is what she calls the songs from her program. She sings them all the time at home and does all the actions. In her Sunday School class, she is one of the best singers. Yes, I'm bragging about her....she is all about the singing.
Until you put her on stage, and then she does this:
She knows "Away in the Manger" so well, it probably took a lot of concentration for her NOT to sing.
Since she didn't sing in her program, we decided to record her singing all of her songs at home instead. I'm going to post them all here for the grandparents (and anyone else who cares!) to watch:
Jesus Came at Christmastime:
Oh Christmas Brings us Joy:
Away in a Manger:
Bells are Ringing:
Saturday, December 10, 2011
December 10
Day 10 Advent activity: Visit Santa.
Our local Goodwill hosts a little photo opp with Santa each year. It's really nice and not too busy and completely free. It's a good deal all around!
Audrey woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and was out of sorts all day long. I wasn't sure whether Santa would be a good idea today or not, but we decided to go for it.
It was empty when we got there, so we just got to walk right up to Santa. Audrey was a bit more timid around Santa this year. She didn't cry and she did sit on his lap, but she wasn't quite as confident about it as last year.
I don't know why, as Santa isn't a very big deal in our house, but getting a picture with Santa is something I always want to do. So we can check that off the list for this year!
After the picture, they gave Audrey a free cookie and a free stuffed animal (the stuffed animal is a Goodwill donation, so it's not quite brand new...used stuffed animals kind of gross me out, but it was free so we took it). We sat down in the coffee shop (our Goodwill also has a really nice coffee shop) so Audrey could eat her cookie. There was also a school choir singing, so we even got to enjoy some festive live entertainment!
Our local Goodwill hosts a little photo opp with Santa each year. It's really nice and not too busy and completely free. It's a good deal all around!
Audrey woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and was out of sorts all day long. I wasn't sure whether Santa would be a good idea today or not, but we decided to go for it.
It was empty when we got there, so we just got to walk right up to Santa. Audrey was a bit more timid around Santa this year. She didn't cry and she did sit on his lap, but she wasn't quite as confident about it as last year.
I don't know why, as Santa isn't a very big deal in our house, but getting a picture with Santa is something I always want to do. So we can check that off the list for this year!After the picture, they gave Audrey a free cookie and a free stuffed animal (the stuffed animal is a Goodwill donation, so it's not quite brand new...used stuffed animals kind of gross me out, but it was free so we took it). We sat down in the coffee shop (our Goodwill also has a really nice coffee shop) so Audrey could eat her cookie. There was also a school choir singing, so we even got to enjoy some festive live entertainment!
December 9 (part two)
Isla had her 6 month check up yesterday. She is so huge! She weighed in at 16 lbs, 5 oz (59%), and 25.75 inches (62%). She has been eating better lately, and as a result, she is sleeping better. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she is on her way to sleeping through the night again. This morning she slept all the way til 7 am!And seriously, what is the deal with my children making this face?
Just like Audrey, Isla likes to scrunch up her nose and push her lips out and make herself look silly!She was being such a ham last night. She would make her silly face and wait for me to start laughing. Then when I laughed, she would laugh too.
And then she would make the silly face until I started laughing again.
Then she would start laughing again too. Over and over again! It was like she was playing a little game with me...so fun!
Friday, December 9, 2011
December 9 (part one)
Day 9 Advent activity: go for a ride on the train at the mall.
There is a seasonal train at the mall that shows up around Christmas and Easter. It is only $1 for a ride, and it has kind of become a Christmas tradition for us. (Well, we did it last year and this year).
Today, we invited Simon and Elliot to join Audrey for her train ride. We got there just as the lady running the train was leaving for a lunch break. So we had to wait a half hour before our ride.
So we went to Macys and wrote letters to Santa. They have a little desk and mail box set up where kids can write letters and "mail" them to the North Pole. Audrey doesn't really have much of a clue as to what Santa is all about, and she also doesn't understand that she is able to have an opinion about what she wants for Christmas (which is fine with me!). But she scribbled her letter to Santa all the same.
We also looked at all the Christmas decorations and sampled the cologne (for Simon and Elliot) and perfume (for Audrey). Then it was finally time for the train ride.
Audrey and Simon in the green car. Audrey loves Simon and follows him around like a little puppy dog! When I asked her if the train ride was fun, she said, "Yeah! Simon hugged me, and I hugged him too."
Elliot in the yellow car.
The train lady felt bad because we had to wait so long. So she gave the kids a super long train ride. And when it was over, they each got a candy cane sucker!
There is a seasonal train at the mall that shows up around Christmas and Easter. It is only $1 for a ride, and it has kind of become a Christmas tradition for us. (Well, we did it last year and this year).
Today, we invited Simon and Elliot to join Audrey for her train ride. We got there just as the lady running the train was leaving for a lunch break. So we had to wait a half hour before our ride.
So we went to Macys and wrote letters to Santa. They have a little desk and mail box set up where kids can write letters and "mail" them to the North Pole. Audrey doesn't really have much of a clue as to what Santa is all about, and she also doesn't understand that she is able to have an opinion about what she wants for Christmas (which is fine with me!). But she scribbled her letter to Santa all the same.
We also looked at all the Christmas decorations and sampled the cologne (for Simon and Elliot) and perfume (for Audrey). Then it was finally time for the train ride.Audrey and Simon in the green car. Audrey loves Simon and follows him around like a little puppy dog! When I asked her if the train ride was fun, she said, "Yeah! Simon hugged me, and I hugged him too."
Elliot in the yellow car.
The train lady felt bad because we had to wait so long. So she gave the kids a super long train ride. And when it was over, they each got a candy cane sucker!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
December 8
Day 8 Advent activity: Watch a Christmas movie.
We went to Family Video to pick out a movie tonight, and I let Audrey choose the movie. Next time, I think I will just pick out the movie for her! I tried to direct her to some of the children's classics...like Rudolph or Frosty or Charlie Brown. But guess what movie Audrey insisted on getting?
Shrek the Halls.
She has never seen the regular Shrek movies, as I don't think they are appropriate for three year olds. But this holiday one is pretty tame and safe for little ones. It's also really short...only 20 minutes long! I think it was a 30 minute TV special at one point.
While watching Shrek try to figure out the meaning of Christmas, I realized that we really need to watch a Christmas movie this season that tells about the real meaning of Christmas! Family Video definitely didn't have any of those in their holiday section. Anyone know a movie about the story of Jesus' birth that would be enjoyed by a three year old? I know Veggie Tales has a couple of Christmas movies. I need to do some investigating and make sure that at least one of our movie nights helps Audrey learn about Jesus!
We went to Family Video to pick out a movie tonight, and I let Audrey choose the movie. Next time, I think I will just pick out the movie for her! I tried to direct her to some of the children's classics...like Rudolph or Frosty or Charlie Brown. But guess what movie Audrey insisted on getting?
Shrek the Halls.She has never seen the regular Shrek movies, as I don't think they are appropriate for three year olds. But this holiday one is pretty tame and safe for little ones. It's also really short...only 20 minutes long! I think it was a 30 minute TV special at one point.
While watching Shrek try to figure out the meaning of Christmas, I realized that we really need to watch a Christmas movie this season that tells about the real meaning of Christmas! Family Video definitely didn't have any of those in their holiday section. Anyone know a movie about the story of Jesus' birth that would be enjoyed by a three year old? I know Veggie Tales has a couple of Christmas movies. I need to do some investigating and make sure that at least one of our movie nights helps Audrey learn about Jesus!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
December 7
Day 7 Advent activity: Make a stable craft.
We did make a stable craft today out of popsicle sticks and some twigs we foundoutside. It was cute, but pretty simple. Audrey wasn't overly excited about this one. But it coordinated with reading about the Mary and Joseph going to the stable tonight in the Advent book.
I didn't take a picture and am too lazy to do it now...so just use your imagination!
We did make a stable craft today out of popsicle sticks and some twigs we foundoutside. It was cute, but pretty simple. Audrey wasn't overly excited about this one. But it coordinated with reading about the Mary and Joseph going to the stable tonight in the Advent book.
I didn't take a picture and am too lazy to do it now...so just use your imagination!
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