This 'n That

I just wanted to record a few of the miscellaneous things from the month that didn't make it onto our Project Life blog....

I kept Grace and Kennedy after Pre-school one day for different reasons.  The girls were so cute together.  Here they are being princesses and "Gaston."
 


Our family ornament this year is a Sand Castle ornament. I purchased it on our trip to Cannon Beach.



I captured these sweet hands one day as she was looking at one of her little ornaments.



Kaitlin made this sweet ornament in pre-school.  I've said before, I'm a sucker for anything with a handprint.  My favorite.



This tag accompanied the ornament....



Matthew attends "K2 Live" each Wednesday.  It's a church group for grades 3-5.  Dan volunteers at it as well.  They went to an Alzheimer's home to carol one evening and Dan snapped these photos for me.  I am so glad that he had this experience.



My mom bought Kaitlin this darling little coat that she's been wearing out and about this winter.   I know next year she'll be influenced by her peers so I am enjoying these final days of sweet mary janes, bows, bobby socks and little girl sweetness.



Dad's Christmas tree that Matthew, Andrew and Kaitlin decorated....



Jingle was lacking in time and energy to be creative this year. But he did pop around the house and the kids enjoyed finding him each morning. He was beholding the manger scene one morning.




The Advent calendar is another one of our traditions.



 I like the old vintage German ones, like when I was a child.
 


The kids take turns opening the little doors each morning. Funny how the little picture by itself would not be anything special to the kids, but put it behind a little paper door and suddenly a little kitty, or a drum, or an angel because really exciting.  The magic of a surprise! :)

 

Grace had a Super Girl party which was a nice opportunity to put last years' Christmas gifts to use!

Shannon did a fantastic job as always, crafting away and made it lots of fun for the kids....

 

Super Kids!





Happy Birthday, sweet girl!  Hard to believe she is five.

 

Andrew was invited to "Milk and cookies with Santa and Mrs. Claus" by one of his school friends.  Such a fun idea!

He left Gracie's party a little early with Dan so that he could attend and see his school friends.



He had a great time.  December is a busy month full of fun!  (I'm looking forward to a slower paced January!)

North Pole Breakfast 2012

 I realized at 10:30 the night before that I needed to put together the kids' North Pole breakfast.  We would be out of town the following weekend, and so we needed to welcome Jingle, our Elf back a bit early.



Though I didn't have time to do some of the things I had planned, I quickly set the table so we could have a fun breakfast before church the next day.

 

Our guest of honor was there and got a bit of a head start on breakfast!



The kids were SO happy to see Jingle. Especially Andrew and Kaitlin.



Matthew really enjoys these things too, but I think he's a little uncomfortable with these spontaneous situations and having people watch him and his reaction.  I've noticed this on Christmas morning and birthdays as well.  He always becomes reserved and looks a little stressed at times.  Which is just fine, I know he's really happy, it's just his personality and that's okay. 



However, he's always happy to give a great smile for a picture.



The kids were so cute continually looking up during breakfast to see Jingle.



 Happy Matthew, after the pressure of the situation has passed.  My reserved boy.  He's a touch uptight like his mama.  I get him.



I do so love to give gifts.  And there are always smiles to be found when there's a gift involved. :)

 

The kids received their ornaments for the year.  A gingerbread boy for Matthew, as a reminder of our gingerbread house building tradition.



A knight for my Andrew ~ he loves knights (and all things courageous) and was one for Halloween last year.

 

An angel for my sweet girl.  This Angel was holding her hands the way Kaitlin would as a 2-3 year old in photos, had a flower, which Katie loves, and she was an Angel in the Living Nativity at church this year, so this ornament was all around perfect for her.

The kids started opening their next gifts and this is where things got really funny.  The kids are actually really good about being properly grateful about a gift, even when not totally excited about it.  We've worked on it.  And talked about it.  So I was a little shocked, but honestly found it so funny when Kaitlin opened up her gift and reacted like this....



She took one look and got upset and started to cry....



And pushed her gift to the ground! It turns out, she was really upset that the Mrs. Clause on her PJs didn't have a head! Matthew thought it was funny too.  (Perhaps a little too funny).



We explained to her that HER head was supposed to be Mrs. Claus and she got upset with Matthew and told him to stop laughing at her because she DOES like her gift...(Siblings!)



It was funny that the PJs upset her so much, but once she understood she smiled happily as Mrs. Claus. :)

 

And because I am late in writing this post I can share the photo of the night before Christmas Eve....

 

First Day of School!

Matthew and Andrew started school on Tuesday, and the Bug started on Thursday, but I dressed Katie for her first day so that we could do school photos all together.

It's a milestone year for our family with Andrew starting first grade, and Kaitlin rounding out our 6 year pre-school tour.

First grade is a tough one for me.

It was hard sending Matthew off, and it was no different with Andrew. Though I was all smiles and excitement on the outside, I had a lump in my throat and an ache in my heart on the inside. 

 

Those little baby steps away...the letting go bit by bit that tug at a Mother's heart. I know some moms aren't as bothered by these transitions. I was invited for Mimosa's/coffee at one of Andrew's friends' houses to celebrate the first day of school, and I made an excuse not to go. I didn't have plans, but I knew I'd be fighting back tears.  I knew I'd need just a little time to myself.  And I did.

But first, there were first day of school photos to take!



Matthew:  Age 9.
When I grow up I want to be:  An inventor.
I could definitely see him doing engineering with his mind for designing, drawing, building and great ability to visualize.  He definitely follows in both grandfather's footsteps (who were Electrcial &  Nuclear engineers).
Teacher:  Mrs. Daniels  (and because I'm late in posting this I can report that she's his favorite so far!)
He was very nervous before school started, but had a great first day!

And the follow up is that Matthew is doing well ~ he doesn't have many friends in his class, and is separated from William for the first time which was hard ~ he was quite sad ~ but is doing fine.  His complaint, which has been the same each year, is that school is too easy...a good problem to have.




Andrew: Age 7
When I grow up I want to be: "An Army Guy"
Teacher: Ms. Cocklin

Andrew was all excitement before school, but got in the van and said it was a "horrible" day.  The next day was better....Andrew takes longer than the average child with transitions so I kept that in mind when I heard his report.

I walked the boys up to school and we did our traditional photo with the fox.




I gave them kisses and hugs and they ran excitedly through the front door and that was it.

Like I said, first grade is hard.

It marks the end of a phase in life that I really love and cherish.  And I want this for them.  I am happy for them.  For the friendships they make, the fun that they have, the lessons they learn.   I loved school and I am happy they have this experience.  Every day I am happy for them, but the first day of school just marks that significant milestone and I just have to give myself that moment.

My personal tradition is to have my little moment and then go and drown my sorrow in a pumpkin spice latte.

It totally helps.



I couldn't be sad for too long because I still have this little face smiling up at me.
That helps a lot.
We won't even talk about when she starts first grade!
After all, we have an agreement that she's going to stay 4 for a few more years.

 I was really looking forward to picking up the boys and enjoying our other first day of school tradition...



Apple cupcakes!

Kaitlin even asked "Can we go get the boys?"  She missed them too.
Soon enough, it was time.



We sat at the table, ate cupcakes and talked about the day.



These two boys are so different, and so wonderful.  I love getting to be their mom.

 

 “You're off to Great Places! 

Today is your day!

 Your mountain is waiting, 

So... get on your way!” 

~ Dr. Seuss

A Birthday Tradition

When Kaitlin was 2, Dan bought her a corsage on her birthday.
She loved it.
And a tradition was born.
Even though the flowers are long gone she still asks to wear the frayed ribbon that wraps around her little wrist from her 3rd birthday corsage.

Dan bought one for her 4th birthday as well & gave it to her shortly before her party started.













Unfortunately, they used a different kind of wire and the corsage wouldn't hold well on her wrist so she wanted it off before the party started. 

But it was still a sweet sentiment.  Dan is a sweet Daddy.