easy christmas gifts

I decided to make a post about the little Christmas gifts we gave out to friends and neighbors this year. I actually have to have some documentation when I do anything remotely crafty since it doesn't happen very often.

I got these cute note pads from Dani Lassiter (My friend Miki Eberhardt's sister). She has a darling website with a bunch of personalized stationary and stuff. She put each family's name on the note pad and they turned out so cute. I tied them to a loaf of pumpkin bread that we made and stuck a little note on them and walla!

Anyway, very fun and easy.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

"zat you santa claus?"

Today was one of those "paycheck days" you get once in awhile as a parent.

You know the days right? The day when your child reaches a milestone, or does something that makes you love being a mom or dad. One of THOSE days! A "paycheck day" makes up for all of the other days of being a parent that you want to pull your hair out and scream at the top of your lungs! So I got to have a "paycheck day" today and I loved it!!

Lyza performed "on the big dance stage" as she would put it. She had her Christmas Dance Concert with her dance group. Lyza has been more excited about this dance performance then she has been about Christmas. She performed 3 little dance numbers and did such a great job on all three. I was very proud that a two and a half year old could keep a lot of the dance moves for all three numbers in her head and sing at the same time. I was back stage with her the entire time and I am sure that I was 100 times more nervous then she was.


Here is a picture of Lyza we took on the stage before the performance.


Lyza got to perform with 2 of her cousins. Shalice's 2 girls Halle (pink) and Jaicee (blue).

I was back stage before the performance began. I couldn't find Lyza for a second...and when I did find her she was sitting in the middle of all of the "older girls." Why is it that little kids always want to be with the "big kids?"

This is still backstage before the performance began. Lyza is sitting with her cousin Halle. You can usually bet that if Halle is around, Lyza is pretty much glued to her side.

Lyza has such a great extended family. All of her Grandma's, Grandpa's, Aunt's, Uncle's, and Cousin's from both sides came to see her dance. Here is a picture of Lyza and her cousin Thomas. They are only 3 weeks apart and are considered the "twins" of the family. They love being together.

After the performance was over we took some pictures with the family and got to visit with Santa Claus. As you can see from the next couple of pictures, Lyza is not quite sure if she likes Santa Claus up close.

Santa Claus told Lyza to ask for a Visa Card from her parents. Luckily Lyza translated that to us as a Christmas Card. She kept saying that Santa was going to bring her a Christmas Card. Thank goodness for language barriers.

We were so proud of Lyza. She did such a great job dancing in front of such a large audience.

What a great way to start our Christmas week. We love you Lyza! You make us so proud!

Here is a very rough recording of part of one of Lyza's dances. It is taken off of our Digital Camera. We have a much better copy on our video camera. I will try and get that copy on the blog instead?

On this dance watch Lyza (the farthest one on the right of your screen) as she searches for her spot on the floor the entire time. I always tell her that she has to stay on her spot no matter what. We have to tell her so much because I don't want her to think she can just run around the stage and be a disturbance. Anyway, before the show started Shalice and I told her which spot was hers. Well, we actually told her the wrong one, but don't worry somehow she remembered the spot Shalice and I told her. So she is about 3 feet apart from the rest of her group the entire time. But she did stay on the spot that Shalice and I told her to stay on.

first gingerbread houses

Lyza got to make her first gingerbread houses this year. She made her very first one with "Grandmas Eileen." She had a ball and loved eating the icing.

Here is a close up of Lyza's very first gingerbread house she ever made...complete with a snowman in the front yard.

Later in the month we decided that we better make another gingerbread house as a family. Hooray for the "easy to assemble" gingerbread house kits. I love it when things are so easy.

Lyza was intent on reading the directions along side of her dad.

I think the process went...eat a candy, put a candy on the house, eat a candy, put a candy on the house!

Hooray we are finished. Now the question I am going to get every second is..."Mom can I eat some of my gingerbread house?" Love it!

twelve days of christmas

So in keeping with my "doing things last minute" theme this year...my sister Shalice talked me into doing the 12 Days of Christmas for Steven. Oh yes...don't worry she talked me into it on December 12th!!! So Lyza and I did some mad shopping in one day and put it all together. Well at least the first 6 days anyway. Hopefully it will turn out okay...

Happy 12 Days of Christmas to you all!!

how come you are getting so big

I looked at Lyza the other day and thought...when did this happen? When did she get to be so grown up? I know this is a problem that all mothers face. We all blink and our kids are all grown up on us. I wish I could just stop the clock and take everything in slow motion.

I have been thinking a lot the past couple of days about life and what is really important. I truly feel that life is so precious and that things can happen in a blink of an eye that change your life forever.

I want to take a step back and really take in my life. I want to make sure that I say "i love you" to my husband everyday. I want to make sure my children know that they are the most precious things in life to me. I want to notice the little miracles that happen to me daily.

So as I looked at these cute little random pic's of Lyza, this was my moment today to pause. To be grateful for this little "toe head" girl that brightens our life. To be grateful for my husband who kisses me 5 times every morning before he leaves for work. And just to be grateful for all the little mundane "miracles" that happened to me today.

i want to take a picture

"I want to take a picture of you guys."

These are the words our 2 year old Lyza told us the other day. She figured it was now her turn to go behind the camera. I am sure she wanted to give us a taste of our own medicine. She kept saying..."just one more picture" "say cheese" "good job guys."

Above is an sampling of her best work of the day. Don't worry that at the start of this picture we were in the standing position. We had to try and stay within the camera lens as Lyza began to shoot. I mean, not bad for a beginner right? We had such a great time and laughed a lot as well.

Lyza, keep practicing and maybe we will get you your own camera in about 10 years.

deck the halls

If I haven't mentioned it before....I absolutely love the holidays. There is something about having your Christmas Tree up, your house strung with lights, and oh yes...the excitement of a young child around.

This is what our house looked liked only minutes after Thanksgiving. The tree went up (thanks Mom, Dad, and Ly Ly), Christmas music was playing throughout the house, and instantly my mood lifted about 10 degrees.

It isn't even about the presents. I love the anticipation of visiting family members, the endless parties, and just the sights and sounds of Christmas.

Here are our stocking hanging over our unfinished fireplace???? Check out the little white stocking attached to Lyza's stocking in the middle. We couldn't forget about our little bundle that will be with us next Christmas.

I have to admit that having Lyza around for Christmas makes everything 100 times better. I love that when you ask her about Christmas she say, "That is baby Jesus' birthday." And when I ask her what she wants Santa to bring her she replies, "Just one gift." I am enjoying this selflessness now, for I know it won't last for too may more Holiday's to come.

So to you all I wish you a fun and exciting holiday season. May your hot chocolate be warm, your wallets be full, but most of all may you still BELIEVE in the spirit of Christmas!