The versatile train table...

Yes, I know this post should be about Christmas, but it is not. Well it is about a gift received, so kind of.


Lilly and Drew received an air hockey game. It has been used quite a bit let me tell you.




The head to head match up. Lilly yelling at the puck like Serena Williams in tennis yells at the ball as she hits hit.


Drew defending his goal.


This is a true miss. She swiped at it hard, and the puck stayed right there.


I like how after they play for about 5 minutes they both start breathing heavy and say " I tired mama...really tired. I need water"

I had actual video footage, but something malfunctioned while uploading.

Christmas pictures coming soon!

Our project for today....

I wonder if Santa likes Lightening McQueen, crocodile, and weird looking shaped ornament cookies?? They were made with love.





But, like I promised, Chocolate chip cookies will be made later today as well.

Yummy....

The tradition has started thanks to Nana and Boppa. It was not a ginger bread house, but a ginger bread Christmas tree and Lilly and Drew loved it. It is like their own personal creation that is edible. Check out the concentration.


"I am not too thrilled about this frosting on my finger...some one take it off please"







It proudly stands on their table as a center piece(half eaten of course)

We have made contact

Dear Drew and Lilly,

I received your letter and was so happy to hear from you! My Reindeer and I are getting ready for Christmas Eve. We'll be sure to visit your house and bring you a special surprise. If you remember my reindeer and I would love a snack, as we have a busy night! Please remember to be kind to your friends and listen to your parents throughout the year. It makes me smile when I see you be nice. Have fun this holiday season with your family and friends.

HO HO HO Merry Christmas!

Love,
Santa

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas

Lilly had a special night with just Todd and I the other night while Drew had a sleep over at Grandma and Papa's house. The evening started off with Lilly picking out a pretty little performing outfit because she was going to sing in front of the church that evening(so was Drew) She was practicing her songs and hand motions to the soon be performed songs, and Todd and I had a great feeling that she was going to steal the show.

Some before the performance shots with the proud mama and papa.




So....she faced the audience for this brief moment.




Then turned her back lowered to her knees and remained there for the rest of the musical performance. Please note Drew facing front, but with no expression. It has been told to me that Lilly turned at the very end of the singing, gave a scowl of sorts and then ran off. I was laughing so hard, I had teared up and must have missed the scowl.


We went out to ice cream after church, and went to a special breakfast the next morning at Omelet Express. Lilly's favorite thing next to animals is food, so that's what we gave her during her special time.


As we were leaving for church that night, Lilly turned on the outside lights and yelled, "take picture, take picture" She is very proud of what her daddy did to our house.

It's a family effort....

Dear Santa,

R T (Drew seriously wanted to write those letters first, what they stand for, only Santa knows) I want to tell you Santa that I would please like a slow NASCAR. I like to play with my toys. Thank you for giving me a candy cane. It tasted good. I like your Santa dress.

Bye Santa,
Drew


Dear Santa,
I like you. I would like a Captain Hook toy please. Santa, do you like cats? Do you like stickers? Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas. I like to pet doggies!

Bye Bye,
Lilly


Dear Santa,

Please help my kids to understand that we don't bite and we don't hit. If you could arrange for more people to buy trex decking this upcoming year, I would be appreciative. But more than anything, could please deliver a hot tub to help by swollen southern regions due to a recent vasectomy.

Thank you Santa,
Todd

Hi Santa,

Remember me? It's been a while. But you have to remember the ridiculously delicious chocolate chip cookies I used to leave you. You probably have missed them for the last 20 years or so, but you will revisit them this December 24th and remember Lindsey Brant. I might have a new name now, but am still the same girl at heart.

I am confident that I was on your nice list for many years, and hopefully still remain on the adult nice list if that exists(and the rumor is that it does exist) So my Christmas wish is rather simple this year. But before I reveal my request, I think I might owe you an apology. Or my husband does. I am sorry if one of your reindeer was injured recently near the town of Willits. I think I read once that Blitzen or is it Donner lives in that area right?? How is he doing? My husband says he came out of nowhere and avoiding a collision was impossible. So my wish is that you could bring me in your sleigh a new bumper and center grill for a 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor? I would be happy to trade with you if you want me to care for your reindeer or maybe replace him with my daughter..she has more energy than all your reindeer put together and does not like to sleep( a good combination for your Christmas Eve travels) I have enclosed a picture of the damage:





Thanks for being so understanding and I still hear your bell ringing Santa..I do

The famous chocolate chip cookie maker,
Lindsey

Does Fedex get up to the north pole?

So we wrote our letters to Santa...what was written in these letters will be disclosed on this blog at a later date. I will say that the kids dictated to me exactly what was written down on these letters which proved to be rather entertaining.


So when asked where does Santa live, they both told me the north pole, but Drew also added the chimney.(I know..I know I spelled that wrong on the envelope. I don't think Santa attended high school though, so he won't know the difference)


We went to the town green and looked at the many beautifully decorated Christmas Trees. Can you tell how freezing it was that day?? Drew would barely hold up his letter to show me.


I love Windsor for this reason....




Will we get a response from Santa? Time will tell, won't it?

The dog lover in the family

Pinot is such a bonus for Lilly when visiting Nana and Boppa's.




Lilly could walk Pinot all day long if some one would let her.

Now that the Christmas Cards are out....

I can share these.....sit back and relax because there are quite a few. There were so many ones I loved, but this will give a great taste of what the session was like.















There are so many more(if you can believe that)but I will stop now.

I love you Melody!

The Evolution of Santa's relationship with Lilly and Drew

So the relationship started off a little rocky, but there were still good days here and there...


After the honeymoon period wore off, pure terror set in.


Drew decided he believed..and Lilly broke up with Santa.


Todd and I did not expect either of our kids to grace Santa's lap this Christmas, but something came over Drew as we approached Santa. He remembered all the books we had read, the stories we have told, the reinforcement that Santa is a kind, gentle, loving man. Much to our surprise, Drew marched right up to him(possibly even cutting in line to be perfectly honest) and wanted to sit and talk with Santa. It happened so fast, that Todd basically rushed after him hysterically laughing. He told Santa, "Hi...I am Drew Petersen. I please like remote control cars for Christmas." They are great friends now. Drew acts like he goes way back with Santa. Lilly on the other hand, said everything she needed to say to Santa from behind the safe gated area. Even after seeing her brother on his lap, she just yelled to him, "Hi Santa...I Lilly. I like you(really, then why aren't you standing closer to him?) I like Peter Pan."

I love this time of year.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.....

Let me just tell you that there is an energy and excitement around our house with Christmas in the air. Every morning, every car ride, every dinner conversation, Drew says, "It's Christmas time MAMA!" Yep...it has been confirmed he is our kid now. The verdict is still out on Lilly :-)


Lilly led the way during our Christmas tree shopping. Whatever tree her sticks touched was going to be the tree. She kept changing her mind though, so we were patient.



Once the tree was home, Drew was very happy to help with the ornaments and unwrap each one to see what would be revealed.


Drew wanted the star and snowflake ornaments to go high up on the tree like, "they are in the sky"


Lilly joined in with her brother and shared some sweet moments decorating together.


Lilly was very proud of her choice of placement of all the red ornaments.


Just to give you a closer look at the spacing. Well done Lilly. Well done.