Checking things off one by one...

...and taking it day to day. We're four days away from the big day. This month has been such fun with Maggie. Things we've accomplished:

-both kids sat on Santa's lap and it was quick and easy. Then later that night, Maggie sat on a different Santa's lap (more realistic, not creepy) while we toured the zoo lit up with lights. She hopped right up there and started chatting away. No tears for this girl. Not sure if I'm in trouble because even though we wrote out our list to Santa beforehand, she came up with new stuff to talk to Santa about. She told Santa that she wants a ladybug that walks and talks. I think it's a toy xylophone she saw on Doc McStuffins. Yeah, not happening. We don't do crazy presents and I still have shopping to do for others, the kids are set. Hopefully once Christmas morning appears and she opens her goods, the ladybug will magically drift from her mind. Oh, and she asked after leaving the first Santa "Why does Santa love me?". Then after leaving the second Santa she said enthusiastically "Santa really loves me!" Yes, we do :-)

-we made our gingerbread house and tree, thank you Lito and Lita!

-we made it to the Nutcracker. Plans changed last minute but we went with bells on. Maggie was a hit in her dress, one person even asked if she was one of the performers. In her dreams! She got a little antsy during the performance but I know she liked it. She kept asking me in her loud whisper voice when she could go up on stage to dance. Later that night I went into her room and she had all her ballet skirts/tu-tu's laid out neatly. Dance lessons are on my to-do list for her in 2013.

-we took Maggie ice skating for the first time and she had so much fun. They rent "assisters" and once she got the hang of it, she asked me to let her go (sigh) and there were times I had to keep up with her. There was a lot of slipping too. Again, no crying (I'm not counting the one time she fell on her stomach and cried for a minute).

-their letter to Santa was dropped off at our local toy shop. Supposedly they give them to Macy's who then donates money to charity for every letter recieved. Too bad Santa's not writing us back!

This has been a joyous time for us, but also a month filled with sorrow. I was deeply saddened when hearing about the event in Connecticut. As a parent of young children, it really affected me in that sense. I have grieved for those lost but also for our society as a whole because it feels like this is a sickness that we need to somehow heal. I felt better reading this, it's heartfelt and something positive to focus on.

We will be making peppermint sugar cookies in the shape of gingerbread people Christmas Eve for Santa. I look forward to being with my family near and far and hopefully seeing snow this holiday. Merry Christmas!

Holiday ramble

A lot has come and gone and I keep thinking "I need to write that down". Maggie's comments have been great lately, I want to bottle it all up. Oh wait, here's one:

I am fond of the old Rudolph animated movie and bought it last year to show to Maggie (she was 2). When the scene with the abominable snowman came on, it was too scary for her so we turned it off. This year, we tried it again. I built it up and she was back and forth about it. During a moment where she was for it, we turned it on. During the elf/misfit scene, I walk out of the room for a second and I hear wierd crying so I run back to see what was up and she was really crying, saying she'd seen a "claw!". I guess that was enough for her. She told me this week that we can watch it on Christmas day. Why? Because she'll be big enough then. LOL.

I discovered 4 new teeth popping through on Max Thanksgiving day. That makes 8 teeth on an 8 month old boy (as of tomorrow). He is now crawling, not just scooting everywhere and he likes to stand up holding onto things. Have I said how much he likes paper? He's like a goat. Present opening with him should be fun.

I am very much in the Christmas spirit. I've made my list of fun holiday things to do and I'm crossing them off one by one. Last weekend, when I started writing this post, we had crazy winter weather, we decorated our Charlie Brown tree (truly intentional this time), went to a Christmas party and birthday party, and I made some pumpkin bread and butternut squash soup with Christmas music playing in the background. Maggie watched the Caillou holiday movie and immediately asked for hot chocolate. I searched the cabinet and instead made her atole de pinole (like hot chocolate kind of but made with corn flour). It was "yummy mommy" until it tipped and spilled everywhere. This is our life. Something like that happens most days around here, I'm not sure we can escape it with 2 little ones running around.

I am in need of planning our next family getaway. The snow is calling me...but so is the wintery beach and family.

On my list for this month is taking Maggie to her first Nutcracker ballet! We both can't wait. She plans to wear her flower girl dress that she wore last month to a wedding. It's cleaned and ready for it's 2nd appearance :-)

{Christmas Holiday Fun Short List}

Nutcracker with the girls
Caroling
Have fun with Maggie's daily advent calendar
Listen to lots of Christmas music until we can't stand it anymore
Drink hot chocolate/warm drinks
Make a gingerbread house with Maggie
Watch the Dr. Seuss's Grinch cartoon
Make or get Maggie a scarf
Make cinnamon rolls
Have Maggie write her wish list to Santa
Pictures with Santa
Go ornament shopping
Get a couple new stockings
Go ice skating
Make holiday crafts

Two nights ago, I put Max to bed early and Maggie and I bundled up in her princess tent and read books, drank egg nog, and ate truffles with flashlights and candles until we fell asleep. She liked it so much she did it again last night. Creating good memories (especially for hubby when he sees me scrunched up in the tent) :-)