Happy!

Alisa and Mason were in an especially good mood this afternoon, so I grabbed the camera and took some pictures. 

Hi Mom!

Look at that smile!

And this one...this one is my FAVORITE!

She Sits!

I was feeling especially brave last night, so I took the kids to the community Christmas party and boat parade on the lake all by myself (Wil was at work). Well, we technically got there too late for the boat parade, but I think I get points for trying! 

It was a big night for Addie! My braveness must have rubbed off on her, because she was being especially brave, too! 

She went in the bounce house. She sat on her knees the whole time, but she WENT IN the bounce house! This is HUGE! She's always been too scared to go by herself, before. 

Mason had great fun watching! Alisa, fell asleep on the walk there.

The other HUGE WIN of the night...Addie SAT ON SANTA'S LAP!!! She's always been too scared before...crying, clinging, hiding, scared! But last night she wanted to sit on Santa's lap! It was a great night!

I Need to Get Jesus a Present

Today's conversation

Addie - "I need to get GG a present, GG and Jesus a present."
Me - "You do?"
Addie - "Jesus crying."
Me - "Why is Jesus crying sweetheart?"
Addie - "I dunno. I need present for Jesus and GG and Holy Ghost. I need to go there."
Me - "We can't go there and give a present to GG and Jesus like we give presents to each other, but I'll bet they would like it if we did nice things for other people. We could color pictures and make treats to take to people. I'll bet GG and Jesus would like that as a present."
Addie - "Okay...I give Mason a present."

I'm working on checking off all the presents I need to buy/make for Christmas. How could I have forgotten a present for Jesus? I'm so glad I have this amazing little girl to remind me!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Addie was SO excited to help put up the Christmas decorations this year, and even more excited to help put up the tree!

Putting the branches on the tree proved to be a bit beyond her abilities, but she was great at sorting the branches and bringing me the sizes we needed to add to the tree next. 

Addie's version of putting the lights on the tree...taking the whole clump and trying to get it to stay on a branch! Could she be any cuter???

Thankful Tree

Thanks to an idea on Pinterest, we created a thankful tree at our house this year. Each night before bed, Addie got to pick a leaf and something she was thankful for. We would write what she was thankful for on the leaf and she got to tape it to our thankful tree. I LOVED doing this!

In no particular order, here's Addie's list of the things she was thankful for:

• Pooh Bear & Minnie Mouse (her stuffed animals) & Addie
• Monkeys
• Moose (her stuffed animal)
• Car Seats to Keep Us Safe
• Blankets
• Jingle & Cherries (a stuffed animal and her Halloween costume)
• Pictures
• Uncle Arty & Aunt Jody & Andy & Lynda
• Jump Ropes
• The Car
• Bandaids
• Markers & Stickers
• Addie & Sheep (another stuffed animal...are you noticing a trend?)
• Sleepovers
• TV
• Tita & Tito
• GG
• Addie
• Lights
• JJ, Karina, Nicole, Guero & Waldo
• Mommy & Daddy
• Phones (she loves to play games on our phones!)
• Trees
• Balls
• Vivi's House, Vivi, Hazel & Xujey
• Alisa & Mason
• Babies & Froggies & Minnie Mouse & Pooh Bear (all stuffed animals)
• Elvis
• Garbage Man (I think this one is my absolute favorite!)
• Books & Sheep (her stuffed animal)

Take Time

I found a plaque in my Grandma's garage with this poem on it. I like the poem, (but the plaque will definitely be available at the garage sale we're hosting this coming weekend) so I thought I would post it here.

Take time to hold me on your lap,

To joke with me and make me laugh,

Take time, Mommy; this time will go so fast.

 

Take time to tuck me into bed,

To read that story you know by heart,

Take time, Mommy; soon these days will part.

 

Take time to exclaim over what I color,

To admire the things I make from clay,

Take time, Mommy; I'm growing up and away.

 

Take time to imagine or make-believe,

To play some childish, silly game,

Take time, Mommy; soon it won't be the same.

 

Take time to let me help you work,

To teach me the may things you know,

Take time, Mommy; enjoy me as I grow.

 

~Julie O'Brien

Happy Halloween!