Cookie Mayhem!

The Meaning of Christmas...

...this morning while eating breakfast I asked both Sassy's what the meaning of Christmas is. Their answers warmed my heart, melted my soul and forever imprinted upon me as their mommy.
Kailee response was, "Well, it's about Christ. Without Christ there is no Christmas. It's not about presents. It's about being with our families and celebrating Jesus."

Gracie response, "Christmas is about loving people and giving. We give so other people can feel good like Jesus did for us mom. It's about spending time with our grandmas, grandpas, Abby's, Jordan's, Makenna's, (yes she included the 's'), auntie's and uncle's but not Uncle Lou cause he's not here he's just in our heart during Christmas unless Santa brings him to Grandmas. It's about giving people hugs and kisses and not getting presents. We also thank Jesus for being borned on Christmas too."

See what I mean... forever imprinted... they will never be this little ever again. I love that they know what Christmas is really about. I love that they are so intelligent, bright and full of insight. I love that they are mine.

Northern Michigan Winter Fun

The white stuff didn't last long... which is totally odd for Northern Michigan but I'm okay with it... just secretly hoping for some fluffy snow fall for Christmas. Then it can all melt away we just need a sprinkling for Christmas Day.

The other day (Saturday morning, it snowed... we had about 2 inches which is drastically minimal for this time of year) so the Sassy's played outside... it's another mark if off my Christmas Photo Checklist x I can complete!

The Elf happenings day 20

The Elf on the Shelf... here for the last 3 years he's been just a good little elf, bringing little gifts every so often... notes with elfie kisses... and now he's torching us! So, he thought it would be funny to taunt me today... he's sitting guard on top of my coffee! YES COFFEE! He wrote in a letter to Kailee and Gracie that he is trying to stop "mommy" from drinking so much caffeine... so this is what he does... 1/2 a pot of coffee is all I'm aloud today. It was all fun and games when he was just poking fun of the kids but this is madness! And I think it means war... I may have to recruit the Barbie dolls to help me... we are going to string him up and have the Barbies holding him hostage... well... that could traumatize two sassy Spalding's... but it's a thought to consider!

The Elf happenings day 19

That little Elf was not sitting upon a shelf today... he was INSIDE one of my crosses! It was a very gutsy move on his part because one false move and he would have fell. Who can doubt an elf though? Apparently they know best.
There are now 9 little additional elves running around this Sassy house of Spalding... there are too many elves to find on school mornings... it can take up to an hour to find these tricky elves! So... after a long talking to, we think we have convinced them to not hide in such difficult to find places! Like sock drawers or inside cookie jars or even inside a lamp shade! We explained to the elves that non-school days are fine to hide in hard places anywhere in the house... but school mornings are too rushed. I think we may have to make a note of that for future reference so Santa can have a little chat with our friendly additional "12 Days of Christmas" Elves.
I feel like we're turning into the North Pole slowly! Minus the snow... which is totally unusual for Michigan.

Polar Express Day

In Gracie's Kindergarten class today they they were able to "experience" the Polar Express! The teachers lined the hallway with chairs to create the "train" and then they gave each little anxious child a golden ticket to get on. When the children on the Polar Express were served hot chocolate, they were served hot chocolate as well by the teachers. It was magical! Each child had a jingle bell awaiting them at their seats after the movie experience was complete. The magic of Christmas was in full force at Ottawa Elementary today.
Gracie came home eager, happy and excited to share about her Polar Express Day.

Teacher Gifts...

This year we're going homemade... so this is what we came up with.

The tag reads: Jon's World's Best Apple Butter.

Holiday Photo Checklist

For the holiday season there was a blog about a holiday photo checklist... so the goal this Christmas is to achieve as many check marks as possible upon this list of 50. Here are few that have been captured thus far.

The star upon the tree.

Opening their advent calendar.

This one I just loved, even though it's not on the list.

Our Christmas Fun List

Making a holiday craft.

The Elf Happenings... Day 18

Diego Sparkle decided he wanted to watch a Christmas Special!

Merry Christmas! With Peace and Love, The Spalding's

The Elf Happenings Day 17

Diego Sparkle is using Kailee's snowflake as a mask... Silly elf!

Pop ups!

No not the computer kind... The book! Kailee was reading so intensely this book about Christmas. She never expected it... When she turned the page the moose popped out at her and she jumped, it brought tears to her eyes... She is my girl.

The Elf happenings day 13, 14, 15, and 16!

Wow 4 days worth of Elf happenings! Where did the week go? Well, I spent it studying for a psychology final... so now I will catch up!
There are unfortunately no pictures to accommodate this post but the happenings are cute anyway!
Day 13: Diego Sparkle brought the girlies little note pads and told them to jot down ideas for Christmas... then write to Santa.

Day 14: The silly elf decided to take their tooth brushes and hide them! Kailee & Gracie found theirs in the shower! The tooth paste was hanging from the light and Diego Sparkle was sitting upon one of the lights as well! Gracie kept saying, "Oh my word! How did he do this?" Kailee smiled a huge smiled and said, "Wow he's a crafty little devil."

Day 15: The girlies woke up to musical cd; A Glee Christmas! Diego Sparkle wrote that they sang so beautifully at their Christmas Concert they needed more music to learn, so he could hear them singing around the house! He also encouraged them to sing Christmas songs because Christmas songs make it snow! Guess what -- IT WORKED! Not much snow but it's sticking so far!! They are so excited to think that they caused it to snow! (Well, they meaning all the children singing Christmas Carols in Michigan tonight.)

Day 16: Diego Sparkle left some books today; A Snow Day for Clifford (I think Diego Sparkle was hoping the girls had a snow day today) and The Dog Who Thought He was Santa. Both little munchkins loved the books and cannot wait to start a new Chapter book at bedtime... this one will hopefully take us a couple nights to read since it's 22 chapters. 22 chapter divided by 9 nights until Christmas morning equals about 2 and half chapters a night. We maintain about 3 - 4 chapters a night so I think that will be just about right!

That Diego Sparkle has made these little Spalding girls smile and eyes sparkle so much in the last 16 days -- I LOVE IT!

Christmas Sights...

We have created another tradition...what is now an annual Christmas Lights tour of Petoskey. Hot chocolate, 2 little girls, oooohs and aaaaahhhhs... It doesn't get better than that. Grace & Kailee took the pictures, I think they did this mommy proud!

"Together in Peace"

Tonight was the Christmas Concerts for Kailee and Gracie. 

The girls did an amazing job!! 

They sang perfectly and made us so proud!

Titled: "Our Love"

Grace sung: "Gingerbread Cookies. Snowflake Dance. and Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

These were the cutest performances ever!

Kailee sung, "Celebramos Juntos. The First Noel. and Chime In." 

 

 

And now there are 3!

Night 2 of the 12 days of Christmas another elf joined our chaos last night! My word! Tonight there are 3!

The sicky

Poor Kailee came down with strep throat. A high fever on Friday and a trip to the pediatrician on Saturday. 72 hours later and I think we are on the up swing!

Christmas Lists

Sitting near the Christmas tree close to Diego Sparkle's newest hiding place, speaking loud enough for him to hear just in case Santa doesn't receive our magic letter... We wrote the wishes we hope for. We wrote the desires for today. It was beautiful and full of emotion, excitement in their beautiful sparkling blue eyes made my heart well with love.

New ornaments

Gracie's 2011 ornament

Kailee's 2011 ornament

The Elf happenings day 12...

D.S. is Diego Sparkle. That's how he rolls.

I think we decided that we would start the tradition of Secret Santa in our house. 

The rules are: we cannot tell the other people who we have.

We have to come up with our own "homemade" gift. 

Gifts can range from: a song or a dance to a picture or an ornament. 

The only requirement is: it must be HOMEMADE!

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Diego Sparkle was here. He left a note and another elf: Carlton to find!

This plump little elf likes sweets and was found in the cake plate with the cupcakes!

Fa la la la la...

... the Christmas cards are done! My favorite part of the holiday is sending out Christmas cards! My goal for the last few years has been to be crafty and creative in our newsletter happenings.... this year that was nearly unmanageable. I was lucky to complete a newsletter at all. Reading about my friends and family's happenings is the beloved part of the holiday. Plus receiving "fun mail" makes checking the mailbox less of chore!