Baking Day!

Just like every year, the day before Christmas Eve or as we call it, Christmas Eve Eve is baking day where "the girls" and I (mostly I) bake at least 4 different kinds of treats for Christmas!!  This year I made sugar cookies, snowball cookies, rice krispy treats and those saltine chocolate toffee things (pretty sure that is the official name).  Plus, I had extra helpers this year -- Charly and Joe assisted in the sprinkles (and helped keep Lily and Dani busy while I was doing all the hard work).

Somehow Dani managed to get more sprinkles on her feet than the cookies -- but don't worry, no cookies we affected or harmed!! :)

Star Wars

The girls (and I) really want to see the new Star Wars:The Force Awakens.  But first we need to watch (and rewatch) the original three movies.  They were all for it and excited . . . but I think Dani got a little bored. 

Spinning around . . .

And falling, feet up in the air.

Spinning around . . .

And falling, feet up in the air.

Over and over and over :)

Peeking is Encouraged

I love it when and encourage the girls to explore their presents.  Shake them, feel them and get excited to open them all on Christmas! Just don't rip the paper!!

Frosty's Gingerbread House

As is tradition, the girls and I made a Gingerbread House.  This year we got a "Frosty The Snowman" kit.  Each girl worked on a side (and the back) and I decorated the front.  I think we made a pretty good team and made a pretty awesome house for Frosty!

Lily even wore a Frosty hat for the occasion! :)

Lily's side.

And the back.

Dani's side.

Christmas Party

Last year I hosted a playgroup Christmas party kind of like the ones I used to do for Lily with cookies to decorate, ornaments to make, and a hot chocolate bar.  It was so fun and some of Lily's friends came over after school to enjoy the leftovers.  So this year I did it all again and threw a end of school/beginning of Winter Break Christmas party!!  Lily's friends and the moms came over after school and we decorated cookies and made ornaments.  The dads came over as they got off work and we all hung out and partied into the evening!  It ended up being a totally fun 10 hour party and the perfect way to kick off winter break!!

Love my hot chocolate bar.

Ornament decorating supplies.

Abby, Tanner, Jackson, Courtney, Avery, Ella, Dani

I also set up a photobooth with my new bluetooth selfie tripod (I am VERY excited about this).  The pictures are corrected and straightened, but post sideways.  Sorry.  I have NO idea why that is.

Me and Dani

Courtney, Lily, Dani and me

Brendan, Harper, Jackson and Dani

 

Decorating Cookies!

(the kids had pajama day at school, so we had a pajama party for the kids -- and an ugly sweater party for the adults)

Ella, Macy and Dani

Me and Julie in our "naughty" sweaters.

I bought all my girls drink cozy mittens for Christmas,  They were a HUGE hit!!

Melanie and Christie won the ugly sweater contest and got mini bottles of Fireball which they drank right away.

The gang!  Christie and Tenley, Amy, Molly, Julie, Cathy, Melanie

Me and Julie

So fun!!  Definitely another holiday tradition!!

Dani's School Christmas Party

Unfortunately for me, Dani's school party was at the same time as Lily's.  Thankfully, grandma was able to go and be with her and take pictures!  Dani was pretty sad in the morning that I wasn't going to be there, but she had fun with grandma and said she didn't miss me at all!

They made elves and a Santa