December Traditions, Parties, etc

We started out the year right people, snuggling in and watching on the television 

 Peter Pan Live! I was super excited about this and Juan was a good sport. The girls loved it, even watched again the next day. Christopher Walken, the best. I laughed, I cried. Good stuff.

 Soon enough it was Amelia's first dance performance ever!

 At our town's Christmas Tree Lighting. Crowds and darkness are not appealing to me, BUT the weather was high 60s and Texas always cheers me up that way. 

 Amelia was so great! I asked if she saw me on the front row and she said, "Ma-awm, no. I was listening to the music and watching my teacher!" She sure was.

And it meant so much to me all our dear friends that stopped by to watch her perform. We feel very loved and I am so grateful to have friends who adore my children.

 We got a visit from St Nick on Dec 5, a tradition we took with us from Wisconsin. He filled our stockings and gave new ornaments!

 Amelia drew Grandma Rose a Christmas card. 

We visited the big tree at The Domain.

 Maya crawled into Amelia's bed and fell asleep by her because she was afraid of a spider (that turned out never to exist, Amelia was just playing a joke on us).

 Maya attended her first ever drop-off Birthday party! She was so thrilled, she got the Minnie Mouse invitation in the mail and carried it around for days, "oh better not forget my 'tation."

 We had a wonderful church ward party.

 Where we celebrated as if we were in Bethlehem.

 It was so well done and we had a blast.

 Kids lined up ready to sing The Nativity Song.

 We watched our friends' kids one Saturday and I loved watching the kids play so well together!

I attended Sherry's annual Favorite Things party. Look at the joy on my face, that's a good party.

 We get a secret visit from Santa's Elves during the 12 Days of Christmas. This day they left press-on nails.

 Each year we drive an hour to a small town who puts on a production of Main Street Bethlehem.

We go early and wait in line for an hour and a half. Oscar gladly sat in the stroller the whole time, as I constantly provided him with some snack to keep him still. In this picture, he wouldn't let Quinn let go of his hand. So sweet. 

 The well. 

 Three kids in the wagon. Can you see Maya?

 The Manger.

 You'll get sick of me saying this, but it's mid-December people! And it is beautiful. 

 Picnic time with Elsa and Anna.

 I had the girls each pick out a gift to give to each other. Amelia picked out a Sofia the First amulet necklace and keeps telling me they're going to share it. Kind of the spirit of giving? Maya keeps telling Amelia what her gift is-a "mat". Thank goodness she forgot how to say the word "mask". 

 Christmas photo shoot after dance class!

 Oscar was there too!

My dear friend Amber is obsessed with selfies, and sometimes she drags me into them. Ha! We are loving the giant ornaments.

Other December developments: Maya is fully potty trained! She was killing me for a while there, pooping in her undies every day for at least a month? Don't even make me think about it. And now, she is an angel. The past 2 weeks, she goes on the potty all by herself, sometimes doesn't even tell me and says that she washed her hands and flushed the toilet and shut off the light and closed the door! (She yells this out every time, and then I take her back in and make sure that bum is wiped and those hands are washed). I am so proud of her independence and how big she is. Go Maya! Accident for for 2+ weeks! Even night time, she has had a dry pull-up for months now, she never struggled with night. And yet that pull-up really makes me feel good for now.

Amelia has started speech therapy! Amelia was a late talker, like 2 1/2. And then this past year she goes on and on and talks real fast. After a few evaluations of saying she was just fine, but then having her preschool teacher and friends struggle to understand her, I decided we better get her in speech therapy to work on articulation. I found someone on my insurance who teaches out of her home and she is in walking distance from me! We love it there and I'm excited to see Amelia progress!