Christmas Angels and Shepards

Here are some pictures from our Church's Christmas program where Brayden was a Shepard and Lexi was an angel.

Doesn't he look so sweet and innocent???

This is one of the sweetest pictures of Lexi I have ever seen. She definitely had the face of an angel this day.

Lexi's 4

It seems impossible that my baby girl recently turned four but it is true. Bright and early on the morning of her birthday, Lexi informed me she wanted to have a "home party". What is a home party you ask? It apparently was what Brayden had three months earlier...which was when we had a bunch of friends and family over to our house, on the day of his birthday and have cake and ice cream. So I went to Strossners (the best bakery in Greenville) and ordered the yummiest chocolate cake ever called everyone who was at Brayden's "home party". Thank you all for coming because I am positive Lexi would have noticed if everyone was not there to celebrate her birthday.

It all started well...Lexi and her cousin's dolled her up with soo much glitter it is still in her hair today (2+ weeks later) but then Lexi's shyness kicked in and she didn't want to come out of the bathroom. So I was forced to reassure that no one was going to comment on how pretty she looked. Eventually, she believed me and we moved on to having cake. She doesn't look shy here does she????



But in typical Lexi fashion, she didn't want everyone to sing "Happy Birthday." I guess she was embarrassed to be the center of attention but I promise she did want the home party. Anyways, she was beautiful on her birthday - glitter and all. I love you Lexi and can't wait for you to be able to enjoy your birthdays!!

BFFs

Just in case you don't know what BFF stand for - it means Best Friends Forever. Lexi and our next door neighbor, Livi, are BFF. Just ask them and they will tell you.



They love each other, hurt each other's feelings and make up with one another all in a day spent together. They paint each other's nails and do each other's makeup. Can you imagine what these two will do when they are five, how about fifteen? I'm not sure Leigh (Livi's mom) and I will be ready for these mini divas to turn 15 but we certainly are looking forward to it and are trying to prepare ourselves.




I hope these BFF's discover that "It takes a long time to grow an old friend" (John Leonard) and cherish all the memories they create together.

Christmas Traditions

This year Brayden and Lexi returned home from Grandma and Grandpa's house to find a new friend. "Frosty" is their friend who watches them everyday and then reports back to the North Pole each night and relays what type of day they had to Santa Claus. Each morning Frosty relocates himself and patiently waits for Brayden to find him. He has been just about everywhere in our house, even swinging from the kitchen chandelier.



Lexi is patiently counting down the days until Christmas by cutting loops off of a bell she brought home from school. It's a big help in explaining to her just how many days there STILL are until Santa comes.




(Leigh this is for you) The bell reads:

Each night before Christmas
after prayers have been said
take off one loop
and hop into bed.

When Christmas will come
"tis easy to tell
for that is the night
you come to the bell.




And as for me, I have begun the annual ritual of baking cookies. I think in the past two days/nights I have baked more than 12 dozen cookies. More impressive, I think I have only had four or five cookies during the entire process. All of the baking is motivated by Lexi and Brayden beginning Christmas break in two days and a desire to give their teachers something beside the normal lotion and candles.

Be on the lookout for a blog dedicated to my recently unleashed creativity and maybe a shot of just how I am able to find 12 dozen cookies on my table.

Good times with Grandma & Grandpa

Just a few more pictures from Grandma's house. Here are Brayden and Lexi in their Hawaiian gear



Then there is the eye wear one MUST wear when excavating fossils...



there are also essential tools....



And then viola (or if you don't speak French - "waa laa" in English slang)...you find a fossil.



Who knew you could discover fossils and go to a Luau all right outside of Washington DC? Only if you have a Grandma with an imagination as big as Brayden's and Lexi's.