Christmas Eve Preparations

We had a lot to do today to get ready for Christmas...

Reagan brought this poem home from school...

and every night, we put on a piece of Santa's beard ~ today was the last day!
We made some cookies for Santa ~ White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies...from scratch

Reagan loves to help me bake

adding the cranberries

licking the beaters

Mom and Reagan in the kitchen

tasting her creations

Cooper enjoyed them too (he went to work with daddy this morning, but was glad to have a treat when he came home!)

While Cooper was napping, Reagan made Santa some sugar cookies...again, from scratch

rolling out the dough to just the right size

using Christmas shaped cookie cutters

Love, love, love this girl!

she can't wait for them to be ready

icing the cookies

adding the sprinkles

making sure the icing is ok to eat!

I love to watch these hands work

When we got home from our Christmas Eve service at church, Reagan set out some Reindeer Food she had made at school and some water for Santa's Reindeer

Cooper was there to supervise!

Preparing Santa's plate of homemade cookies

Cooper helped out with the milk

Our yearly tradition of new Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve

Time for bed!!!

The Planners & The Party

Today is Greg's 44th birthday and the kids have been working all week on his party, decorations, and making his presents. Reagan may have a future in party planning!

On Tuesday, Reagan and Cooper made posters to hang on the wall

She paid close attention to detail

Cooper was proud of his work

On Wednesday, they made cupcakes. Cooper was quality control!

Pouring in the mix

Reagan's turn to help out

Mix, mix, mix

The kids also wrapped and decorated the presents they had made on Monday (somehow, I missed getting pictures of them painting!)

they also made cards for Greg

Cooper did a great job wrapping presents

Reagan did pretty well herself

On Thursday, Reagan added her special touch to the cupcakes ~ sprinkles!

She was so excited to give her daddy a party

It was time for the decorations to be put up!

We even bought special plates and napkins for the party

The cupcakes look delicious

Time to eat ~ pizza

Time for cake

The birthday boy!

make a wish!

Cooper enjoying the fruits of his labor

mmm, mmm, good!

finger-licking good

Time to open gifts

...and cards

Cooper also received a gift - a new helmet for his bicycle

How appropriate is this card from Cooper!!!!

Happy Birthday Greg! We love you!