Christmas Eve 2008

Reagan is really getting into the spirit of Christmas this year. I don't know if 3 is the magical age where everything comes together and she understands...but we have had a great time preparing for Christmas this year. Everything from reading "The Real Story of Christmas" to learning about Santa Clause to understanding what giving gifts is all about. (However, she has been very worried that there are no, and I do mean NO, gifts under our tree!). Today we baked cookies for Santa and later in the evening, we went to the Christmas Eve service at our church.

Placing each cookie cutter with care

Kneading the dough

Rolling the dough
A new tradition at our house ~ Christmas pajamas. Reagan loved hers ~ could it be any better than pink AND Santa Clause?

Cooper liked his too! (Who am I kidding, he smiles anytime the camera is near)

Hey, you've got Santa on your pajamas too

They really do love each other!

Merry Christmas everybody!

Time to put out the snacks for Santa! (And, boy did he enjoy them!)

Christmas With Ms Deb

Ms Deb came over last night for a Christmas visit with Reagan and Cooper. Reagan was so excited she couldn't hardly stand it. She really loves Ms Deb.

"Someone special is coming to see us"

"I see her, I see her"
Ms Deb brought gifts for Reagan and Cooper

Cooper opened his first

Next, it was Reagan's turn

Paint and paintbrushes. Ms Deb really knows what Reagan likes ~ she had to go try them out immediately!

Painting mittens very carefully

Reagan was so excited to have purple paint in her box

Reagan's favorite part is to turn the water different colors

Cooper enjoyed reading his books from Ms Deb

Thanks Ms Deb for loving Reagan and Cooper. We appreciate all you do for them and us!

Mischief

Reagan and Cooper enjoy playing with each other's toys (not sharing, just wanting what the other has). Today was no different!

Cooper still playing with Reagan's "doctor scope"

Reagan taking time out to eat a snack
You can just hear her saying, "go on, touch it. Nothing will happen" Notice the hands on her hips

Are we not supposed to touch the tree?

Ah-Choo

Cooper has learned a new trick - he loves to act like he's sneezing. He'll walk around "sneezing" and almost fall over from laughing so hard at himself. These aren't the best videos of him showing off his new trick, but you can get the idea!

Early Christmas Presents

Look how cute these are ~ the 1st one is a gift for me and Greg from Cooper

Here is acute reindeer, as you can see

Look close, he will remind you of me

Because my foot, I did trace

To make his funny little face.

Both my hands were traced with care

To make some antlers for him to wear.

I hope you keep him for years because

Then you will remember just how little I was!

Love, Cooper

Inside was a 2009 calendar for both of us (pre-haircut)
Reagan also made us each a calendar

I Did It!

I broke down and bought a new camera. I decided to go with a Canon this time instead of a Nikon. I'm having a withdrawals from my old camera, but I'm trying to tell myself it's just because I knew the ins and outs of it and I'm having to start all over and learn everything about this one.

Christmas Lights

We promised Reagan that we would go on a walk around the "neighbor-wood" to see the Christmas lights if she was a good girl today. She was, but the weather didn't cooperate with us. So we loaded up in the van and went to look at the lights. Reagan thought that was a "great idea" especially since she got to sit in the front seat and mommy sat in the back with Cooper.

She has her 3-D glasses ready to go

Daddy pointing out where the lights are so she wouldn't miss any
Cooper was in awe of the lights

It's the little things that make her happy

Oooh, Aaah

She loved wearing the 3-D glasses

After our trip around the neighborhood, it was time for baths. When Reagan got out of the bathtub and saw herself in the mirror, she said "I look just like Mary, I need a baby Jesus!" We've been reading the Christmas Story book and she's seen all the pictures of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus!

School Christmas Party

Reagan had her Christmas party at school today. I helped out serving snacks and had fun spending time with Reagan at school.

All the kids waited patiently as their snack was prepared

Brooke (Owen's mom) and I prepared the snacks
Reindeer made out of pears, cherries, pretzels and raisins

Yummy, yummy for their tummies

Ready to open gifts

Look, a coloring book and crayons

Having so much fun at the party

After opening gifts, Reagan wanted to go back to eating snacks

Such a sweet girl!

The class got ViewFinders to use at school

After the party, Reagan was overheard saying, "This is the funnest party I've ever been to!". So much for the birthday parties that I spent months planning!!

Wrapping It Up

Reagan's class is having a Christmas party tomorrow. The kids all drew names and were to get each other a coloring/activity book and crayons (all the same gift so there would be less fighting). We went shopping earlier this week and got Aydan his gift ~ a Curious George activity book and crayons. Ms Gomery wanted each child to wrap the present themselves, so that's what we did. A roll of tape later...

Getting just the right amount of tape

Most of the tape didn't land on the seams...she used it as extra decoration!
Getting it just right

She enjoys being independent (me, I still want her to be a little girl)

All done!

(Fuzzy picture...I don't know if the loaner camera was just a better camera or if this one still isn't fixed to my standards)

Frenulum

Our word of the day today is frenulum ~ the membrane between the upper lip and the upper gum. Why do we know this word? Cooper!! He was moving furniture today at school when he fell and tore his frenulum. I took him to see Dr. Brooks and he said had the laceration been anywhere else on his body, it probably would need stitches, but the mouth has an amazing ability to heal itself and it should be completely healed within 1-2 days. And his teeth are fine...no bruising of the gums, no wiggly teeth. Whew!!

Here's Cooper trying to show you his frenulum

Does this look like a child that had a traumatic day?
Smiling as always

So much fun in the bathtub

What a fake smile!

By the way, Cooper now weighs 24.2 lbs. A 2 pound increase in 17 days. Table food and whole milk does a body good!

Birthday Videos

Finally, after 3 weeks of a loaner camera, I got my long lost camera back! So now I can post the videos of Cooper enjoying his birthday cake. As you can see, he had a so much fun eating cake for the 1st time. It may be a while before he gets icing again as he was up all night after his party!!



Cute Reagan story: Last night as we were eating supper, Cooper dropped his sippy cup of milk, the lid came off and milk spilled all over the floor...
Reagan: "I didn't spill my milk, it was the little boy"
Mom: "The little boy?"
Reagan: "Yeah, my little brother made a big mess, but it wasn't me"

They Call Him the Fireman

While Reagan and I were making our gingerbread house, daddy and Cooper played firemen.

Isn't he the cutest fireman you've ever seen?

Howdy ma'am