More Christmas Snapshots

We got to do lots of the usual cookie baking.  And of course, the gingerbread house.  I accidentally bought the “pre-made” house that just needed decorating.  Then, I thought, well, that might be nice.  Then we opened the box and some of the pieces were broken into lots of little pieces.  Hmmmm. . . maybe not a good thing.  But, to the rescue came. . . Daddy. . . who managed to get it put back together for the girls to decorate.  He is so talented.  :-)

See the girls’ faces – amazed.  Hee hee!

Leighton Poses

It turned into a whole week of “Oh well. . . “.  Leighton can’t get rid of this icky bug she has.  Poor girl.  She has been very pitiful.  So, here are some pictures from December when she was obviously feeling very well!

EARS!

You liked that, huh?

How about. . . .NOSE!

How about. . . IN MY NOSE!

IN MY NOSE A LITTLE FARTHER!

Don’t forget. . .  EYE!

Ok, ALL DONE!

Oh well

Some days just don't go as planned.  Actually for me, I'm not sure any day goes as planned.  We did actually accomplish school today despite two of three messy diapers being bright green (apparently blue slushies can cause that - hee hee) and Leighton swallowing a glass bead and now awake from nap early.  She is crazy with putting things in her mouth and this time it went down.  All is well so far.  So, my plans of updating the blog with something more exciting like Christmas pictures or something, now have been replaced by a post about green poop and a soon-to-come diaper with a blue bead  in the poop.  Nice, huh?  You are welcome. 

Actually, these kinds of things are totally normal (and pretty minor compared to those with even more "enthusiastic" children - ha!) and I am daily reminded of how blessed we have been.  There are a lot of horrible things going on in lives around us.  Please pray for one of my friends that I grew up with.  She lost her husband last week and I know she has faced many difficult life experiences before that.  She has two daughters, middle school and high school.  I am desperately praying for her to experience the comfort only the Lord can give. 

So, as for wiping up numerous spills in a day, and being on the phone with the doctor to talk about swallowed beads, and being interrupted a hundred times a day to answer absurd questions I don't really understand, I say "Oh, well".  Praise the Lord for the very breath we breathe and the moments that we have with our loved ones to clean up after and interrupt our plans. 

Some more tree trimming

We enjoy heading over to Grandpa and Grandma Geist’s house to help decorate the tree.  The girls got to help decorate lots of trees this year!  :-)

Checking out the ornaments

Blurry, but happy :-)

Aiming for the high branches

Great Grandma and Leighton (Somehow I missed Grandpa!)

The girls – this was the best I could get.  :-)

Geist Christmas

We celebrated with TJ’s parents and grandparents early this year.  We had a delicious dinner, presents and special memories.  Here are a few shots of the fun!

I am a true Geist!  I love Grandma Geist’s Christmas Tree Cookies!

Christmas Cutie

Me too!

Presents!

TJ, me and the girls with the Grandpa and Grandma Geist and Grandpa Evans

Preschool Christmas Program

Here are a couple shots of Adley’s program.  She is a bit more reserved on stage.  :-)

They sang and shared the Christmas story and told what they love about Christmas.  (most of them enjoy presents, in case you wondered.)  And then there is a visit from Santa.

Away in a Manger

Christmas smiles 

Hi!

We thought she was going to pull all her hair out.  She had rapid nervous hair striking the whole time.

Proud to show off her baby sister

Christmas Recital

I just have a few piano students now, but they are wonderful girls that really enjoy playing and using their talents to serve the Lord.  I stole someone’s idea to have the students do a Christmas recital for a local nursing home.  (One student couldn’t make it.)  We actually played at a residential home and it turned out to be a wonderful blessing for everyone.  The girls picked out their songs and we even had a couple Christmas poems.  Jaylyn has been very persistent that I continue to show her some things on the piano, so when she asks, we do a little more.  She wanted to join in the concert, so she practiced like crazy and got some songs ready.  She was counting down to this event!  I think she was excited to finally be big enough to join in on a real recital like she has seen my other students do all these years.  It was a great time!

Kyra played and recited a poem

Mommy and Jaylyn duet

Sara also played wonderfully

Anna reciting her poem

Jaylyn didn’t seem nervous at all. 

Hooray, I did it!

One of the residents was playing for us too.

We brought candy and got to visit a bit.      

Some December Fun

December sure was a busy month.  I will have lots of posts to catch up on! 

Here are a few things:

Some snowflakes Jaylyn and I made

Adley doing some pattern blocks for school time

Jaylyn doing her spelling activities

Visit with friends – Here is Josiah – so funny!

Same visit – Here are the girls with Abigail

Awana Skate Party – Jaylyn with Malaine and Hannah

Adley took a bit but she finally got out there by herself!

She moved from the carpet, then skated with cousin Mark

Leighton just hung out like this as usual.  :-)

Jaylyn skating away.  She LOVES to skate.

Here is Adley out in the rink by herself.         

18 month old Cutie

Well, I’m a bit late, but Leighton is now 1 1/2.  She finally made it over 20 pounds.  :-) 

For those that like to compare stats - At her appointment mid December, she was 32 inches tall and 20 lbs, 9 oz.  Adley was actually only 31.75 inches and 19 lbs, 6 oz at her 18 month appointment.  They did appointments differently when Jaylyn was that age, but at her 15 month appointment she was already 32 inches and 22 lb, 14 oz. 

Here are some shots of sweet Leighton playing around with her sisters and being a ham.