Happy Christmas!

We saw Santa a few times this year, but this was the first (and best) photo we got.

Miss Lily asked for "a yo-yo, and that's all." She continued to ask for a yo-yo and nothing else until about two days before Christmas when she suddenly wanted 25 other things, and no longer wanted a yo-yo.

Lucky for Santa, he had planned on giving her a few other presents besides just a yo-yo.

Miss Vi didn't know what she wanted for Christmas, but on Christmas morning her favorite toy was her sister's new doll - which she instantly coveted. We had a few moments of fighting, but lucky for us Lily didn't care so much about the doll and it pretty much belongs to Violet now.

Christmas with a three year old is magical, there's just no other way to put it.

Everyone should have one.

Santa is more amazing, the presents are more exciting, the lights are more beautiful and the cookies taste even better when you have a three year old around to ooh and awe over the newness of it all.

 Even the yo-yo was a hit on Christmas morning.

Christmas 2009

Christmas for us this year was lots of fun.

Santa Claus, of course, visited... and Bug was really excited about opening presents. She woke up with a princess soccer ball on her bed (from Santa) and has been sleeping with a soccer ball most nights since then.

We spent the morning opening presents, then went to my parents house and opened more presents and had a pancake breakfast. Then, we came home, took a nap, and headed to J's parent's house to open even more presents and have a wonderful dinner.

We LOVE how close family is... and that we can see both sides in one, relatively relaxing day.

Highlights for us (and Bug) was "princess" jewelry (which is already broken and gone to the trash)... and after receiving the princess jewelry she immediately needed to put her tu-tu on. I just got such a kick out of her opening a tool set with great thrill - wearing a tu-tu and the jewelry.

More fun... she also received a doctors kit, to which she promptly added the saw from the tool kit. She's been doing a lot of surgery using a saw. Scary.

Book Club and Christmas, What a Fine Pair You Make

This here is the FIRST ANNUAL BOOK CLUB PHOTO. Unfortunately, there are quite a few missing, but December is probably a lousy time to take a group photo because of all the hub-bub of the season.

We had this meeting last Tuesday night, and in honor of the season we sported beautiful holiday sweaters. (See photo.) The winner of the sweater contest was Karla, because she went all out and crimped her hair. Go Karla!

We also had a riveting white elephant gift exchange, where I won a really cute bag and a book that I can't talk about on the Internet.

Tasty Tuesday - Gingerbread!

Look what we made! Cari, Cristi and I spent a good part of Saturday building and decorating gingerbread houses. Thanks to Cristi - letting us destroy her home - and her awesome cake decorating skills, they turned out AWESOME!

And with my leftover gingerbread, I made gingerbread men... which are MissBug's favorite-thing-on-earth right now.

Gingerbread Recipe
1 cup butter, margarine or shortening

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup molasses

5 cups flour

1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cloves

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 to 1/2 cup water

In a large mixing bowl beat butter until softened. Add sugar and beat until fluffy - at least three minutes. Add molasses and beat well. Combine dry ingredients and add to the batter a little at a time, mixing in each addition. You will have to use your hands to work in the last additions.

Divide dough into thirds and shape into balls. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for several hours.

If you're going to make a large house, there are helpful directions for the rest of the recipe here. Otherwise, just roll out to about 3/16 inch thickness and cut out cookies, just like sugar cookie dough.

Christmas at the Zoo

Sunday night, J's parent's took us to Christmas at the Zoo. It was lots of fun. The lights were beautiful... and of course, my photography skills can not do it justice. So, bear with me... The highlight of the evening was the dolphin show, which BabyBug was very interested in. She wanted to join in the fun and jump in the tank.

I also really enjoyed when she saw a reindeer and "neighed" at it. The man told us that reindeer actually grunt, but it's not a very pretty sound. So we decided neighing would be just fine.