Count Down to Santa Claus

The month of December has been so crazy!  The Bake Off was just the start. 

Natalie has volunteered to be part of her schools Panda Paws program.  Her first gig was handing out candy in the city's Christmas Parade.


Just to note, she was a real trooper. 
It was POURING down rain that evening and she didn't even complain!

Kylie has changed so much.  All of a sudden she started talking in sentences and can talk so clearly.  Since Karl started his new job, Kylie has to go to daycare twice a week while I go to class.  Thankfully, I only had two more weeks left by the time Karl's first day rolled around. By the last day she had to go, she finally started talking and opening up.

Finishing up my classes has been stressful.  On top of that, I excepted an invitation to perform a piano solo a church activity.  Any who knows me knows how painfully shy I am when it comes to playing the piano in front of others.  But I knew that the time was right to step out and gain some courage.  I practiced for hours everyday for a week on a piece I had always wanted to learn.  Timing was crazy though because the performance was smack in the middle of finals week.  Thankfully, my family is wonderful and really supported all I was doing.  Everything turned out well.  I actually got a B on my math final which I think was more of a miracle then my surviving the performance.

You would think that was enough but then I realized that with Christmas a little more than a week away, if I was going to get gifts sent in the mail I had to do it that next day!  With finals just hours completed, I ran to the store to collect all the ingredients I needed to do my big holiday baking.  Just when you thought over a hundred cookies enough...

I wanted to make new treats for Christmas this year.  I had the family vote on some new and favorite treats to send out family and friends as gifts.  We narrowed it down to 8 treats and about 25 people. Needless to say, it was nuts.  Again, the family was very supportive.  Kylie even helped out!



Kylie played in the flour for over an hour!  She kept asking for more.



I made four large tins for my siblings and got them mailed out on time!

I made 19 medium boxes for local friends - I ran out of cookies!



I ended up making over 400 treats in 24 hours. 

Just when I thought I could sit down, I realized I had to deliver all the goodies before they got stale.  I had so much fun dropping the boxes off with friends and family.  Again, I wanted to give them out to more people but I didn't have time to make enough!  Next year I will plan even better.

In the middle of all that, I take the girls up to Roseville for my nephew Gabe's birthday party.  We also dropped in and surprised my friend, Chrissy, for her birthday.  It was so much fun!  She had no idea we were coming and after numberous failed attempts to get together throughout the year, we were finally able to get together and see our kids play with one another.  Natalie and Kylie had a great day playing with their cousins.  They were great during the drive back and forth too. 



Clay and Kylie - they are about 4-5 months apart

 

Marshall and Kylie - Marshall is Chrissy's oldest and is about 5 years old



Chrissy and I - we met in Roseville and are close friends

 

Happy 9th Birthday Gabe!



Lexi, the girls friend, and Jenna - the girls are getting so big!



Natalie and Gabe with all his friends!



Denise and one of her best girl pals




Gabe made out great on his gifts


Just one more week until Christmas!

With the house decked out, Christmas presents waiting to be wrapped, and baked goods all delivered, I was ready to relax with the kids for vacation. We started the week out with a trip to Leah's house to decorate some graham cracker houses.  Everyone had so much fun!

We had a big group of our family and Leah's there to decorate and create.



Erika's house had an amazing yard of sprinkles at least 2 inches thick.



Anthony making his house.



Emily and Natalie working hard.  Natalie even had a yard made of frosting - she ate every bit!




Kylie choose to just eat chocolate and marshmellows.


Then Kylie started acting weird.  She stopped eating, playing, and taking naps.  Wednesday she started throwing up and any plans I had of relaxing and doing fun activities vanished.  She regressed to an infant!  She needed me constantly and as she failed to get better we grew more concerned.  Finally, the morning before the first of many holiday visit, she seemed to be able to keep down liquids. 

Our first holiday visit was with my mom.  We went over to the Root's house for dinner and presents. Even though our visit was short, it was nice.  The food was so good and it was fun to watch everyone open their presents. Kylie got a singing and dancing dog from my parents. She loved it! Everyone was dancing to the music, it was hilarious.


My step-sister, Erin, and her boyfriend opening her gift.

 

My step-dad, Dan, opening his with great anticipation.

  

My mom getting ready to open her gift.

 The night before Christmas and all through the house,
wrapping paper, boxes, and presents all about. 
Dad and Mom try to wrap with care
but watch the clock and say, "Beware!" 
Time is ticking and there is so much to do.
11, 12, 1 and then 2! 
Finally, stockings are stuffed and presents all wrapped. 
Will they like it do you think? Is it enough? 
Who cares, let's go, to bed and good morning. 
Merry Christmas to you and the children too.
We will see what was given to who from who
and say thank you to you for all that you do.