Yep, she was right

Yep, we started the new tradition of exchanging family gifts, at the crack of dawn, on Christmas Eve Morning, while still in bed! I awoke to "MOM, our presents are STILL HERE! Will you open yours NOWWW?" Oh, yes, the fun has just begun, and Yep, Kayli was right. True to her recollection, she gave me two, earring & necklace sets, and a little, rainbow colored, compact mirror, that she's already confiscated and zipped tight in her own little bag, just as she told me she would. She told me I was welcome to look in it if I needed to, but that she really needed to keep it in her bag.



I gave Kayli a "Princess Themed" gift with a pink, sparkly, princess dress, shoes, tights, necklace, bracelet, hair bow, and tiara. She was as thrilled as I thought she'd be, and of course, has been wearing them all day, so proud to think she looks just like the princess in her book!

I really think opening our exchange gifts at the beginning of the day is good because it helps us shift our focus later in the day to preparing for Baby Jesus' Birthday. Kayli is so excited to see "the special baby" in the manger at church tonight. Then, tomorrow, Jesus will watch from heaven while Kayli opens the special presents Santa brought, then she'll sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and eat birthday cake with breakfast!

By the way, it's sleeting outside, lots and lots of tiny little ice pellets, that are supposed to turn to snow by tonight. Oh, how I love a White Christmas!

Starting a New Tradition?

Today, Aunt Suzanne came in town and took Kayli to pick out a Christmas present for me. Well, first, we all went to see the new movie The P*rincess and the F*rog, Kayli's first real theatre experience. The hardest part of the movie theatre experience was convincing Kayli that the previews would eventually end and the "real movie" would start! She kept saying "Is this the movie yet?" So, directly following the movie, I gave Aunt Suzanne some money to take Kayli to help her pick out a little something for her "dear ol' mom". Once Kayli had the wrapped presents in her hands, she wanted me to open them right away, of course! I told her that she and I would give our Christmas gifts to each other on Christmas Eve. (tomorrow) Then, Santa would be coming the next day. "Ohhh, mom, can't you just open them now?" she begs. No, Kayli, we have to wait until tomorrow. "But, mom, I picked out some really good presents, and you know, I think we should SHARE them. Well, you can have the earrings..." WAIT, KAYLI, Don't tell me what you got me... "Well, I am NOT telling you Mom, but I'm just telling you that we can share them all, but really you can have the earrings and the necklace, but I should have the mirror, and... But, I'm NOT telling you what I got for you!!!" "I'm not telling you, Mom." Oh, ok. Then... pondering the wait til I get to open these...Kayli continues "Mom, when we get home, can we put on our pajamas and go to bed and, and, can we sleep with the presents? Then, we can wake up in the morning and open them!!! Wouldn't that be fun???" Hmmm...well, that does sound like fun...and honestly, since we all know that Kayli does not spend her nights asleep in her own little bed, acting like I've lost my mind when I suggest that people usually sleep in their own beds, and opting to pretend like I just had a moment of insanity, then crawling in my bed with her barage of plastic dinosaurs, tiaras, books, and stuffed "snuggle friends", then settling in for the night. I'm thinking that sleeping with a bunch of wrapped Christmas presents can't be much different. It can't be any more inconvenient than dodging my little "bed hog's" feet, or trying to roll over, just to discover that her head is actually ON MY pillow. Really...what a small price to pay for some extra special Christmas EXCITEMENT!!! "Okay, Kayli, we can sleep with the presents!"

Oh, my gosh, this is just so exciting!

"This BIG present is the one my mom is giving me. Maybe I can sleep ON it?
Ok, it's settled, I'll sleep with these two little presents... one in each hand.
Good night Kayli. Hmmm...I can't wait til' morning to see what you got me for Christmas??? Ha. Ha.

Makes More Sense?

I set out two different manger scenes this year, as part of our Christmas decorations. Seems that my arrangements aren't quite right, though. It just cracks me up when I come into a room and see that all the figurines have been re-arranged from the "traditional" display, to a more "personalized" tight, cozy circle, as if the characters are making human contact with one another! Hmmm, really makes a little more sense that way, doesn't it? Notice in the modified grouping of the large figurines, "Mary" is wearing a nice knitted scarf, that Kayli borrowed from a Rudolph ornament! It WAS very cold outside, you know! Plus, I noticed that a "stray toy camel" showed up in the front of the group one day! Seriously, I just walk by, see these things, shake my head and enjoy a good chuckle.

"Traditional Display":


Kayli's "modification", with the added scarf and toy camel:

The tiny manger scene as a "traditional display":
The tiny manger scene arranged as Kayli sees fit:


AND, Here are some angels I usually keep on the table:
AND, Here's how I usually find them:
Looks like they're just chatting away, having a grand ol' time, doesn't it???

Always Coming Up With "Great Ideas"...

Kayli was playing in the basement with her dolls and doll bed, when suddenly she was struck by another one of her "Great Ideas"! She announces "Mom, I've got the perfect plan! We can bring this little bed upstairs and put it right next to your big bed. Then I can sleep right next to you!" "Isn't that a great plan?"
So, being the good sport that I am, I tell her if she can drag that bed upstairs, she is welcome to sleep in it. Since I'm not supposed to be lifting heavy things yet, I hold one end, to help get this doll bed up the stairs without anyone or anything falling! Kayli is working hard, grunting and groaning all the way, as she pulls this little bed up the stairs, then "Phew, that was a job!" she exclaims. She is sooo excited to carry out this plan that she rushes to get ready for bed, brushes her teeth, then "makes her new little bed".
"Good-night Mom"
Wait a minute. Hmmm... On second thought...
"Mom, that bed is just too far away from you. How 'bout we just climb in your bed, read a story, and snuggle together. Maybe I can take a nap in that bed tomorrow?"
Hmm... How 'bout we just use this doll bed for your dolls??? Good night, my sweet, always-has-the-perfect-plan, girl.

Traditions...Some Good Some Not

We have had the opportunity to visit Santa a few times this year, and have had lengthy discussions about why he keeps showing up at places we happen to be! Some people say that these guys are “Santa's helpers”, but “Helloooo... why would Santa need helpers when he has magic???” Just like Tinkerbell has magical fairy dust to help her fly, Santa has magical dust AND magical reindeer! So, while the elves are back at the North Pole making all the toys, Santa and the reindeer hop into the sleigh each day, just like we do when we drive to work. Their job, though, is to make sure that they find all the good little boys and girls and give them a chance to tell Santa something special they would like him to bring them for Christmas. It's a big job, but with “magic”, anything is possible!


All I want for Christmas is a pair of Dora Roller Skates!
Now, I'll just mail this letter to Santa...
I sure wish we had some REAL snow!
Santa Claus Number Two...at the library
I wasn't really ready for "my turn" on Santa's lap this time...

Santa Claus Number Three... at church... "Hey Santa, you like my red boots?"



We tried to start a tradition this year, when I happened to find a seemingly fun “El f on the Sh elf” kit at a bookstore, and thought it sounded like a great idea. It all started off well, when we read the book, gave our elf a name, then sat him on a shelf in our house, where he supposedly reports back to Santa each night about Kayli's behavior that day. Each time he comes back from the North Pole, he shows up in a different place in the house. This is really supposed to be a fun, motivator for good behavior, but in our house... well, it just isn't the same as, say, Santa, or God, who just knows that Kayli is generally a “good girl”, trying her best to behave, and mostly stays on the “nice list”. NO, this little red elf is seen as no more than a pesty little snitch! Sort of like a “tattle-tale” that makes everyone mad just thinking about it! Even when I tried to mention that our little elf was going to tell Santa how good Kayli has been, she looks at me, then glares at him, and screws up her face, and says “Let's just not talk about it, Mom” and off she goes. I haven't figured out how this cute little guy can redeem himself, but I'm gonna have to get creative... got any ideas? Who wants a “snitch” in the house?

Creative Accessorizing

I bought Kayli some new pink princess mitten clips so maybe we could keep track of her mittens this year. Well, Kayli got up this morning and insisted that it wouldn't be right to wear those clips on her coat where "nobody can see them"! "They are soooo pretty, mom. I have a much BETTER PLAN...Let's clip them on my sweater, please, please, please?" "I will look soooo pretty, and I can show all my friends". In a matter of seconds, I've mulled it over, switching from my logical left brain to my creative right brain, which spoke the loudest to me today saying "Why not? She's got a plan. She's convinced that it's the best plan in the world. She's convinced that this plan will make her feel beautiful. Who am I to spoil the moment with left brain "rules"? So, we'll put the mittens in the pockets for now, and I'll settle for the beaming smile, as Kayli walks into her classroom, greeting her friends and teachers, as proud as can be!

What a Show!

Kayli's daycare/preschool just had their Christmas program, and there is nothing like watching a bunch of preschoolers put on a show! They were all dressed in their "finest holiday attire" and couldn't have been cuter or more entertaining! See for yourself by checking out the video below. Notice how overly exuberant Kayli is being with her hand motions! What a crack up!