Adventures in Santa

This morning while we were eating breakfast we were talking about how tomorrow is Christmas Eve and Kyla said, "Well, I haven't given Santa my list yet.  I need to get him my list."  So, I said, "Well, I saw him at the mall the other day.  We can go later and give him your list if you want to."  She gave a definite yes to that and we got out to the paper and she started writing.  We talk mostly about how Christmas is about Jesus being born and we try to apply it the best we can in four year (almost five year old) terms.  Last year we began to realize we were going to have to figure out how Santa was going to factor into all of it. Troy and I both came to the conclusion that Santa doesn't need to be the main thing, but that we can still have a little fun at this stage.  And just like the Disney princesses, Kyla is at the age right now where it is all very real.

I hadn't really even thought about making a special trip to go see Santa, because like I said, we haven't made a huge deal about him, but when Kyla asked to go, we were up for it.  And, we found that going to the mall to see Santa on December 23 can be quite the experience.  We first arrived in the late afternoon to a very long line.  We were waiting when I saw a sign that said Santa would soon be taking a break, I asked a worker and she said he was about to take a 45 minute break.....good grief, Santa.  We were all getting hungry so we decided to go get dinner and then maybe come back later.  We also wanted to go see lights tonight.  After dinner we drove out a little bit into the country to a house that has lots of lights and also a Santa who gives out candy canes to the kids.  So, Troy and I thought, well, if there is going to be a Santa there maybe Kyla can give her list to him.  She was not feeling that.....in her mind the "real" Santa was at the mall.  As we were leaving the lights she said that man was dressed up as Santa but I want to give my list to the Santa at the mall.  Back to the mall we went......the things we do for four year olds who believe. 

After lots of waiting, she has her list ready and it is almost her turn

Ashlyn was all smiles at a safe distance from Santa.  We just mentioned sitting on his lap and the tears started.

But she was happy to wait with her sister

When it was finally Kyla's turn, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  She didn't seem nervous at all, but I know her well and often times she can get shy at things like this.  Not with Santa.  When her turn came, she walked right up to him and got straight into his lap with the list in hand.  He was a very nice Santa, reading over her list and asking her questions.

When we were walking away she said, "I think it was kind of tricky for him to read my list, but I think he knows everything I wrote.  He told me that he saw I want a Bitty Baby."  The list is in and we made a Christmas memory.....at a very crowded mall on December 23 waiting in line for Santa. I love this age and all the memories it makes.  Merry Christmas!

Big kid stuff

This past week we had a lot of big kid stuff going on around here.  It started on Thursday morning with a dentist appointment for Kyla.  She had already been once for the first time six months ago.  At that appointment she just talked to a nurse and the dentist counted her teeth.  This time it was an actual cleaning.  We started talking about it the day before and she didn't seem nervous about it.  On Thursday morning she was still okay but just mentioned that she wanted me to hold her hand while the dentist was "tickling her teeth", which is kid talk for a teeth cleaning.  I don't know how it started but almost every preschool aged child I know calls it that.  Anyway, I was pretty sure that they were going to have her go back by herself for her cleaning, at least that is what I had been hearing from my friends who had already been through this.  So, I didn't make any promises.

When we got there I saw the mom of a little boy in Kyla's preschool class who happened to be there at the same time as us.  I quietly asked her if the kids go back by themselves and she nodded yes.  It actually kind of me nervous because this was her first time and I am usually always with her for these types of things.  And to be honest, going to the dentist is not my favorite thing and if I could, as a grown woman, I would still have my mom come with me and hold my hand.  So, the nurse called her name and I as cheerfully as I could said, "Kyla, the nurse is going to take you back and I will be waiting for you.  Go with her and the dentist will tickle your teeth."  I added in a few more things about how fun it will be (sometimes moms have to fib a little bit).  Well, that caused instant tears and hanging onto my leg. The nurse clearly didn't want there to be a scene in the waiting room for all of the other children to see, so I stepped behind the door with Kyla and we talked to the nurse together.  She was so sweet to Kyla and hyped it all up.  She also threw in that their was a t.v. with videos to watch while waiting for the dentist.  I think that is what got her, because after that she started to let go of me and followed the nurse back. 

I was nervous in the waiting room, just wondering how she was doing.  The nurse came out once to get another child and she told me Kyla was doing great.  And, Ashlyn was helping me pass the time by singing "Jesus Loves Me."  Actually, she was singing it for the whole waiting room to hear.  She belts it out with gusto.  After a little while, the nurse called me back to come get Kyla and get a report from the dentist.  The nurse told me she did great....no tears and had a great check up.  The dentist verified that and also told me no cavities....yippee!  After we were finished talking to the dentist and it was just us, I hugged Kyla as big as I could and told her over and over how proud I was of her.  She was so happy and told me the girl (the nurse) brushed her teeth and the man (the dentist) tickled her teeth.  She also told me that she got to pick the flavor of toothpaste and she picked strawberry but it didn't really taste like strawberry.  No complaints other than that.

Serious big kid stuff.  Having your teeth cleaned all by yourself.  Here is the big girl after her first teeth cleaning with the balloon she got to pick out.  She was very proud of that.

 After how great she did at the dentist, how could I not reward her?  So off to Target to find a treat in the dollar section......here she is surveying her options, balloon in hand.

 Her choice......a Disney princess paint by number

 I was so proud of Kyla.  I didn't know what to expect, but would not have been surprised if the first time she didn't go and we would just try again next time.  She is usually shy at first and it can take her a few times to get used to the idea of something.  She is growing up.  She overcame her fear.  I was so, so proud of her.  Any my mama heart was a little emotional about the whole thing. 

 My heart got even more emotional when that same afternoon we had a representative from a special needs preschool talking to us about our options for Ashlyn.  Preschool.....really?  I will have to save that for next time, all I know is we've got two little girls doing some big kid stuff.

Oh, Christmas Tree

We are full into the sights and sounds of Christmas around here.  We had a minor setback this week when I came down with a not so fun case of strep throat, but thankfully I am feeling better now and am ready to get right back into Christmas.

One of the things Troy and I really wanted to do this year was go to a tree farm to get a real Christmas tree.  We have had a fake tree for the past few years, but always thought the idea of going to a tree farm to get one sounded so fun and once you have children of your own, those kinds of memories are even more important.  We had heard about several different tree farms around us, but while we were at Thanksgiving I was looking through a Midwest Living magazine at my mother and father in laws house and came across a tree farm that caught my attention.  At the time, I had no idea where it was, but I was loving the pictures and how perfect the tree farm looked.  As I continued to read it said the tree farm was in Thorntown, IN, outside of Indianapolis.  I was so excited when I found out this beautiful tree farm in Midwest Living was only about a 25 minute drive from our house. 

Dull's Tree Farm did not disappoint.  All I kept saying as we were walking around was, "This is so cute!"  The whole place just screamed Christmas.  Rows of fresh trees as far as you could see, a big fire pit where you could sit and get warm, a huge red barn where they wrap your tree up, cozy cottages with fire places where you can get hot chocolate and a horse drawn wagon ride.  I was a happy girl.

And so was Ashlyn....ready to go find the perfect tree

 Kyla and all of the trees. And the little bit of snow....perfect. 

Daddy, Kyla, the saw and the tree carrier....we are ready.

We found it!

Daddy getting to work and Ashlyn peeking in

Our tree cutter

Got it down!

Sisters

 Time to take our tree with us

 Lots of trees and two little girls

 Time for some hot chocolate

Loved this red barn

Gonna take a wagon ride

We got our tree home and got it all decorated.  My favorite part is the great smell.  I think it is safe to say that we have a new Christmas tradition.

Favorite Days

We went to bed last night with the latest forecast saying we could see snow today.  I woke up this morning and heard the cold rain pounding down.  I was happy thinking that the rain I was hearing could turn to snow.....I am a snow lover.  And I was really happy because today we had absolutely nothing scheduled.  Nothing.  That hardly ever happens.  Ashlyn has therapy three times a week, Kyla has preschool and there are various other things we are involved in.  But, today was free.....and it might snow......happiness.

The girls and I took our sweet time getting going and stayed in our jammies a little longer than usual. 

And as we were having breakfast I was already loving how cozy this day was going to be.  A cold day, Christmas time and the promise of the first snow of the season coming.....well, that is a day where you have to bake cookies.  So, we got dressed and headed out in the rain to get a few things we would need.

Perfect day for our boots

All bundled up

Ready to face the elements

While we were at the store, we walked the baking aisle and talked about what kind of cookies we should make.  There are all sorts of kinds that I love at Christmas, one of those being peanut butter blossoms.  As much as I love them, my husband loves them more.  They are his favorite at Christmas.  So, we decided to make daddy's favorite.  While we were driving home from the store, Kyla said, "Mommy, can these cookies be a surprise for daddy?"  Definitely they can. 

Time to bake....working on unwrapping the Hershey's kisses

Helping with the dough

And helping herself to a taste :)

Lining them all up

And the best part....taking a bite after they are baked and cooled

After the cookies were baked and while we were eating lunch, I looked out and saw that the rain was starting to have white mixed in with it.  I told Kyla to look and the excitement began.....for both of us. Kyla decided she better go get her binoculars to get a better look at the snow that was starting to fall.

Happy about what she is seeing out the front door

And a few hours later, those little specks of white turned into this....hello, first snow of the season....

Taking it all in

Kyla checking it out from her bedroom window

And when we weren't looking out the windows at the falling snow, I got a little help with some cleaning from
a sweet little helper.

Today was my favorite kind of day.  Everything I love all fell into one day. 

Two happy sisters

And a happy man who came home to his squealing four year old girl telling him that we made him a surprise

A cozy day at home, nothing on our schedule, the joy of the first snow, making memories with my girls.....this was my favorite kind of day.

Thankful

We just got back yesterday from celebrating Thanksgiving with the Hochstetler side of our family.  Thanksgiving is definitely one of my favorite holidays and we were so blessed to be with our family.  We had a blast with them, as we always do.  The girls are getting to that age when being at Grandma and Grandpa's house is one of the best things on earth.  Kyla cries now when we leave, it kind of breaks my heart. 

I always have a blast because I have such a fun mother in law and sister in law.  We all share a love for pinterest and when we arrived they had pinterest projects waiting for us to to do.  Love that!  They even had a pinterest project for Kyla.  And, we always have fun doing a little shopping together....I am so blessed to have them in my life.

There was also a first this Thanksgiving.  I have been wondering what all the hype over Black Friday is and so I convinced my sweet husband to come along with me this year to see what it is all about.  We can chalk this one up under "the things you do for love" category, because Troy doesn't particularly love shopping on a regular day.  Also, one of the biggest differences between the two of us is that I am a night owl and he is an early bird.  Which is why I thought I would much rather do the Black Friday thing when the stores opened at midnight than get up at the crack of dawn.  He obliged and took a nice two hour nap before we left.  My overall take on Black Friday is that I was less than impressed.  I think I was going in with visions of getting high priced items for next to nothing.  Also, I didn't have a plan or a particular item I was looking for.  So, basically it was me and my tired but awesome for going along with it husband roaming the mall with the Black Friday shoppers.  I wish we could have had someone along taking pictures because I am sure it was funny to watch.

All of these things and more is what made our Thanksgiving this year really great.....

Kyla and Ashlyn in the cute Thanksgiving hats Grandma got for them

Our family on Thanksgiving day

Kyla checking out the just carved turkey

She is ready to begin the feast

And so is Ashlyn

And so is Troy

Time for pumpkin pie

Digging in....

Time for a nap....and dreaming about how much fun Black Friday shopping will be

Sisters in the chair at Grandma and Grandpa's that they love to spin in

Kyla working on her pinterest project with Grandma

Almost midnight and about to leave for Black Friday....if Troy looks half asleep, he was

With Heidi, in the middle of one of our projects

Having some splashing fun in Grandma's kitchen sink

Ashlyn loves playing the piano

Our finished projects....winter wreaths for our front doors

Kyla's finished pinterest project....a felt tree for her to decorate.  So fun!

Ashlyn laughing while Aunt Heidi gives her a ride

Loving it at Grandma and Grandpa's

Blessed beyond measure and so very thankful.  Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful.