Lily's Preschool Christmas Party

Lily had her preschool Christmas party on Friday, December 20th.  I don't work many day shifts, but of course I was working one on this day...boo hoo!  Jason was on vacation so he and Avery were able to go to the party.  He snapped a few pictures for me...he knows how I am about my pictures!  Lily sang a few Christmas songs and they recited the Pledge of Allegiance.  She recited it to me when I got home from work and she ROCKED it!  The kids decorated Christmas cookies after they sang.  I think Avery had just as much fun as her big sister did!

 

 Lily wearing her Reindeer hat at dinner

 London, Addison and Lily

 Sissies

 Her cookies masterpiece

 

Christmas Vacation

Jason and I both had time off over Christmas.  Jason was off for about 2.5 weeks and I was off for 10 days.  It is always nice to be home with the girls over the holidays, and I'm thankful we were able to have this time.  It isn't always easy to get time off during the holidays when you work in healthcare, and I felt a little guilty even asking for vacation. 

 

We had a list of things we wanted to do with the girls while we were home.  I think we got most of the items crossed off of the list except for two...we didn't get to go ice skating and we didn't make it to the Durham to see the giant Christmas tree.  We will have to do these next year!  I wasn't sure how ice skating was going to work with Jason being in a boot and not being able to participate and me trying to help two little kiddos when I can't even skate myself!

 

Things we did do...went to cousin Nathan's basketball game, went to Walking with the Dinosaurs (with daddy), made Christmas cookies, went swimming at the YMCA, went to the park, played in the snow, looked at Christmas lights (Lily went with Pa Mike) and just enjoyed being home with everyone!

 

 Lunch Date

 Hot Chocolate with marshmallows

Donut date with Daddy

Game night

 Swimming at the YMCA

 

 

 

 Making Christmas cookies

 Enjoying a beautiful (windy) day at the park

 Walking with the Dinosaurs with Daddy

 Helping Daddy shave

Playing in the snow

 

This Little Light of Mine

Again, I have no pictures of this because I only had my phone, but the girls sang this one Sunday in November during the service.  Each kid got a glow stick and waved it while they sang.  It was pretty precious!  Avery and Lily had been singing this around the house for weeks and they were both super excited to get to sing "on stage".

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine,
Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine, Let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine.
Don't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Don't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine,
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine.
let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

The Girls' Christmas Program

Family photo after the program

The girls had their Church Christmas program on Sunday, December 15th.  This is Lily's 3rd year and Avery's 2nd year.  They have been practicing during Wednesday night church for several weeks and they also practice during Sunday school.  They have sung one of the songs three years in a row now, but it is super cute so who cares!  Avery was in the front row and she did so good!  She knew all of the words and all of the actions.  Lily was in the back row, and she did great too!  Lily misses the age cutoff by less than 2 weeks, so she is one of the oldest.  Next year she will be in the big program!  I took a video of the program, but I didn't get any good pictures of them actually singing because all I had was my phone...:(  If you ever see my husband, please inform him that I NEED a new camera to capture moments like this!!!

 

Songs:

 

It's Christmas, It's Christmas

The Angels Sing

Away in a Manger

It's Good News

Christmas Card 2013

The Winner!

 

My camera wasn't working when I wanted to try and get a photo for our family Christmas card.  I was panicked!  I got the girls dressed up in their Christmas dresses and tried to pose them in front of our Christmas tree.  They did a pretty good job, and I got some pretty good pics from my camera phone.

Preschool Pet

The weekend before Christmas, Lily got to bring home the preschool "pet".  Each kid gets assigned a "job" every week, and her job for the week to was take care of Clifford.  She was sooooooo excited to bring Clifford home to her house!  Right away, she made him a cozy little bed underneath the Christmas tree, and set him up with a food and water bowl.  I had to work the first night we had him, but Jason said she moved him upstairs into her room and that he slept underneath her Christmas tree. 

 

Clifford came with a leash, a book and a folder with pictures from all of the other kids in her class who had taken Clifford to their home.  Mom and Dad read the Clifford book to Lily, and on Sunday night Lily drew a picture of what she and Clifford did over the weekend.  Clifford slept under the Christmas tree, went on a walk in the kitchen with Avery and he went to the girls' Christmas program at Church.  Lily took very good care of Clifford and then she asked for a real dog...as Avery likes to say...THAT'S NOT HAPPENING!

 

 

Lily's Last Basketball Game

Lily played in her last basketball game of the season a few weeks ago.  She really had fun playing this year, and she has really improved.  She can now dribble and "almost" make a hoop!  I did take her to the YMCA a while ago and we practiced dribbling, passing and shooting.  She MADE a basket and she (and mom) were so excited!!  Coach took the kids to Culver's after the game for ice cream and awards. 

 

We are PROUD of you Lily Bit!