Merry Christmas!

I heard a clatter out on the lawn, and look what I found!

Mama's stocking (filled by Mommy)

Mommy's stocking (filled by Mama)

The Night Before Christmas

Today was way too busy, with last minute preparations and such. Peeper and I spent quite a while rolling, cutting, baking and decorating sugar cookies, Shrike spent way too much time making pancakes, and then we (Shrike and Peeper) had to stop and play in the snow!

Of course, I didn't really get photos of any of that.

Nor did I get any at dinner with Shrike's family, and as it turned out, the Christmas Eve service at her sister's church was cancelled because of the snow, so no photos from there, either.

I do have a couple of us getting ready to leave for dinner. I swear this was her idea!

. . . and several photos - and video! - of our evening activities.

"C'mon. Just let me get one photo before she takes off her dress." 

"Fine."

Gifts (from regular old mortals) under the tree.

Our advent banner - all the numbers have been "tipped over!"

Christopher brought a letter from Santa, and some magic reindeer oats. Peeper asked Shrike to sprinkle them in the yard; she stayed in where it was warm.

Cookies for Santa

The stockings were hung by the window with care.

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Gingerbread & Caroling

Before Shrike left for work today, we decorated some pre-baked gingerbread men, and had a little impromptu Christmas sing-along.

I swear, I can't take these two anywhere.

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Ballerina Carpenter

This afternoon, Peeper got all dressed up in her ballerina outfit, put her tools in her "toolbox" and announced "I'm a plumber! Do you have any wires that need fixed?"

After I straightened that out, I sent her to fix the toilet, which stops up on a regular basis.

Later she was a carpenter, so I asked her to replace the window sill that Galoot chewed up when he was a puppy. She hammered it all better.

Oh, and we were supposed to go look at Christmas lights this evening, but Peeper and I are feeling yuckyu (just a cold), so we blew that off, and just stayed home.

Christmas Caroling

We went caroling with the MOMS Club this morning, at a local retirement home. Last night, I remembered that I had a bunch of mini candy canes in the pantry, so I put them in a basket and took them along, to share with the residents.

When we went in, of course the ladies who were sitting near the door immediately began to "make over" Peeper and her Fancy Christmas Dress, so I asked her if she'd like to give them some candy canes.

Boy, would she!

She handed them out to everyone in the room, and after the "show" she gave them to all the kids, and everyone else who passed by!

Flakey

It seems that Christopher knocked one of the snowflakes off of my wreath as he was climbing aboard. So he decided it would make a nice hat.

Cards for Seniors

Tomorrow, Peeper and I will be going to a local retirement home with the MOMS Club to do some Christmas caroling. Everyone is supposed to take a few cards to hand out, preferably hand-made, so we made a few today. I'm also going to take along some mini candy canes, to pass out to our audience.

I printed them and Peeper embellished them. 

Giving

When we were preparing for the MOMS Club Holiday Giftaway, I sent a press release to the local papers, asking for donations. We got a few, but I also got an email from a woman asking if it was limited to Head Start families.

She told me her story, and I wanted to help, so I told her that she could come by at closing time and chose from what was left. Well, if you remember, we didn't even make it to closing time before everything was gone, so I had to email her back and say "Sorry, nothing left."

I felt so bad doing that, and somehow even worse, when she replied, "Okay thanks. Have a merry Christmas." 

Shrike and I talked about it and wanted to help them in some way, but don't have the means to do it on our own. We just couldn't ask our MOMS Club to do any more than they'd already done, but I threw it out there on Facebook, saying "I know my MOMS Club friends are probably tapped out, but if anyone would like to help this family. . . ."

We got donations from Shrike's parents and sister, one acquaintance whom we really don't see any more, and I believe it was eight MOMS Club members.

Today, I dropped off: 

For F, the 7 year old girl:
Comforter
Winter coat, hat, gloves and snow boots
PJs and slippers
4 pants/shirt outfits
9 pairs panties
23 pairs socks
Barbie doll + 5 outfits
3 books
coloring book + Crayons
Stocking + Stuffers
2 other toys

For K, the 8 month old boy:

Crib bedding set
High chair
16 onesies
5 pair pants
4 shirts
3 sweat shirt / jackets
PJs
1 package disposable diapers
2 pair socks
3 pair shoes
stocking + stuffers
4 battery-operated toys
Baby's First Christmas ornament (okay, maybe this one was for mom)

Also:
Wrapping paper
Tape, ribbon, gift tags
$25 Target gift card
$25 Grocery store gift card

Aw Man, Again?

Busy day, no pics.

Good thing she's so cute when she's sleeping.

Peeper's First Christmas Program

Peeper's class, and the "older toddler" class had their Christmas program today. They sang a few songs, helped the director act out a couple of poems, the two choir directors (one of whom teaches in Peeper's class on Fridays) both sang, and the acted out the Nativity.

Why yes, I did cry. Why do you ask?

I have a video, but I don't know that I should post it, since there are lots of other people's kids in it. But here are some stills, crappy low-lighting quality and all.

Singing

She was a sheep in the Nativity portion of the program. 

At the "Happy Birthday, Jesus" party after the program.