Paper Mache Snow Day

We had our first paper mache experience. We used paper cups, cereal boxes and balloons to make an animal shape, we made paper mache paste, we tore strips of paper from old phone books, and then we got busy making a big huge mess. I do not recommend doing this in your carpeted dining room like we did. Just a suggestion. Although, now I'm really good at cleaning paper mache paste out of carpet.

Once the "animals" were dry the girls used markers to decorate them. We were going to paint them, but I didn't want to clean up another mess. This craft was a big hit!

Merry Christmas 2010

We hosted Christmas at our house again this year. My family and Mark's mom were supposed to arrive on Christmas Eve day, but we had concerns about whether or not they would make it because of an expected storm. Thankfully, they did make it and we were able to enjoy a couple of days together.

Christmas Eve we watched our church service live online, had a great dinner and then opened gifts. After the kids were in bed, there was an adult Wii bowling tournament that I heard was pretty fun.

At the end of the night, right before bed, the girls both took the "reindeer food" (oatmeal and glitter) that they made at school outside and dumped it in our yard.

The reindeer food must have worked because on Christmas morning it was gone and there were full stockings under our tree. Sadly, I was too busy making breakfast for everyone to remember to grab my camera and take pictures of the action.

Christmas day we played, wrangled toys out of boxes, and did some much needed clean up. Then I spent time getting food ready for lunch. That afternoon our company left and our girls took a much needed nap. It was pretty easy to get them to comply because they knew we had a surprise planned for later that night.

When they woke up we Skyped with some of my family that we didn't get to see in person, packed dinner for the girls to eat in the van, and headed to see Tangled.

It was another wonderful, blessed Christmas.

Merry Christmas from the Smalls! Mark, Mandy, Gracie-6, Ella-3, and Irelynn-9mos.

Crawling, Clapping, Playing

All I Want For Christmas Is My...

This Christmas, Irelynn has her 2 bottom teeth! She's also crawling. Oh my.

Okay, that's enough mom...

Gracie's 6th Birthday Party

Dec. 4th we had Gracie's birthday party. She decided on a winter theme. This made things pretty easy for me as far as decorating, since our Christmas decorations were already up. We decided this year to have one all-inclusive party, instead of separate parties for family and friends.

One of the games we played was pin the carrot nose on the snowman. I made this out of poster board, construction paper and markers. You can't see it in the picture, but there is a dashed pencil drawing of where his carrot nose should be. Then we cut out carrot noses out of orange construction paper for the kids to tape on.

A whole bunch of girls!!!

Opening presents...

We also did a craft. The girls got a plain silver ornament which they decorated with Christmas stickers. This was fun!

Another game... one that involved lots of balloon popping :-)

Blowing out the candle on her cupcake Christmas tree cake...

And at the end of the party we painted and decorated nails with stickers...

It was a fun day. I was very thankful to my mom and Mark. They really managed the kids and kept the girls going from one activity to the next, while I manned the kitchen and did clean up so that we could go on to the next activity. Thank you to everyone who came to help us celebrate. You made it a special, and very fun, day for Gracie!

Girls' Christmas Concert 2010

On Dec. 2nd, the girls had their school Christmas concert. I waited too long to blog and, consequently, I can't remember what Ella's pre-school class sang. She tells me it was The Reindeer Pokey and Way Up High on the Christmas Tree. I have the program for the Elementary school, so I can tell you that Gracie's kindergarten class sang I Saw Three Ships, Jolly Old St. Nicolas, and All I Want for Christmas.

Ella singing with her class...

She's on the far right...

Gracie singing with her class...

She's in the second row from the top, first on the right...

Look Who's 6!

Today is Gracie's 6th birthday! Here she is with her birthday hat from school...

Dad made pizzas for a special birthday dinner...

My firstborn...

We let her open a few presents tonight, since her party isn't until Saturday...

Woohoo! Zhu Zhu pet stuff from her Grandma Genie...

Birthday brownies and 6 candles...

Happy 6th Birthday, Gracie! We're so thankful for you! What a blessing you are to our family!