The week before Christmas

Well, I tried.  But I think that "doing less" before Christmas is just impossible!  I've been cookie crazy over here which isn't doing my waistline any good.  Cookies for neighbors, cookies for doctors, cookies for teachers, cookies for swap, cookies, cookies, cookies.....ahhhhh!  I really enjoy giving them though so just a few more nights of all this baking I think I can endure.

Last night we took the girls to a church down the road that had a live nativity.  It was rainy and Molly was clinging to me for dear life so I didn't get any photos, but it was amazing to watch Jane name each person seem to really get it.  It was worth the trip out in the rain.  Molly, on the other hand, is really beginning to go through that stage where strangers are terrifying.  It's strange, and kinda heartbreaking, to see my little outgoing girl shake with fear and hold on to me when she's afraid I'm going to put her down. 

This week is sure to be a busy one with visiting friends, wrapping gifts, Jane's last couple days of school before break, baking, both finishing up last minute gift shopping and food shopping, and anything else we can manage to squeeze in.

Here's what we've been up to over the past couple weeks.

Dollar store for craft supplies

Little Gym

Ikea

crafting

fun evening with friends that included a carriage ride

 

gymnastics class

a visit with Santa

Jane shares what she'd like for Christmas.  Molly prefers to watch from my lap.

But she does enjoy herself some candy cane

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Wow!  December came so quickly!  And so the hustle and bustle begins.  More than anything, I just want to enjoy this holiday season.  I don't want to feel rushed or like I need to do more.  More decorations, more gifts, more crafts, more baking...

Jane is sooo excited for this Christmas!  She really understand this year what is going to happen.  She loves all the festive lights as we drive at night.  She loves all the decorations at Walmart.  She loves the idea of Santa and that one day soon we will be taking a visit to see him. 

This was the first year we got out our Christmas decorations the Friday after Thanksgiving.  All of a sudden I felt like I had more time to do everything else!  I don't know why we waited before!  We got our tree this past Friday and brought home a pizza as well.  It was a fun night of eating and trimming the tree.  Saturday was our town's holiday parade.  The girls bopped to the band and waved to everyone who passed.  It was a good weekend!

Thanksgiving Eve

Everyone is in bed.   I'm enjoying a quiet evening watching Thanksgiving episodes of tv sitcoms. 

I'm so ready for tomorrow!  I can't wait to turn the parade on tv for Jane to watch in the morning.  Of course that's in between her running back and forth to the kitchen to help me bake desserts to take to Thanksgiving dinner.

I'm excited to dress everyone up and head to Brian's mom's house for an afternoon of family.  I love getting all the cousins together on holidays!  I love the pitter patter of little feet running through the hallway chasing each other.  I love how the adults sit back after the meal and talk and relax while the kids spend their own quality time together.  I love how the trip home leaves my heart full and happy.  

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

 

Holy Smokes!

 

I know this picture is lousy!  But it sums up the week we've had.  

We're looking forward to a healthier and happier week!  I took Molly to her class at the library this morning while Jane was at school, and before class we were talking about how Mondays are really not so bad.  Happy to return to routine and a fresh start to the week.  

Here's to a fun week of friends, family, and food!!
 

We Dig Nature

When naptime's a bust, it's time to get out!  The weather is feeling more and more like winter, so we bundled up and headed to the nature park for a hike.

I love fall: the sound of leaves crunching under your feet and the crisp air turning little cheeks pink.  I've been waiting for fall to look just like it did today to take the girls out.  And it was beautiful. 

We had such a nice afternoon searching for the biggest leaf, exploring the "Pooh" tree, stomping in the stream, and hopping along rocks. 

Daylight Savings, I Loathe You!

Hey time change, I remember when you used to be cool!

Now instead of getting more sleep, I get less! And we all love seeing 4:30AM, don't we now?

Aftermath

Sandy is outta here. Along with destruction everywhere, she also left behind fall.  The temperatures have dropped and the leaf (and stick, tree, and debris) clean up has begun.

Here is southeastern PA, hurricane weather is nothing new this time of year.  However, nothing has effected us the way Sandy has.  We were unbelievable blessed with very minor damage, but so many others were far from so lucky.  We've been welcoming family without power this week with warm showers and a meal.  But even they are a far cry from being considered a victims of this storm.

Our little town is slowly starting to recover.  For many, they are on day 4 of no electric.  Roads everywhere have been closed due to down trees.  If lucky enough to have power and be open, store shelves are BARE.  Forget about getting gas.  They are either sold out or without power.  But this is nothing.

The shore.  The beloved vacation spot of so so many.  Destroyed.  Watching video of pictures taken of the destruction is heartbreaking.  There is so much clean up.  So much rebuilding to be done.  Beach just washed away.  In many towns, it will never be the same.  We have friend just waiting to get down there to check on their homes.  The roads to get there have,too, been washed away. 

With the school districts closed, Brian's been home from work.  We've been holed up all week, but ever so thankful.  With power on our street, we enjoyed a fun evening of trick-or-treating with friends.  And today we bundled up and got outside for a bit.  Everyday things seem to become more like normal around here.  As for others up and down the east coast, our prayers are with you.

Stuck in-side fort.  (what is daddy doing??)

Dress-up passes, oh, like 20 minutes.

Picked up toys to vacuum.  Looked up and Molly had gotten in the house!

Trick-or-treat

Feeding Molly...uhh, I mean the cat.  (Not our cat by the way, I'd never leave it outside!)

Checking out the pumpkin patch.

Silly girls sitting on a pumpkin.

Pizza lunch after a busy morning outdoors.

 

Just a Little Hurricane

In just mere hours, hurricane Sandy will hit shore. I feel like the whole east coast is just waiting. But for what, no one is quite sure. We've had steady rain for the past several hours, and the wind is noticeably picking up. We never lose power on our street, and I'm hoping that stays true tonight. If it weren't for a certain little one's diet still heavily relying on HOT, certainly not cold, milk, I'd welcome a little blackout.

Anyhow, we've been enjoying a day of staying in jammies, lots of playing, eating, and watching the news coverage of the storm.