Monday, December 6, 2010
Brennan's birthday Part 2
After supper we headed home for cake, icecream, and gifts. Brennan got a very silly Elmo doll from Tami and Bo.
She got a movie from Dada and a new Dr. Seuss book, and those two dolls I made her a couple months ago.
And for the grand finale she got a rocking horse complete with a red cowboy hat. She loved it!
The next day, a suprise showed up at our door, balloons and a teddy bear. Thanks Bama and Baba!
It was a great birthday! Next up...Chistmas, New Years, and then....gulp (imagine the Jaw's music here) potty training!
Bren's birthday Part 1
Bren's birthday was great. Kadyn and I made a cake that A.M. She looked so cute when I let her lick the bowl, but she was very nervous about me taking a picture of her. She said, "I don't want people to laugh at me." So to help her realize it was just all in good fun, I put a little on my face too. Next thing I know she's smearing it all over her face for a better shot. Guess my plan worked.
The festivities began around 3:00 when we went to the Sight and Sound theater to see the show, "The Miracle of Christmas." We were able to get free tickets again. It was an amazing show. At several points during the performance there were angels literally flying out around the crowd. I was moved to tears at least 2 times. Seeing the story of God's birth put into action really reminds one of the magnitude of the sacrifice God made on our behalf. So precious! So amazing and wonderful! Bren made it through about 3/4 of the show and then got a little too chatty. I had to take her out for a little while. The tree at the theater was beautfiul. Heck, the whole theater is beautiful! Upstairs they had a big model of the theater for the musical "Noah." I know it's tiny, but maybe you can get idea of what it was like when we went to that show a month ago.
There was a nativity scene around the entire Christmas tree. The most amazing nativity scene I've EVER scene.
Upstairs there was a theater model of the musical "Noah" that we saw last month. I know it is small, but maybe you can get an idea of what that was like by the pictures.
Afterwards we went out to eat at Tijuana Willies. I had the most AMAZING fish tacos of my life! It was the first time I ate fish and it didn't taste fishy! Our friends Tami and Bo joined us for the festivities. The girls LOVE them!
More to come....
The festivities began around 3:00 when we went to the Sight and Sound theater to see the show, "The Miracle of Christmas." We were able to get free tickets again. It was an amazing show. At several points during the performance there were angels literally flying out around the crowd. I was moved to tears at least 2 times. Seeing the story of God's birth put into action really reminds one of the magnitude of the sacrifice God made on our behalf. So precious! So amazing and wonderful! Bren made it through about 3/4 of the show and then got a little too chatty. I had to take her out for a little while. The tree at the theater was beautfiul. Heck, the whole theater is beautiful! Upstairs they had a big model of the theater for the musical "Noah." I know it's tiny, but maybe you can get idea of what it was like when we went to that show a month ago.
Upstairs there was a theater model of the musical "Noah" that we saw last month. I know it is small, but maybe you can get an idea of what that was like by the pictures.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Alternative tree
Last year I got to get a new tree. We had always had teeny tiny trees before and they were kinda falling apart. I really wanted to celebrate owning our new home with a beautiful new tree. I was even allowed to buy all new ornaments. I've always been a sucker for the teal Christmas balls, so I went with a silver and teal themed tree. Everything else we had went on our other little spindly trees around the house.
We have been making Christmas ornaments during craft time. Of course, Kadyn really wants to put them on my tree, but I really want my tree to stay just the way it is in all it's teal and silver splendor. She also has caught the "spirit of christmas" with her Mama and keeps drawing picture after picture and telling me that they are going to be Christmas presents for me, her Dad, or Brennan. Of course, where does she want to put them? Under our tree with all the other presents. I was literally picturing digging our presents out on Christmas morning from piles of drawings.
So I decided to try an idea from another blog. I made an alternative Christmas tree just for Kadyn. It sits in her room. One by one we are making Christmas ornaments to adorn it. She can put as many drawings underneath it as she wants. Now she is happy, and so am I. I love that my little girl is so creative and such a giver. I adore her crafts too, but I am happy they have their very own tree to hang on just for them. And as a bonus, I don't have to worry about picking up drawings everyday off the floor because I can just shut Kadyn's door and keep the little gal I babysit away from them. I know she would've gotten into that and probably ruined them if she got her paws on them.
So here it is. Not the prettiest tree you ever did see, but it was free, and it made one little girl happy. A work in progress, but it's all Kadyns.
We have been making Christmas ornaments during craft time. Of course, Kadyn really wants to put them on my tree, but I really want my tree to stay just the way it is in all it's teal and silver splendor. She also has caught the "spirit of christmas" with her Mama and keeps drawing picture after picture and telling me that they are going to be Christmas presents for me, her Dad, or Brennan. Of course, where does she want to put them? Under our tree with all the other presents. I was literally picturing digging our presents out on Christmas morning from piles of drawings.
So I decided to try an idea from another blog. I made an alternative Christmas tree just for Kadyn. It sits in her room. One by one we are making Christmas ornaments to adorn it. She can put as many drawings underneath it as she wants. Now she is happy, and so am I. I love that my little girl is so creative and such a giver. I adore her crafts too, but I am happy they have their very own tree to hang on just for them. And as a bonus, I don't have to worry about picking up drawings everyday off the floor because I can just shut Kadyn's door and keep the little gal I babysit away from them. I know she would've gotten into that and probably ruined them if she got her paws on them.
So here it is. Not the prettiest tree you ever did see, but it was free, and it made one little girl happy. A work in progress, but it's all Kadyns.
Happy Birthday Baby Girl!
Too one of the sweetest, funniest, adorable kids I know, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I truly could not imagine my life without you Brennan Avery Bilberry. You make each and every one of our hearts happier just for being you!
Friday, December 3, 2010
A Greener Christmas
I read a going green blog. I often get really good ideas from that blog. One poster said something about wrapping her gifts in cloth. I LOVED this idea, however, I wasn't sure it would work really well with children. I thought of making some really pretty drawstring bags to put things in that I could reuse each year. However, I'm sure little curious eyes and hands would get into that too easily. Then I thought I could just make different squares of Christmas fabric and wrap things up like you would with paper only fastened by safety pins. However, the thought of my poor children opening up saftey pins didn't seem very logical either. Nope cloth was not the way to go this year, or for many more years for that matter. Bummer!
Then it occured to me, art paper. I have TONS of it. I wouldn't need to buy more paper. I could make an art project out of it for the kids. They do art projects everyday anyways. This could kind of kill two birds with one stone so to speak. Sure we would be throwing the paper away eventually, and yes that isn't necessarily green. But if the kids are going to make art of it anyways, why not put it on the presents? So I got to work wrapping them all in art paper. Then I told Kadyn to get to work decorating them all with colors that would match our tree. She LOVE, LOVE, LOVED it. I tied some pretty bows (which will be reused next year) and wala! A little greener Christmas. Cool beans people!
Then it occured to me, art paper. I have TONS of it. I wouldn't need to buy more paper. I could make an art project out of it for the kids. They do art projects everyday anyways. This could kind of kill two birds with one stone so to speak. Sure we would be throwing the paper away eventually, and yes that isn't necessarily green. But if the kids are going to make art of it anyways, why not put it on the presents? So I got to work wrapping them all in art paper. Then I told Kadyn to get to work decorating them all with colors that would match our tree. She LOVE, LOVE, LOVED it. I tied some pretty bows (which will be reused next year) and wala! A little greener Christmas. Cool beans people!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
In the spirit of things
I've never understood people who get every single person they can think of a gift for Christmas. When I was on the receiving end of those people I always thought to myself, "Geeze now I feel guilty if I don't get them something too." I never understood those people.....until now. How Mr. Scrooge was I?
Every year we have just bought gifts for our little family and that's about it. Frankly it's been a relief considering how tight our budget is. Our extended family agrees that it seems silly to ship things in boxes (shipping is SOOOO expensive) and that really we only need to get each other gifts if we happen to be in the same town over the holiday. So until this year, it has just been gifts for the 4 of us.
I know I've raved about our neighbors and how kind, helpful, and awesome they are. They inspire me. I want to give back. I decided to give them gifts this year for Christmas. It had to be inexpensive, but thoughtful. Making things, in my book, always saves money. I didn't want it to be something they'd have to keep as everyone has too many "things" these days. Food seemed like the perfect idea. I didn't want to do traditional cookies. I'd already baked bread for them as thankyous before. Then it came to me, food in a jar. If you haven't done this before you'd be surprised how many mixes you can whip up and put in a jar. There's all kinds of free recipes online like this and that.
So....I bought some jars and a few cheap ingredients and got to work. It was really fun. Not only did I get into mixing them up, but I found it very thrilling to decorate the jars. One things led to another and next thing I know I'm adding more and more people to my list. I have made 7 jars of chili mix, 9 jars of body salt scrubs, and 4 jars of cookie mixes. I then made cards to go in them gift bags with them.
Since I was feeling the spirit of things, I got to thinking. Perhaps when I deliver these, Kadyn and I will sing a little Christmas carol. Christmas caroling is such a lost art. Why not? I know our neighbors would love that. Kadyn has gotten really good at Jingle bells.
Well anyhoo.....here's a picture of what I've done.
Every year we have just bought gifts for our little family and that's about it. Frankly it's been a relief considering how tight our budget is. Our extended family agrees that it seems silly to ship things in boxes (shipping is SOOOO expensive) and that really we only need to get each other gifts if we happen to be in the same town over the holiday. So until this year, it has just been gifts for the 4 of us.
I know I've raved about our neighbors and how kind, helpful, and awesome they are. They inspire me. I want to give back. I decided to give them gifts this year for Christmas. It had to be inexpensive, but thoughtful. Making things, in my book, always saves money. I didn't want it to be something they'd have to keep as everyone has too many "things" these days. Food seemed like the perfect idea. I didn't want to do traditional cookies. I'd already baked bread for them as thankyous before. Then it came to me, food in a jar. If you haven't done this before you'd be surprised how many mixes you can whip up and put in a jar. There's all kinds of free recipes online like this and that.
So....I bought some jars and a few cheap ingredients and got to work. It was really fun. Not only did I get into mixing them up, but I found it very thrilling to decorate the jars. One things led to another and next thing I know I'm adding more and more people to my list. I have made 7 jars of chili mix, 9 jars of body salt scrubs, and 4 jars of cookie mixes. I then made cards to go in them gift bags with them.
Since I was feeling the spirit of things, I got to thinking. Perhaps when I deliver these, Kadyn and I will sing a little Christmas carol. Christmas caroling is such a lost art. Why not? I know our neighbors would love that. Kadyn has gotten really good at Jingle bells.
Well anyhoo.....here's a picture of what I've done.
Frozen in time
Brennan, as I've said before, has hit her language explosion. You can't always understand what she says, but man does she try and it is just PRECIOUS! I really wish I could just freeze her at this age. I guess I'll just have to settle freezing this moment in time with a video instead. A must watch. I promise you'll say "aw" and maybe even giggle too!
New words from Darci Bilberry on Vimeo.
New words from Darci Bilberry on Vimeo.
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