11 Days Until Christmas

(Marshall wrapping his mind around the concept that you are just supposed to peel the sticky back off those pre-made bows and not that whole cardboard rectangle= priceless)

Day 14 of Advent: Read a New Christmas Book
Today's was one of our family favorites, A Very Marley Christmas. Marshall thinks the dog is HILARIOUS. And I love Josie's commentary,"Oh no! No No Doggie!"

12 Days Until Christmas

Josie enjoyed a lot of Daddy snuggle time this morning. I could not adequately document the sweetness with my camera. (BTW- Her baby is wrapped in that bundle of blankets. She's been hauling Baby around a lot today. At one point, she would kiss the baby, walk 15 feet or so, stop, and kiss the baby again. And out of all the baby dolls to choose from, which one does she go for? The cheap, rubber doll that I bought to help potty-train Marshall....Figures.... :))

Day 13 of Advent: Bake presents for our neighbors

Josie, let me show you how to stir it.

Here, just give me the spoon.

(Marshall also started Quin's Christmas present today.....my heavens, I am bursting, it is so cute. And he was so excited about it. I will have to share it on the blog when it is finished and make Erin promise not to look.)

13 Days Until Christmas

Day 12 of Advent: GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!
Yes this isn't very Christmas-y and yes, this is another lame post without pictures, but we hosted 2 parties yesterday, Army-Navy in the early afternoon and the Brighton Holiday Party in the evening, and I was just too darn busy to take any pictures.

Whew....I am partied out......

Today will be better....there will be baking!

14 Days Until Christmas

Day 11 of Advent: Make a list of presents we can give our friends and family
I couldn't take a picture of this, or then you'd know what you were getting from Marshall! (And Josie I guess.....if bringing Will and I her favorite book and shoving it at us saying, "Ook! Ook!" while we were all sitting on the couch list-making counts as helping....)

Let's just say, the things that Marshall thought to get people (and the people he wanted to include) are very precious and adorable. For example, Teacher Connie will be getting a new (homemade) pointer. (He wanted to get her a calendar too, but I explained that she really likes the one she has already. :))

15 Day Until Christmas

Nothing better than playing with friends during the Holidays.....

OMG Josie! He said what? You tell him "Oh no you didn't!"


Rub a Dub Dub, Four kids in the tub.......playing with water leftover in the bath toys. Can this qualify as a bath?

Day 10 of Advent: Write a Letter to Santa

Dear Santa, I hope you are having a Merry Christmas! I would like a new wooden train for Christmas. I can't wait for you to come! Love, Marshall



Dear Santa, Merry Christmas! I would like a surprise for Christmas! Love, Josie

16 Days Until Christmas

Oh, yeah and.....
Day 9 of Advent: Read a New Christmas Book

Today was about the blessings of friends....friends who come over early to watch my kids so I can go to work earlier to prepare for an extravaganza, friends who give the kids a new Christmas book just at the right time (because I was simply out of original ideas for the Advent calendar), and friends who bring over a portion of their dinner just at the right time (because I was also out of original ideas for dinner). Simple blessings of friends make all the difference in our lives, and we are very blessed.

17 Days Until Christmas

Day 8 of Advent: Make Reindeer using our hands and feet!

(Okay, I'll be the first one to admit that today was a bit cheese, but we had errands to run and none of us were really feeling it today. Plus, I've got a big shenanigan going on at school.....CSI: Brighton...very fun, but involved! It will be over tomorrow and then I will be able to go back to making advent more interesting. :))

On a different note:

I know, this totally is wishful thinking but she's been SOOOO into "going to the potty" lately, I thought I'd bring out her own little potty. (No actual pottying has occurred, but practice makes perfect right? Maybe she'll potty train herself? Stranger things have happened......) Marshall was really excited to show Josie how to go potty. He's directions were HILARIOUS. "Okay Jo, first you go like this. And then you sit. And then you just do it. See? What a good little sister! Good Job!"