We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Happy Halloween

I couldn't find a cute/appropriate Halloween outfit for Evie, so I got a little help from the internet 

Iron on transfer from Once Upon a Design and bow from Super Twirl

 Astronaut Andrew

Lollipop Fairy

Boo @ the Zoo

Twas the night before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas (but it really reminded me of the The Night Before the Night Before Christmas), children all tucked in their beds, and the car loaded for a late night drive ahead. When all of a sudden there was such a clatter; Daddy came running to see what was the matter.

And that is how our Christmas started off. We were planning to drive after Phil finished playing at both Christmas Eve services. I decided to carry sleeping children to the car while he ate his dinner. Poor guy hadn't even sat down when I misjudged the number of stairs we have in our house and Evie and I tumbled to the landing. Evie was completely fine and didn't even remember it the next morning. Nana came over so we could head off to Parkwest. Christmas Eve is apparently a great time to hurt yourself because we were in and out of the ER in half an hour. I insisted we would not let this ruin Christmas, so off we went the next morning. My family was a huge help as I hobbled through the day. However, between the pain, percocet, and just trying to get through the day I took zero pictures. The pictures below are from breakfast at my grandparents' house and are courtesy of my sister.

Christmas Mice

Snow day #2 this week was still really cold and the snow was basically reduced to ice, so it was an inside day for us. I had seen these cute candy cane mice on Southern Plate and bought the supplies to make them over the weekend. The plan was to do this craft during Christmas break, but it worked out to do them a little earlier. It entertained the kids for the afternoon and provided favors to Andrew's preschool party next week. I did all of the cutting, but the kids were able to do the assembly all by themselves. By the way, I learned that 6 and 5 is still too young to break out the hot glue gun! The kids thought they were cute, but Andrew wanted to know where their mouths were going to go. Evie informed him that they don't have mouths so they won't eat the candy canes. Love these kids!

Putting the ears on the body

Gluing on eyes and noses

Our army of mice. Their candy cane tails are color coordinated to their noses thanks to Evie!

The finished product on the tree

Fun Saturday

Evie has been excited for the past few weeks to go see The Nutcracker with her Nana. She picked out one of her Christmas dresses to wear and counted down the hours as the day went on. I think she had wonderful time! Since Evie was doing something special, Phil decided to take Andrew to Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops. This was definitely the little boy equivalent to an afternoon at the ballet.

Her ballerina ornament from Nana

Andrew's giant fish

Our 1st Gingerbread House

We have never made a gingerbread house with the kids because they are allergic to gingerbread and royal icing. However, we got the idea from PBS Kids to use graham crackers. The recipe called for cream of tartar in the icing, but we just added some powdered sugar instead and it worked out just fine. I know you aren't meant to eat the house, but trust me, there was a lot of finger licking and candy sneaking going on. The kids loved it!

Construction begins

Phase one complete

Phase 2- another section of roof was added along with some landscaping

Phase 3- put up shingles, doors, and windows

The completed project! Next time we are going to frost that inside graham cracker, but once the roof was stable I wasn't about to try to frost the inside.

Happy Halloween!

Butterfly Fairy (lost a front tooth after this)

Woody

Silly children!

Trick or Treat!

Costume Parade

Andrew got to wear his costume all day at school and participate in a costume parade this morning. He had so much fun, and all the kids looked so cute dressed up!

Woody and Jessie. Andrew was so excited that Mrs. Marty, the director of his preschool, dressed up as Jessie.

Andrew with his teacher, Mrs.Nale

and with his other teacher, Mrs.Edwards

Spider Fun

Andrew's preschool had their Fall Festival today. He had so much fun with the spider theme! They got to go on a hayride outside to the pumpkin patch, then come into the gym for crafts and a visit with the tarantula.

Spider cupcake

Spider pumpkin

The real spider!

Happy Halloween!

Evie and Andrew dressed up tonight and went trick or treating in our neighborhood. Andrew was a pumpkin and Evie was a ladybug. We practiced saying "trick or treat" up our neighbors' driveways, but as soon as the door opened Evie would say, "I need more candy. Thank you." She ate two lollipops and one box of nerds. Andrew didn't care about the candy, he just wanted to walk around and carry his pumpkin bucket.

Harvest Festival at Central Baptist Bearden

Evie and Andrew went to the Harvest Festival at church tonight. Evie jumped in the moonwalk and threw beanbags at the scarecrow's teeth. We ate hot dogs, lollipops, and homemade apple juice. The Knoxville Fire Department brought out Engine 20 for all the kids to see. The Sonlight puppeteers did a great show that Evie and Andrew loved.

Boo @ the Zoo

Boo at the Zoo! Evie and Andrew had fun trick or treating at the zoo. Dora, Boots, and Swiper were their favorites! Evie wasn't too sure about the adults that were dressed up in costumes, but she sure liked getting treats in her pumpkin. Andrew wanted to walk, walk, walk. The only thing that slowed him down was the big Shoney's Bear.