12-17
We celebrated our family Christmas a week early due to our Minnesota travel plans. The kids were so very excited! We went to church and Sunday school, had lunch, and then opened gifts in the afternoon. Charlie played a song on the piano, too. It was super cute!
LOVE love LOOOVVVEE these kids!!
Hattie was being so funny, acting like she was shy and cozy-ing up to her siblings but giving a sly little smile. It was pretty adorable.
Charlie played the best rendition of Jingle Bells I have ever heard! :)
This year, Matt and I took Charlie and Alanna out each by themselves to pick out something for their siblings at Dollar Tree. They spent their own money and really thought about what they wanted to buy each sibling. I shopped with Alanna and I was stunned at how thoughtful she was when she picked out her items! She got Molly a chapstick (fitting, since Molly has eaten every.single.one of Alanna's chapsticks), Hattie a board book since she loves to read, and a Rubik's cube for Charlie (which he loves still in February!). Nice shopping, Alanna! Charlie bought Hattie a stuffed star that plays Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (which she sleeps with every night now and calls it her "Twinkle Star" and sings the song), a hula-hoop for Molly, and a reader book for Alanna (that he actually spent his Awana shares on at the Awana store - great idea, Mom! wink wink!). I think this was a MUCH better option for addressing the sibling gifts than sending money for the kids to spend at the Santa's workshop village fundraiser thing at school. I want to be the one to see my child think through and pick out gifts for someone! Plus they had some buy in because they spent their own money. It's a hard thing to teach - giving gifts because we want to not because we want something in return. Not that the kids need more trinkets, but the point of it all is to practice being generous and thoughtful!
A whole chapstick all to herself earned Alanna a big hug! *Let it be known that said chapstick was totally and completely eaten within two days after opening it.
Charlie was so busy in his class making crafty gifts for parents! He made three things and wrapped them himself. Part of the gift was the fun wrapping paper he decorated! I opened a snowman made out of a tube sock, Matt opened an ornament or fridge magnet, and together we opened a reindeer made out of a wire hanger and pantyhose. I'm loving the made-in-school Christmas crafts! So cute!
A deck of cards with his picture on them - great for playing Garbage!
Blue leg sleeves for our basketball-loving boy.
Alanna got her own deck of cards, too, with a cute pic of her and Daddy on the front.
A fold-out sofa bed for Molly to go with her new Walmart brand American Girl doll!
Hattie got new undies and tried them on. Your day will come, undies!
A new game for the tablet
A mega-pack of reader books
I sewed Hattie a new blanket and she flopped right down on it after she opened it. Fleece owls with a pink flannel back. So cozy!
Hattie was tearing off tiny pieces of wrapping paper on this gift (an bouncy ride-on toy called Mr. Hankypants!).
Mr. Hankypants!!!
A rainbow set of mini Barbie dolls
New Under Armour shoes
Matt got some sweet Colorado socks and a new Jewish bread book. Babka! Challah! Oh my!
Charlie got a new game called Kanoodle that involves creating different configurations of different shaped pieces. He was addicted as soon as he opened it. It's like his marble maze puzzle ball from a few years ago - so crazy addicting!
Molly and her new doll. The $15 clearance doll even has red hair like Molly! And loves to bake! It's a fabulous match!
A Lego kit for Alanna
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