Dec. 9-Dec. 29, 2013: Catching Up December

We've tried to take it easy this month...just do a few crafts and activities here and there along with Tuesday play dates and Thursday story times.

 

Katie filled a creamer container (of which we have many) with cotton balls and made a snowman.

She grew candy canes out of peppermint seeds and decorated the tree.

Audrey ate all sorts of new foods...blueberries included.

We went to Grandma's house and made special ornaments to decorate the tree.  Katie made salt dough and then her and Audrey put their hand and feet prints in the dough.

We went to Santa Clause at Bass Pro and Audrey didn't cry!  The girls both did great visiting Santa.

We made sugar cookies for Santa!

We went to Grandmother's, Grandma and Grandpa Vaughan's and Papa and Tina's for Christmas, too but I forgot to take the camera.  On Christmas Eve's we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

 Uncle Ben was there

Katie put up stockings for Santa and set out cookies and milk.

Daddy read The Night Before Christmas

 Christmas morning Katie woke up and checked out all her presents.

 Both the girls got Lillie dogs from Santa.

Week of December 2, 2013: Our Elf Comes to Visit

Okay so I love the whole "Elf on the Shelf" concept but, I do not like the creepy little elf.  Seriously...creepy!  So I went on a hunt for a cuter, less frightening version and found Elf Magic.  These are the cutest little elves that visit children just around Christmas and then go home with Santa on Christmas Eve.  I love these because they come in so many different styles and you can buy accessories and clothes to go with them.  Katie wasn't really sure what to think when her elf first arrived but, soon she got the hang of it and has enjoyed Snowy all week.  Snowy's dog Snowball also came to visit and Katie has been even more in love with him!

 

Katie sprinkling Snowy with snow from the North Pole before she goes to bed.  This is so Snowy can wake up and bring special surprises for Katie each morning.

The first thing that Snowy brought was 24 books...one to read each night until Christmas.  Katie has had so much fun opening a present each night.

Evan came over for some candy cane activities.  The kids made some marble painted candy canes, strung red and white beads on a pipe cleaner and did some candy cane science with baking soda and vinegar.

We went outside for one last time before the snow hit.  Audrey got to swing in the swing for the first time and loved it.  Katie loved pushing little sister, too.

Later in the week Snowy brought some candy cane playdough and a candy cane seed so Katie could grow her own candy cane.

We made a collage candy cane and oh my gosh was I amazed at this child's fine motor skills!  She was using her scissors to cut tiny sequins in half!

Katie used some pipe cleaners and beads to make Snowy a necklace.  She loves her little elf.

Audrey and I stayed inside while Daddy and Katie froze in the snow.

Katie's candy cane grew and she was able to pick it and eat it...yummy!

What's the best thing to drink after playing in the snow?  Hot chocolate!  This was Katie's first hot chocolate experience and I daresay she was impressed.

 

Our last project of the week was snow dough...another success.  Katie spent over an hour molding and shaping snowmen with this fun dough.