Christmas #4 The Big Present

My girls have been wanting a trampoline and so have their parents. We need something fun to do in our empty unlandscaped backyard. Santa knew that a trampoline would be too big to take home from Grandma's so he dropped it off at our house while we were gone and left us a photo of it in a big box on Christmas day.

When we got home the boxes were in our living and room and Olivia said, "It's really here!" Daddy set it up yesterday. The trampoline went up quick. The enclosure took longer, but well worth it and the jumping has begun.

Christmas #3

We had a lovely Christmas day. Everytime someone came over more presents were opened. It just went on all day long. The girls loved their doll beds and I made each of them a quilt for their dolls. I love that my girls love dolls. Olivia woke before everyone and went downstairs. Later she told us, "I went down and it was really dark and I could see the shape of Santa. I thought, 'I don't think I should be down here yet and I just ran back upstairs.' " I love the magic of Christmas.

Sammie really wanted a dolphin pillow pet for Christmas and Grandma came through with that one. She was so excited.

Abby broke into every. single.candycane. Any piece of candy left in sight was prey to her.Olivia never asked for anything this year. She just wanted to be surprised and then she said it was the best Christmas ever. I think it's better that way. No expectations.

Christmas #2

The Pebley Party

We have been having this party at Christmas time since before I was born. My mom and her 3 sisters all get together before Christmas. We used to get together at Grandma and Grandpa's but when all the grandkids started having kids we outgrew it. So now the sisters rotate. My mom hosted this year and it wouldn't be Christmas without this party. The great-grand kids and a few dads participated in the nativity and we always have chimes. My Uncle Neil plays his guitar, some people share their talents, there is ALWAYS waaaaayy too much food, and we sing. Not everyone can come every year, but it is so fun to catch up with cousins and visit.

Christmas #1

Before Christmas Joey's parents came down to visit. We had lots of fun antique shopping, decorating gingerbread houses, opening presents, and just being together. It was fun to spend a little bit of Christmas at home this year. Grandma knows just what the girls like...paper dolls! My girls can literally sit for hours and play with paper dolls. And I think after paperdolls would be candy. So the gingerbread houses were a big hit. Olivia and Sammie were really into it and Abby was mostly into eating it. I love Christmas time and this was such a wonderful one.

Pianist

Olivia has been taking piano lessons...from me. I'm actually teaching 2 other students (Sammie's preschool teacher's kids. That's how we pay for preschool). We had a little Christmas recital at our house before school was out. Olivia performed "Up on the Housetop," and "Christmas is Coming" (a song she composed herself). I had each of the kids compose one of their own pieces with a little guidance, but most of the work was really done by them. It was a fun activity and I will definitely do it again.

Olivia has been doing so well. It's difficut having your mom teach you, but we are both learning a lot from doing this together. Olivia is quite free spirited and so practicing and learning new songs are challenges for her, but she really catches on fast. I love teaching piano, and hopefully I can take more students again in the future.

Front Yard

My kids have always liked playing in the front yard rather than the back. I don't know what it is. That's why I really liked our new house's frontyard when we were looking at it. The driveway is long and there is lots of room to play because I knew how much we love to be in the front yard. I still have a little front porch that I can sit on and read while the girls play around. Lately it has been this game. They dig up all of the moss and weeds and mud and make cakes and all sorts of other yummy messes. Last night we were reading Little house in the Big Woods and Mary and Laura were playing practically the same game with tree stumps, sticks, dirt, and leaves. I love it when life is simple.

A Tradition

I love this time of year. My mom came down after Thanksgiving and helped get my house all festive for Christmas. And she painted a bathroom while she was here too. When my mom visits, it is project time. She always helps me do things that are impossible to do with little ones running around.( Like painting a bathroom vanity) I'll have to post pictures of the bathroom later. It looks so great though. Anyway...on to traditions.

When I married Joey we inherited this adorable little advent calendar from his mom. I love it because 1) I am setimental about "family" items 2) Jackie lovingly made it by hand...even more sentimental and 3) It goes right along with my vintage taste.

In each little stocking is tucked a scripture. Every night we sit around the table by the light of a candle and read the scripture and have a little treat. It feels cozy. Like hot chocolate cozy...and then the little ones go off to bed. They don't always stay there. Actually putting them to bed is always hard. But this little part of our evening helps me to remember why we celebrate Christmas and though they may not always be completely listening to the scripture, I know they get the idea that Christmas is about something greater and they can feel it.

After Dinner

The kitchen was busy, but quiet after dinner. Joey was doing dishes, Olivia was working on her homework, Sammie was drying dishes, and Abby was trying to do what everyone else was doing. I love my little family. I love these moments when everyone is busy in their own way, but we're together. We talk and laugh and get on one another's nerves a bit (like Abby trying to sit in Sammie's chair). But it is peaceful overall. A nice end to a good day.

Abby, where are you?

Sometimes Abby gets lost in the house. Sometimes it takes me a little while to find her because she is so sneaky and quiet and she is hiding in places like this:

An Eye for Beauty

Sammie is always collecting things from outside and she cherishes them. One day she came in with a bunch of leaves and just began gluing them to paper. She did this all on her own. I just looked over at the table and there she was gluing and then she taped them all up onto the wall. Quietly...very proud of herself.

I will often open the dryer and bits of leaves will fall out all over the place because she has so lovingly put them in her pockets. When we go places I find little bits of nature in my bag later on. She has left her little treasures there as well. She carefully finds the most unique thing. On the way home from Olivia's bus stop, Sammie stops in the neighbors yard and grabs a white rock. She thinks they are gorgeous. We have rocks everywhere. There is even one sitting in the powder room downstairs. I left it there. It blends in with the porcelain sink.

A visit

Disclaimer: My brothers can never take a serious picture.

Tyler and Brittany came to stay for a few days last month. Can I just say that I love having visitors? I love seeing friends and family. So, if you ever want to visit I will be glad to accomodate you. We just hung out and they watched the girls a little for me. Tyler hung out with Joey at school to see what "A Day in the Life of a High School Teacher" was like. He even got to change his first diaper. An explosive one too. He was stressed. Brittany and I were at dance with Olivia and he was watching Abby and Sammie. Let's just say the diaper wasn't the only place where there was a mess. He cleaned it all up and avoided having to phone me in a panic. I'm proud of my little brother. I always feel a little sad when company leaves. Things are quieter and they are missed.