B.S.C.

dd 13:christmas card

they finally came in the mail!  

DD12:the santa photo that wasn't

We were supposed to see santa monday night.  The girls were all cuted up with cozy ruffly sweatshirts, new scarves and their warm boots.  AND...their hair was clean and well brushed...a rare occurrence in Annie's case. 

so we're 5 miles down the road, when I a little glimmer of remembrance hits me.  I vaguely recall the Bellevue Nordstrom Santa schedule said that Santa didn't work two days a week.  By the powers of reasonable deduction, I thought that maybe it was Monday and Tuesday.  

I asked Siri and she was no help.  So I pulled over and searched for their phone number...and the "is this voice for real" voice on the other end of the line confirmed my hunch.  

BLAST!

By no small miracle the girls didn't freak out in the change of plans, but I had already promised that I's stop and get french fries for them at jack in the crack (which I was already freaking out about...those damn non organic pesticided potatoes. I've gotten so freaky about organic that it almost makes me sick to my stomach. WOAH.  sorry for that rant. ) So I get Annie fries at the nearby Dairy Queen. Gracie declares she wants something healthier.  Wahoo! We settled on Mongolian grill at the towncenter-which we all ate and all liked. Gracie didn't have gluten free soy sauce but she had rice noodles.  Hopefully she'll be ok.  Annie declared we were going to eat there again and bring daddy!

Then we went shopping for teacher gifts. At the UW bookstore, we bought gift cards for the girls teachers.  The picked out the cards and while the gal was ringing them up, annie said under her breath "I don't wanna buy my teacher a card to the husky store."  so I asked why and annie responds in this exasperated voice, "BEACAUSE SHE'S A COUGAR!!!!" So funny.  she may not like football, but her daddy has taught her that we are Huskies through and through.  

and then we came home and made the gingerbread house, I finished my DD page 12 and wrapped presents until 11.

DD11:christmas crafts

The advent activities this weekend were making cards for friends and making gifts for friends. The girls had fun crafting mom.

DD 10:christmas cards past

The girls LOVED looking at the two albums of christmas cards from 2010 and 2009.  We did too as a matter of fact.  

Yesterday, we spent most of the day staying cozy at home-making christmas cards for the girls to pass out to friends and I spent some good time catching up on december daily.  

In the evening we had the privilege celebrating the safe return (from the middle east) of one of our neighbors.  it was great to catch up with some of our neighbors we never get a chance to see.

Today, the girls and I went to church.  Before the service we turned in a toy we bought for the giving tree. The girls begged me to get another tag, which I couldn't turn down.  I mentioned to Annie that I thought the toy had to be turned in today because the toys needed to be delivered.  She looked at the tags remaining on the tree and fell apart.  "BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER TAGS? HOW WILL THOSE KIDS GETS TOYS?"  

I'll admit I cried through most of the service thinking about the children who have nothing and Annie's tender heart.  Fortunately, there is still one more week to take tags and the deacons will make sure they all get taken care of. Annie was so relieved to learn this.  

Today the girls advent activity was to make presents for friends to go along with the cards they made yesterday.

cute, no? 

I *heart* martha.  

December Daily Day 9:decorations

On day 9,  I woke up at 3:40 in the morning to plug in crock pots for the pta staff appreciation at the girls school. Then spent a better part of the day at school making sure all staff were well fed.  It was the perfect day for a warm baked potato.  I am hoping it warmed their bodies and their spirits. One of our students had passed away early in the week and it was weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.  

I'm going to confess that I got home at 2:30 and took a nap.  I slept for 45 minutes and when I woke up I thought it was morning and they girls had missed the bus.  PATHETIC!

Later in the evening, the girls had a fun night with grandma-shopping for a giving tree while Eric and I went to a fun event in Woodinville-GrapeKilers.  It was very festive and we got to taste some ok wines!

DecemberDailyDay8:WinterConcert

December Daily Day 7:Spanish Presentation

December Daily Day 6: Give

We are trying to impress upon the girls the importance of giving.  This week's advent activities were all centered around giving-mittens for the mitten drive, cat and dog food for the animal shelter and toys for various giving trees.  It gives me a warm fluttery feeling watching the excitement the girls have for choosing gifts for others. 

December Daily Day 5: Gracie's winter concert

December Daily Day 4: Peace

after a beautiful message of peace at church, we came home and played risk and stratego.  so peaceful.