Class parties

Wednesday was the much anticipated winter parties for the big kids at school. Having both the kids at same school makes things a little more tricky as the parties are the same day and the same day.

I was in charge of providing games and crafts for one party and snack for the other. I managed to make it to both parties and see both kids in action, but boy was I tired afterwards!

Christmas clothes

Tuesday was Gemma's school program and party. Wednesday was Amelia and William's school sing a long and school parties. It has been busy week for us!

The kids wanted to wear festive clothes to school for their parties, including William, which is a bit of a surprise. He is usually primarily concerned with being comfy and not at all concerned with being matching or attractive.


Once fancy, the kids agreed to more pictures by the tree. But only if they could have their stuffed animals. The last picture shows William's reaction to my suggestion that his sisters lean in for a kiss...

Christmas program

Gemma had a Christmas program at school last week and she wore a pretty dress. She was very happy and proud of her dress- she even let me take some pictures of her with her sister by the tree.

Please note: she was dressed, but I hadn't combed her hair yet! It's still a mess. I promise I combed it before we left the house.

Sometimes

Sometimes I flip through the pictures on my phone and I find little surprises. Unexpected gems that I didn't take myself and I had no idea that they were there.

Like these:

It's the little things

It is the little things that make it Christmas to me. We recently acquired a Swedish angel chime. Growing up, we had one and would light it during the Christmas season. This night we were eating spaghetti. All the kids refused sauce and ate just noodles. I tried out a new recipe for cooked carrots and the kids were not having it.

But, the angel chimes were in motion, we were eating off our Christmas dishes and using the Christmas napkins. It was perfect.

Teenaged mutant ninja gingerbread boy

William brought this gingerbread boy home this last week from school.

St Charles Christmas Festival

For years, I have been hearing about the St Charles Christmas festival. Yet, we've never been. We are always so busy getting ready for Christmas and then traveling, we have never made time to go. For the first time this year, we figured out a way to make it work. At the last minute, of course, but still it happened.

The historic area downtown 15 minutes away (if you have ever been to visit us, we have taken you here) puts together a celebration with characters, music and other special events.

We loved it. The kids were unsure at first, but warned up quickly when they realized the charters were handing out trading cards.

Surprisingly, William was the one to warm up first and willingly approach the different characters. I was so impressed with him. Some characters demanded performances in order to receive one of their specialty cards, and William went along with it.

He bowed to the Snow Queen, he let Jack Frost make fun of him, he impersonated a bell ringing for the town crier, made a silly face for Suzie Snowflake without hesitation.

Amelia played along too, after she had some time to watch William at it. She too, bowed to the Snow Queen, recited nursery rhymes with Mother Goose, and told the Sugar Plum Fairy her favorite treat.

We enjoyed the fife and drum parade and then some cookies.

What a special day and great memories. This is something we will have to add to our holiday circuit for next year. I mean, we didn't even get to see the parade, meet all 35 characters, or pet the reindeer!