Christmas 2009

As promised.... some pictures from Christmas.  Overall I think she had a great Christmas - and of course was very fortunate to receive many many many things she wanted :-).  Her top gift (Santa Gift) was an art desk - she has been asking for this for months. In true Santa fashion he delivered an art table with all a budding artist can ask for. She has used this table every day since. It is nice to have a space where she can create / glue / draw / paint, etc. as much as she likes, when she likes. 

She also got a new blanket as a surprise from me.  We had made a blanket earlier for her little brother as a Christmas gift and she REALLY wanted one... So - in true mommy fashion :-) I delivered a blanket for her - and that too she has used each day.  Most of the things she received have already had a good deal of use - and with the addition of a gift card and clothing money from Great Grandma and Auntie Nedra Christmas gets to live on for a little while longer (but not too much longer - I have a request to visit Target tomorrow).

Brandon came over the next morning to open his gifts and hang out for a bit - his favorite of the batch was definitely the new Halo game. Soon after he finished unwrapping it was a quick retreat to John's Xbox to test it out!

Time is on my side...

Oh how I love thee little minute minder... I have been meaning to get one for some time a) because my oven shuts off when the timer setting ends (not conducive to multiple rounds of baking) and b) (the most important reason) to give Morgan an idea of how long 5 minutes really is (and for me not to lose track of 5 minutes until it turns into 10 or 15).  Every time we are nearing bed, or bath, or getting ready I always give her a time notice, e.g. you have 2 more minutes! 

So now.... I say you have 5, 10, 15 minutes, we set the timer, and when it dings it's time to move on to the next task / destination, etc...  So far she likes the timer, we'll see how long it is her friend ringing away at her and ending her fun play time. :-)

Not bad "timing" on my part for getting it given New Years Eve tomorrow - perhaps we can have our countdown via kitchen timer???

Up2date

Christmas pictures coming soon... I left my camera at the parents house, so - no camera = no photo uploads, but soon - very soon!

As a quick update on the happenings:

* The tooth fairy came. It so happens she was very excited about the loss of this first tooth AND also wanted to provide adequate compensation given the fact that Morgan really wanted to keep her tooth. The tooth fairy was so excited that she left $5.... However, she surely will leave much less (and have more change on hand) in future ;-). 

* Morgan has nixed her buy a Jonas dog from build a bear plan. She would now like to buy a fish with the money she has earned and is committed to keep earning as now she needs a little more given that the fish will need a house (and, she also would like her fish to have something to play in/with, etc..) She has names all picked out and wants a goldfish.... I actually think she may have just enough - need to research tank prices!

* She completed her fall library reading program BINGO card - now all she needs is for mama to take her to the library before Thursday to turn it in - Dec. 31st is the deadline to get her book reward.

* Another sinus infection has invaded her nasal passage! The benefit of the adenoid removal is that she gets them less frequently and they are not as stubborn (i.e. one course of treatment should work) - but they still can occur - case in point, our visit to the Dr. today followed by another Rx filled. At this point I am a pro - I can tell a sinus infection with my eyes closed and hands behind my back :-)...  Luckily she's on break this week so when school starts back up Monday she should be feeling (and breathing a whole lot better). 

* She is reading!!! As with everything else it's happened so quickly - but now she is going through sentences, sounding out each word she does not know, and reading. This morning she read instructions in her workbook on how to complete the page. I am as always - so proud and amazed. She's also continuing to write words and sentences - she tends to favor a particular series of sentences:

I see my mom.

I like my mom. 

I love my mom.

And.... I love those sentences - what mom would not!!! 

My Smile has a Gap...

Soon we will receive a visit from the.....

Tonight at around 8:45 p.m. Morgan lost her very first tooth. It is now tucked safely in the tooth fairy box.

And... a new space sits empty on the bottom row of her teeth.

A visit from the tooth fairy and Santa all in one week - how lucky can a child be!

Program.. Program Time is Here..

Program..Program Time is Here... 

Time for singing and for cheer.

they've sung a song - but they're not done... 

they're always must be more than one! 

parents clap after the programs complete...

and then it's time to have some treats.

[Morgan and her friend Frances]

they've worked hard and did their best...

now it's time for a well-deserved rest!

[Morgan and her teacher Mrs. Deleon (Ms. Rachel)]

The Art of Cards

This year we embarked on project "make our holiday cards" - now some have been made from start to finish - 

but I also happened upon a card craft kit at Michaels... It is the best thing EVER - or at least that I have come across in regard to cards so far. The cards come out so cute when they are done and it was really easy for Morgan to create them. Since tomorrow is the last day of school before break she made some cards for her teachers...

We also purchased the angel tree baby doll this week. When we arrived at the store she asked if she could take as long as she needed - which ended up being about 15 minutes. She looked at every baby doll as well as the ages on the box. She saw a few she liked but they said 3 and this little girl is 2 1/2 so she moved on to find a doll within the right age range. :-) I think she made a great choice and has proven herself a "great baby doll purchaser".

Cookie Countdown

Morgan and I had our first official troop meeting last Sunday (Dec. 6th). It went well and all the girls had a lot of fun - although we have quickly come to realize that an hour and a half goes by really fast. 

Because we are just at the beginning of our journey the focus now is to learn the very basics about girl scouting (and of course get some patches).  This time their big activity was to make marbleized painted ornaments - paint is put into the inside of the ornament and swirled around. At their next meeting they'll each get to pick one of the three ornaments they made and do a secret exchange to another girl in the troop.

They also got to begin some decision making / troop government - their very first decision - how to signal the start of each meeting? The answer: play a hannah montana song. 

ha ha... and, so it will be - luckily we have quite a few of those on hand.

PS - 27 days until Girl Scout Cookie sale time!  

I just have to share my favorite cookie inspiration video - if you want to view...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJhchLeR1X0

:-) 

Tagged by the Angel Tree

Each year at school they have an angel tree - this year Morgan is old enough to understand what the tree is for (other than pretty decoration).  After she saw the tree go up, she asked what it was for and I explained that people can take a tag and buy a gift for someone who otherwise would not get one (without the use of the word "otherwise" of course). 

She asked to pick out a tag and so last night we perused the tree to find a tag that she connected with. I read over a few until she finally picked - "2 1/2 year old girl - baby doll".  When she picked the tag she said: 

"I want the baby doll one - because I am really good at picking out baby dolls"

Sometime next week we'll give her baby doll picking skills a go. I am glad she is starting to learn and understand the spirt of giving. I'll post a picture of her choice once we have purchased - so you can see her talent for choosing baby dolls! :-)   

D is for Dad

I swear the alphabetical orderliness of these blog titles is not on purpose - it really just happened this way by coincidence!

Last night Morgan came home with a book from school in her homework folder - "D is for Dad". We sat on the couch and she proceeded to read the entire book!

I had to share and memorialize her first "whole book". She did need some assistance sounding out a few words - sleeping and shopping for example, but she got most of them herself and was able to read through without any help the second time. 

It is simply amazing how much she is learning in this small time period! 

C is for Christmas and COOKIES!

So... I thought as an early Christmas gift I would give to you one of our favorite cookie recipes... These cookies - well, these cookies are just down right amazingly good - every time, without fail!

I am torn between when they are best, right after cooking or the next day (both have their benefits).  I often make a half batch because the full recipe makes quite a few. Anyhow - on to the cookies:

3/4 C Butter 
1/2 C Peanut Butter (I just kind of eyeball - because, a little extra can never hurt)
1 C Sugar
1/2 C Brown Sugar

2 Eggs

1 tsp Vanilla

1 t Baking Powder
1/2 t Baking Soda
1 1/4 C Flour
2 C Oats

Chocolate Chips (however many / little you like - I use about half a bag of semi-sweet)
M&Ms (same here - I use about 1 individual pkg of m&ms)

Cream together sugars and butters. Add eggs and Vanilla. Beat. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix.

I tend to mix the oats in first and then the rest of the dry - no particular reason.

Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

And there you have it - super amazingly good ultra-yummy (current favorite in our home) cookies.

Happy Baking and Merry Holidays!!

Frosty the Snowkin

Meet our new friend Frosty....

It seems to be our new tradition to repurpose something from a past holiday for Christmas. Last year our wreath, this year take three favorite halloween pumpkins, a little paint and 

Ta Da...

Frosty the Snowkin!

SNOW!!!!

Tons and tons of snow!!!!  We woke up this morning to at least a half foot of snow and thus Morgan's first cancelled school snow day was born. We made the journey to grandma's house so that I could still go to work but after that drive it was clear I was not going to make it easily into the office - so I threw in the towel / called out uncle / admitted defeat and chose to stay home rather than make the trek.

Morgan spent most of her morning in the snow - trading off between making snow angels and hiking in the snow to giving her new skis a try. (she was given ski boots and skis and has been very eager to try them on snow). I took her out to the driveway and she practiced waking and turning in her skis and was also able to go down a small hill.  She LOVES her skis and was quite proud of herself and her first try - as was I!

The driving may be terrible, but the snow day was anything but. :-)

The Thrifty Side of Rich

Our conversation that took place last night around bath time... began after a conversation about smooth away pads (yes, product advertising works again and she thinks these are the definite answer to body hair issues).  Anyhow.... 

M: Mama, when I'm older I'm gonna be rich and then I'll buy you stuff - k?

Me: ok... 

M: What would you like me to buy you?

Me: ummmm... how about a car (a really nice car).

M: hmmm - They are too expensive, pick something else.

Me: (really having to think about it) ok, how about a vacation? 

M: How much is a vacation? 

Me: like $2,000.00 

M: EYES BIG!  - How much?? 

Me: $2,000.00 (and that's being thrifty kid - ha ha)

M: No, that's too much mama - how about a vacation to California - how much would that be?

Me: I guess around $200.00.

M: Ok - you can have a vacation to California and I'll drive you there in my car. 

Well, I guess our lessons in being thrifty are working!!  Here's me signing off from the passenger side of my daughter's nice car - ha ha ha!