A visit with Santa

Today was our annual visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus at Y Neighbours.  Emmett wasn't overly excited about it, but he also didn't cry, so that's a plus.  We don't "do" Santa at our house, partly due to the fact that Annika was terrified of him when she was little, so I figured, why push it?  We've never been to see Santa at the mall - this is the extent of the kids' "Santa exposure."  It's a little tricky now, though, because Annika knows that Santa isn't real, but I've told her that she can't say that at school, because there are other kids that believe in him.  Fingers crossed that she doesn't wreck anyone's Christmas this year.

All the excitement of the morning (plus an on-going cold) must've really tuckered Emmett out, because he crawled into bed and fell asleep during quiet time - something he's never done before!  Poor little guy has such a runny nose, and he doesn't know how to blow it, so he just keeps wiping snot onto his face and his skin gets all irritated.  All afternoon and evening, all I heard was "I need a teenex (kleenex)" or "I need yotion (lotion)".  Hopefully he's feeling better by tomorrow - I need him to go to preschool so I can finish off a few more Christmas errands! ;)

Gingerbread houses

Just a few of the masterpieces done today at our annual family gingerbread house decorating event.

Dear coconut cream balls...

Why do you have to be so delicious, yet such a giant pain in the butt to make?? So worth it though.... drool...

"Read me a story?"

We spent the afternoon rediscovering our collection of Christmas books.

Today's miracle

You may recall earlier in November I hosted a jewellery party, and used my hostess credit towards a custom piece.  I received my "tree of life" pendant, lovingly handmade with our family birthstones, on Sunday.  I put it on this morning for the second time.  Isn't it gorgeous?

Around 2:00pm today, I realized I was no longer wearing it.  My heart dropped.  I shuddered to think of all the places I had been since putting it on this morning - Annika's school, church, ALL OVER the mall.  Even trying to find something lost in our own house is a challenge - how would I go about looking for this??  Well, before panicking too much, I decided to check the hoodie that I had been wearing this morning.  And can you believe, nestled safely in the inside pocket (probably meant for a cellphone or something) was my precious necklace?  Of all the places it could've been, it was right there.  Truly a miracle.  Maybe a small, ordinary miracle, but a miracle no less.  I said a prayer of thanks right then and there.  

Have you had an ordinary miracle lately?

Happy birthday Emmett

Today is Emmett's third birthday!!  I can't believe he's 3 already, and yet, I can't believe he's only 3 (I think I feel that way on each of my kids' birthdays!).

I love this little boy so much.  I couldn't imagine our family without that impish little smile.  And so, in honor of Emmett's birthday, here's a look back at his past year and a few of the more memorable events.

December 2012 -  Emmett helps out with making Christmas decorations.
January 2013 - Emmett goes skating and to the dentist for the first time.
February 2013 - Emmett's first trip to the hospital for 3 stitches.
March 2013 - A trip to Phoenix and Emmett's first time at the movies.
April 2013 - Emmett helps Annika and I celebrate our birthdays, and even gets a little present of his own.
May 2013 - Emmett models his favorite sweater for me, and we go for a family one-night getaway to Grand Forks.
June 2013 - Big step! Emmett learns to use the potty!!
July 2013 - Emmett meets his cousin for the first time.
August 2013 - Emmett explores future employment opportunities - dentist or electrician?
September 2013 - Emmett gets a new friend and starts preschool.
October 2013 - Emmett dresses up as his favorite TV show character.
November 2013 - Another big step - we change Emmett's crib into a "big boy" bed and see the end of nap time.

Can't wait to see what the next year will bring!

Bulldozer

We had supper with our small group this evening and I brought these cupcakes, in honor of Emmett's birthday tomorrow. It's supposed to look like a bulldozer, but it doesn't look quite as good as the pic I found on Pinterest. Probably because I iced the cupcakes first and then arranged them, instead of arranging them first and then gooping them full of icing (which would've made an even bigger mess with the kids, so it's probably better I didn't do it that way!).