Twas the night before Christmas...

Jim and I are finally done organizing Helaina's Christmas gifts two separate piles - those from Santa and those from us.  I sat on the floor in front of the tree with a giant laundry basket brimming with wrapped presents.   I told Jim what each gift was and he either said "from Santa" or "from us".   Santa's gifts are under the tree and ours are set off to the side.  There will be enough excitement and confusion tomorrow morning as it is.

Our pretty tree brimming with way too many ornaments, but that's how I like it.  I've got ornaments Josh made when in school, ones Helaina has made over the last few years, special ornaments from Jim (like my Wizard of Oz collection), ornaments that my mother had, the ones I've collected over time and so many more marking special occasions.

Even though I had made some Christmas cookies, Helaina wanted Santa to have oreos and chocolate milk.  There's also a letter to Santa that Helaina has highlighted.  She's into highlighters now and loves marking up Jim's morning newspaper and anything else she can get her hands on.

As tradition will have it, Santa's elves came tonight when Helaina was upstairs with Joshua.  She heard the commotion downstairs (bells ringing) and came running down to find the fireplace door open, snow melting on the hearth, 2 pieces of felt that got torn from the elves' outfits and her stocking swinging from the mantle, filled with small gifts the elves left her.

Helaina likes the movie Wall-E and she's holding an Eve ornament that was in her stocking.

Outside today in the snow sprinkling reindeer food (oats) mixed with glitter to show Rudolph and the gang the way to our house tonight.  She couldn't wait to srinkle it in the snow.

Absolutely adorable little face.

Another picture from our photo shoot when trying to get the perfect shot for our Christmas card.  That Santa has to be at least 40 years old.  It was my mother's and I remember it being around every Christmas when I was a very young girl.

Gosh, she looks much older than 6 years old in these pics.

Helaina wanted this picture to be on our Christmas card this year.  I overruled.

Last Saturday night Helaina was in her third play, Hairy Tale Rock - the story of Rapunzel.  The four girls in her age group were all jesters and they were adorable.  She had a blast and is so comfortable when on stage.  What a ham.  When she hears the applause she gets a huge grin on her face.

"Fairy tale, a hairy tale for you, filled with mystery, love and romance. Fairy tale, a merry tale for you, there'll be laughter music song and dance...."  I've heard and rehearsed the songs so much with Helaina that I could be singing on stage with them.

We had seats in the second row for the performance and were absolutely perfect for getting the best view of our little actress while on stage.  I've got some great video.

After the performance enjoying her yellow roses and all the compliments.

At home with a celebratory cake.  It was supposed to be a giant cupcake but it looks more like a giant mushroom.

Just about time to hit the hay and dream of sugar plums until the morning.  When we put Helaina to bed tonight she was so excited.  As she settled in and got comfortable under her Dora comforter she said to Jim and I "It's really happening tonight."  Sure is, sweetie.  I'll check on Helaina before I get in bed and give her extra hugs and kisses tonight while she sleeps.  I can't help but cry for the 20 families in Newtown who go to bed tonight and wake up to an empty childrens' bedroom on Christmas morning where their 6 year old child should be sleeping.  Can't even imagine the nightmare they are living or even how they will ever get through it.

December Festivities

Not much time left before the big guy in red visits the house.  Helaina's been on a Santa high for weeks now.  She's crushed his lap more than once this year.

Happy Holidays!

First Santa visit was at a holiday party at school.

We had breakfast with Santa at the zoo once again this year.  Frosting cookies with Mrs.Claus is always fun.  "Oops, did I use too much frosting - again?"

"Oh well, I'll hide the gobs of frosting with gobs of sprinkles."

Santa at the zoo has been the same Santa (well of course he is!) since we've been attending these breakfasts, and he's just great.  Takes time to talk with each child individually and makes them feel special.

Then of course there are the animals and the usual fun.

Messing around with Daddy on the tiger sculpture.

What happened to this guy's other antler?  Reminds me of the dog in How the Grinch Stole Christmas when the Grinch tied one antler onto the poor little critter.

Of course there's Santa at the mall (love his vest) ...

... and Santa at Daddy's work.

At work on Daddy's phone - she's a natural on the phone, I tell you.

Thursday was Helaina's party at school.  Here she is making her gingerbread house.  They spread frosting on small milk cartons and "glued" graham crackers on them.  Then they decorated with candies and more frosting.

By the end of the craft there were 19 kids covered in frosting ...

... and all on a sugar high.  Good luck with the rest of the afternoon, Miss M!

Last night we took a ride on the Polar Expess to the North Pole to see Santa.  Helaina had been bugging us all summer long that she wanted to ride a train.  We had good intentions of doing that but my boo boo knee cramped our style and we never made it on a train.  No worries, though, because this worked out just perfect.

At the train station prior to departure, writing a letter to Santa.

Staring out the window looking for Santa.  Our train left at 4:30 so it was light out when we left but soon got dark.

We made it to the North Pole, picked up Santa and he visited with each family on the reverse ride back to civilization.  He was a great Santa.  Sat in each family's 4-seat booth and chatted quite a while with each child and then gave them a silver reindeer bell - just like the one in the Polar Express movie.

Santa and the kids, both young and old.

Santa hugs.  Ahhh, nothing better when you're 6 years old (almost 7, as Helaina tells everyone who asks her age).  7, I can hardly believe that one myself.

November finally

Helaina absolutely loves the Ice Age movies with Manny, Sid, Peaches and the gang (and I do too - Sid cracks me up).  When the local children's museum had a traveling exhibit with dinosaurs from the ice age we knew it was a must even though Helaina was a bit hesitant at first (dark places can initially spook her for whatever reason).  When we got to the museum and entered the dark exhibit hall and heard "dinosaur" moans and groans it was a bit scarey, but as soon as we saw the first exhibit Helaina was so excited she could barely contain herself.  I'll say one thing - the dinosaurs were extremely lifelike and definately scarey.  Some moved and some made noises.  I swear when you looked into some of their eyes it was almost as if they were real. 

This feathered bird critter was truely lifelike with feathers and eyes that stared right through you.

Helaina was wearing her dinosaur t-shirt that we bought at the museum on our last visit.

This horned critter was one of the animals that had eyes that looked unbelievably lifelike, almost like it was giving you a backward glance.  You can see the hesitation in Helaina's stance.  She wouldn't look at me for the picture, almost like she was afraid it was going to break free and charge at her!

The wooly mammoth was amazing.

There was an aeronautical exhibit on the second floor with all kinds of flight simulators you could get in and operate.  Pilot to co-pilot - come in.

Helaina saw her first 3D movie recently - Finding Nemo.  Nemo is one of our favorite Disney Pixar movies and seeing it in 3D was amazing.  She loved it.

The last 3D movie I saw was Jaws 3D, and I have no idea how many years ago that was, but it was lots.

The cutie-pie cousins on Thanksgiving at our house.

The day after Thanksgiving is the tree lighting ceremony downcity and we always attend.  Helaina's ringing her Rescue Mission bell in this pic.  There was no snow on the ground that Friday night, but that was all to change the next morning when we woke up on my birthday.

Halloween!

This was the first year that Helaina wanted to be something spooky.  She changed her mind hundreds of times before finally settling on a vampire.  "Can I have blood too?"  Geez, she went from a Disney princesse to a bloody vampire in no time at all.  We allowed the "blood" (red lipstick) only for the Zoo Boo and on Halloween - no school parties with blood.

I love creating and sending out her yearly Halloween card.

It was a girly cape, though, lined in pink.  The wig she has on was actually Josh's when he was about 6 years old.  He was also a vampire at that age.  (Still have the wig 20 years later?  - Can you say "hoarder"?).  I'll have to find his picture some time and do a side by side comparison.

The Zoo Boo was fun.  Helaina has been into the old Munsters TV show lately so when she was the huge Herman-type character she gasped.  Look at the delight on her little vampire face.

A not-so-scarey face for a party at school.

The final face for Halloween night.  She was thrilled, though she doesn't look it here.  "Enough with the pictures, Mom.  Can we go out and get candy now?"

With her giant stash after our night out through the neighborhood.  There's a smiling face.

Helaina loves Halloween and has many festive shirts, pants, tights and accessories.

Halloween Barbie?  Who knew?