The 25 Days of Christmas - How We Have Fun At Christmas Without Santa

Before Elise was born, we made the decision that we would not "do" Santa. While it is magical for children, to us, it just felt dishonest. And we knew that one day Elise would figure out that Santa was not real and that we had lied to her. We didn't want to break her trust or give her any cause to doubt our word. (There is a whole other theological discussion that we could have here, but not today.)

Now, let me stop here...I'm not judging you if you do Santa at your house, just as I don't want you to judge me for not doing it at my house. We all have to make our own parenting decisions and whatever works for individual families is totally OK with me.

That being said, people who know this about us always have 1 question - "Don't you think that Elise will miss the magic?" The answer, "Nope." We still have fun, she visits with Santa at school (we aren't anti-Santa, he just doesn't get the credit for bringing the gifts at our house!), we plan plenty of intentional activities that make the month of December as magical for her as any other child.

We have a set of 25 drawers that I decorated last year when she was old enough for us to begin the tradition and each day holds a surprise. She has literally been asking about the drawers since October! Some days hold a small treat, others something fun that we can do as a family. She looks forward to opening that drawer as much as, if not more than, I have seen kids look forward to sitting on Santa's lap and giving their Christmas list.

In Elise's mind, Santa is a character just like Minnie Mouse or a Disney princess, and because every year at school he passes out candy canes, if you ask her what Santa is bringing her, she will tell you a candy cane. We have talked with her this year about what others believe and how we don't spoil what they believe, we just keep it a secret.

Here is what the 25 Days of Christmas look like for us this year: (pictures of what we have done so far are included!)

·       Let’s deck the halls outside!

·       Make a gingerbread village.

·       It’s time for the Christmas Parade!

·       Christmas Party at the Hefner’s.

·       Yummy! A sweet treat!

·       Decorate the refrigerator and windows.

·       Who wants to make Christmas Rice Krispy Treats?

·       Let’s go on a Candy Cane hunt!

·       Let’s snuggle with Christmas movies and cocoa.

·       Buy cookies to bake with Ms. Caitlin.

·       See Mimi sing in the Messiah.  See the Christmas lights!

·       Special breakfast is waiting. And Santa is coming to school!

·       Let’s bake Chocolate Crinkle cookies to take to school.

·       It’s Christmas Party Day at school!  Don’t forget the cookies!

·       Hang a new ornament on the tree.

·       Let’s decorate a tree and wreath for Elise’s room.

·       Let’s make ornaments to give to family and friends.

·       Party at our house tomorrow night! Let’s decorate!

·       Who wants a big girl room?

·       Yummy! A sweet treat!

·       Christmas Party at Church. Let’s give gifts to our friends!

·       Read a new Christmas book.

·       Let’s play the Saran Wrap Ball game!

·       Put out your stocking so we can fill it up!

·       Merry Christmas! Read Luke 2.

 

Chocolate Chip Hummus (or How To Get Protein in Your Picky Kid)

I've mentioned before that Elise pretty much avoids meat - occasionally a hot dog or chicken nugget, maybe some ham or bacon - but for the most part we have to look for other ways to get protein in her. We are fortunate that she likes eggs, cheese, yogurt, and almonds, but that can get boring for a kid.

This Chocolate Chip Hummus is her favorite - she will eat it with apples or just by the spoonful. And she loves to help me make it! Do not read the recipe and turn your nose up at the beans in it, I promise that you cannot taste them at all. They combine with the almond butter and oats for a great protein packed snack or breakfast. In my opinion it tastes just like chocolate chip cookie dough, with no raw egg worries (though let's be honest if you could really die from eating raw cookie dough, the Rev would be long gone!).

I like to eat it warmed just a little so the chocolate gets melty! Let me know if you try it!

A Super Hero Party for Our Super E

I think it is her intense love for her Daddy and his intense love for super heroes, that draws Elise to them. She had been asking for a Super Hero Party ever since we finished celebrating with her pumpkin party last year. I loved the idea and scoured for ways to make it a girly Super Hero party.

She indulged me with a photo shoot and that helped me create invitations to set the tone of the party.

Next, came decorations, I was able to locate a lot of pre-made stuff in our aqua, pink, and yellow color palette. These balloons from Birthday Express were a favorite of mine, but I was probably most excited about the skyscraper cupcake stand!

Our earlier party time (that is what was available at the YMCA) and a desire to keep it simple meant we just served a variety of Super Hero inspired snacks - Avengers Granola Bars and Cheez-Its, Super Hero Yogurt, Cake Batter Dip with Cookies, and Batman and Captain America inspired fruit trays.

Our Super Hero guests (everyone was so great to wear their favorite hero costume) ran wild in the gym, pulled open a piñata, and enjoyed a balloon avalanche. And of course, we had to send them home with bat signal flashlights (just Dollar Tree flashlights with a vinyl bat sticker placed to project a bat signal on the wall)!

Elise had an absolute blast and has requested another Super Hero Party for next year...but ssshhhh, the Rev and I are planning a huge surprise trip for next year's birthday celebration, so no party needed!

Summer 2016 Recap in Photos

Time to start catching you up on all that happened during my blogging break! Here is a look at the highlights of our summer.

 

{Kiddie Camp & Swim Lessons at the YMCA)

 



 

{Cousin Time}

 

{Beach Vacation}

 

 

{Shenanigans}

 

{Friends!}

 

{My Sweet Girl!}

She Is Listening...

The Rev is an extrovert, I am an introvert. He is a go out and do new things guy, I am a stay home and live safe gal. He loves to try new things, I love to stay in my comfort zone. He is spontaneous, I am planner. We are a true Odd Couple and somehow it works.

Elise is a true mix of the both of us - wants to jump in and do, but hangs back until she is sure. She loves the idea of an adventure and greets each day with a "Where are we going/what are we doing today?," but still wants you to outline the plan for her so that she is prepared. We try very hard to talk up any opportunity to do something different and get her excited to try new things, but she still hangs back a little. Up until 6 months ago, she wouldn't get in a bouncy house, and any slide bigger than what she is used to is usually a no go. 

Her friend, Ridge, had a birthday party this past Saturday - a dinosaur themed water party - her preschool friends, water guns, a small pool, and a giant bouncy water slide. I figured the slide was going to be a no, but 2 hours into the party, I looked over and there she was taking turn after turn on that huge slide, like it was no big deal at all. When we finally dragged her off to go home, I told her how proud I was of her for being brave and going down that big water slide. And in words that have come straight out of our mouths to her so many times she said to me, "I just told myself, "You can do it, you are a brave girl, you can do hard things."            

Someday, too soon in the near future, she will be a moody teenager and I will be convinced that she does not listen to a word that I say, so this is my reminder that she is always listening, even when it doesn't seem like it.

Photo credit to our friend, Brooke

 

May the Fourth Be With You!

Daddy has been trying to raise a little Star Wars (Star Whores if you pronounce it like Elise!) fan...RD Tooty (R2D2) is her favorite. Happy Star Wars Day and may the fourth be with you!

 



Cool Whip - Elise's Imaginary Friend

So, last May the Rev took Elise to visit his parents for a few days, while I was still stuck at work, waiting on my summer break to begin. Because it is his favorite food group, her PaPaw let her have Cool Whip to eat every day - on pancakes, with berries, probably just straight from the spoon, too...and that was the beginning.

Not long after, she began talking about her friend, Cool Whip. She told us that she was her sister but that she lived at another house...here...in the retirement village where she had gone trick or treating with her friend, Piper, the year before. The village is on the way to the Y and we go there several times each week, so she waves to her and tells her "Hello" every time we pass.

The Rev and I have been taken to task if we forget to put Cool Whip in the bed with her each night. One evening last August, we had a particularly long trip home from church because Cool Whip kept getting out of the car and we needed to stop and let her back in...

I keep waiting for her to move on, but she'll be playing on the playground and turn to yell for Cool Whip to come with her. She'll wait for Cool Whip to climb up the slide with her and then tell her that she did a good job when she slides down.

I was a little worried at first and then I read this:

"studies had shown that kids with imaginary pals use more complex sentence structure, have richer vocabularies, and get along better with classmates. Kids who create a playmate get a chance to practice taking both sides of the conversation. They try on different roles, think abstractly, and conjure up original ideas. An elaborate fantasy world is like a test lab for some of the most important childhood skills."

I guess we won't worry if Cool Whip sticks around a little longer then... besides Cool Whip is a way better name than Bing Bong.

A Baby, A Girl, and A Sister

At about 1 year old, Elise got her first baby. A plain little doll that cost $5 at WalMart - she picked it out when she was sick and we were wandering around waiting on a prescription to be filled. As soon as she could talk and was asked the doll's name, she replied "Baby." And that is what she has always called her. She sleeps with her every night, without fail. And in extreme cases when the most severe punishment is required (usually reserved for telling a lie), she loses baby. It breaks her heart and she cries and says, "But I love her!" Baby is her girl.

(Sometimes even Baby gets a timeout..)

Baby is not all that attractive, so I bought her another, cuter, stuffed doll. Elise named her "Girl." Not one to be swayed by looks or the cuddly factor, Girl is largely relegated to the toy box. She is no Baby.

(Girl, all by herself, in the dress up trunk...)

Cue this past Christmas, when Elise asked for a sister for her baby. Specifically one with diapers. This caused mass confusion amongst church members and her teachers at school, since when anyone asked Elise what she was getting for Christmas, she replied with "A Baby Sister." Christmas morning came and there was the new baby doll, complete with diapers, who was promptly named, you guessed it, "Sister." She was Elise's jam for all of 1 week before she was forgotten in favor of Baby.

(Christmas morning with Sister)

3 lessons here:
1 - Sometimes a cheaply made WalMart doll is all you need.
2 - We will for sure need to invest in a Baby Name book when it is Elise's turn (in 30 years) to have a baby of her own!
3 - Never try to come between a girl and her baby!

Under The Big Top

In an effort to give Elise experiences rather than things, we opted not to do little Valentine's gifts this year and instead take her to the circus for the 1st time. The Rev has fond memories of his Dad taking him and buying him outrageously expensive toys and cotton candy and wanted to get to share that memory with Elise. We kept it a total surprise and didn't tell her what we were doing until we arrived at the circus.

She had a blast! The animals were definitely her favorite part. And Daddy and I had a pretty good time, too---even if she didn't get the cheaply made light up toy that the Rev was hoping for and instead opted for a stuffed Elephant with a blue cape. And even if she opted for the $15 shaved ice instead of the $12 cotton candy that Daddy had memories of!

Now, let's not talk about the car breaking down on the way home and leaving us in a ditch...in the snow...for 3 hours...definitely a memory filled Valentine's Day that we won't forget!

Love Is In The Air

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching, so we have been working on class Valentine cards and teacher Valentine cards and I thought that I would share.

Elise is giving her Preschool and Church friends these Super Hero themed cards and bracelets. The cards are a free printable from It's Always Autumn and the bracelets were only $6 for 24 (with free shipping if you are a Prime member!) from Amazon.

And because Elise is a fuzzy sock fanatic, she is giving fuzzy sock slippers and chocolates to her Preschool and Church teachers. We paired them up with a free printable from Made To Be A Momma.

Inexpensive and easy for the win!

P.S. Elise's teacher sent home a note that they are making a Valentine's holder at school for all of their cards. Anybody else remember making those? I loved them!

Elise's Big Girl Room: The Vision

So, I have a confession...my 3 year old still sleeps in a crib...partly because it took me a lot of Craigslist scouring to find the antique bed that I wanted and partly (OK, mostly) because she is going to be my only baby and I want to keep her that way...#truth

Here is the plan for her big girl room:

• The antique spindle bed ($65 Craigslist score!) will be painted a nice white.
• The mid century modern night stand and chest of drawers that we have will get a gold dipped/white paint treatment (white upper, gold lower, similar to the pink chest pictured).
• The now beige walls are going Aqua Chiffon.
• The fluffy pink rug that we have will stay and be an anchor for the pink and aqua pillows that I will make. I am using vintage white matelassé bedding so that the pillows and wall/rug colors will really pop.
• A DIY tassel garland will add some fun to the end of the bed.
• We will add touches of pink, aqua, and gold with accessories and artwork.

I know that it will be beautiful and that my girl is so excited for blue walls ("blue is my favorite," she reminds on a daily basis), but I sure am going to miss the mornings when she yells out, "I need someone to get me out!"

Don't even get me started on the tears that will come when we actually sell the crib and changing table...

Long Weekend Love

We played in a snow shower,

made Cinnamon Sugar Snowflakes,

ate crazy Noodle Hot Dogs,

 



bowled with friends, and had a Tea Party marathon with Minnie.

No luck getting Scarlett to drink tea, though....

I love long weekends!

I Have Seen The Future...

and it looks like this...

#nophotosplease
#threenager
#pardontheattitude
#motherplease
#ipromiseshehadfun