A Christmas Miracle?

Okay maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but we have had quite the change of heart about Santa.

Presley wouldn't even look at the camera because she was too busy chatting it up with him. Not only that, but she happily hung around on his lap while her cousin jumped in for a picture.

There is Yet another Christmas miracle to be witnessed in the picture above. Please note, both cousins smiling and looking at the camera! Can I get a Hallelujah!?!

Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments

Presley and I have been doing lots of Christmas crafting around here lately. Today we made cinnamon applesauce ornaments. I used to make these with my Pre-K kiddos, and they all loved it. If you haven't ever made these, you are missing out. They are super easy and smell AMAZING!!! I will post the recipe and directions below, but first a disclaimer:

Warning: First, these are NOT for eating. Second, my daughter wanted to craft naked with unkempt hair, so I let her. Don't judge. Third, I have the oldest cookie sheets known to man and they look disgusting. Once again, don't judge.

The ingredients:

• 1 cup of applesauce
• 1 cup of cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons glue

Directions:

1. combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

2. Stir together until it looks like this.

3. Pause to make sure your child is enjoying this so far.

4. Roll mixture out onto a cookie sheet/cutting board/countertop etc.(try to keep the thickness about 1/4 of an inch). It's sticky so you will probably want to use cooking spray or flour.

5. Grab some cookie cutters.

6. Press down and then pull dough mixture away from cookie cutter.

7. Check one more time to make sure your child is having fun. I got really into it, and kind of forgot about Presley for a bit. Looks like we're all good here though.

8.Transfer Ornaments to a baking sheet or wax paper. Bake in the oven on the lowest temperature for an hour or let dry on wax paper for 24 hours.

9. Then let your child go to town with any left over dough while waiting for the ornaments to dry.

10. Finish with a ribbon or any hanging device of your choice.

See,  how easy was that?!? And no clothes required to complete the job. I'm actually using ours to tie onto presents, so my friends and family, just act surprised when you get yours.

Miss December: Then and Now Edition

~Then~

~Now~

~Then~

~Now~

P.S. It really helps when you have Mimi jumping through hoops to get your baby to smile. Too bad she wasn't here to help this year. I did get a half smile though. And yes, she still fits into the entire outfit!

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Can I just say that I love this toy! It's the fisher Price Nativity made just for destructive little hands. Last year, I made the sad choice of letting Presley play with my nice Nativity, and there were casualties. Many casualties. Unfortunately, a wiseman was decapitated, a donkey lost his ear, and poor Joseph lost his right hand. Presley can be as violent rough as she wants and no limbs will be lost. Lets face it, loosing limbs during Christmas time is never any fun...

Mother's Day Out Blues

Today was a sad day.

I got up and got Presley ready for this school this morning, and she was acting like her normal self. Then I told her to go give daddy a kiss bye because we needed to go to school. She looked up at me with the most pitiful face and said, "no go school ever". Ugh! I was so close to keeping her home with me, but decided against it. We got in the car, drove to school, and walked to her class with out a single complaint. Until I turned around from putting her back pack up, and saw my poor baby crying. Not just any cry. She was completely silent with huge tears running down her cheeks, and her sweet little lip curled down farther than I've ever seen it. It almost brought me to tears right then and there. 

I so badly wanted to just take her home, but I also didn't want her to think that anytime she cried she could stay home. I told her that I loved her, wiped her tears and handed her over to her teacher. I felt like a terrible mother. I told them to make sure they called me if she was still upset after ten minutes. Thankfully, I never got a phone call, but I worried about her all day. Of course, when I went to pick her up she was doing front rolls and running around in circles with her school friends. It was such a relief to see. 

I guess we are having a little bit of separation anxiety. Hopefully, this is just a phase because it sure is heartbreaking to witness. Fingers crossed Thursday will be better. However, her school is doing pictures with Santa, and we all know how much she loves Santa. 

Just in case anyone needed a reminder

That might really send her over the edge...

It's Beginning...

to look a lot like Christmas!

The tree is up and decorated. Well, kind of. I went a little easy on the ornaments this year between a very curios toddler, and two crazy cats.

The stockings have been hung by the chimney with care.

And the lights went up on the house without any incidents this year.

We also attended the first Christmas party of the season this Saturday. It was Brandon's company party, and we enjoyed a fun night out while P was at her Grammie and Poppa's.

Nothing says Christmas like a machine gun and a rubber chicken!

Hope everyone is enjoying the season so far...

Bad Santa

Anyone remember this gem of a picture from last year?

Well, this year was shaping up to be pretty much the same as the last, BUT we got a smile. A teary smile, but a smile nonetheless. It only took two grandmas (Grammie and Mimi), M&M's, and Mommy and Daddy (who had to sit with santa too)!

(Sorry for the pic quality. Our scanner is broken so I just took a pic with my phone).

 Sorry Santa. Maybe one day Presley won't cry out in fear when she has to sit in your lap...

Happy December, Y'all!