Christmas, Christmas Time is Here!

You know Christmas time is near when we start in with the baking! That's right. I don't make those pain in the butt cut-out cookies just any old time. 

The kids have come to expect these each year. They love to decorate the cookies. In fact, I don't think they realize other kinds of Christmas cookies exist. If they say "Christmas cookies", they are talking about these frosted sugar cookies.

Bode got in on the action this year. He was careful to only dump 9/10th's of the sprinkles onto his cookies so he would have some left to chug. 

Seriously, child?

Caden decorated cookies, too. He didn't want his picture taken though. Ugh. I said, "Caden, can I take a picture with your cookies?"

"Sure, Mom."

"Caden. I meant with you in it."

"Oh. Then, no thanks."

Boys.

Chloe was old enough to participate in the children's program at church. She did a great job singing along and being a big kid. Tear. Of course, Ali and Caden did great, too. Caden had to read some lines and sing lip-sync with the group of singing children a few times. He could give Milli Vanilli a run for their money. 

Ali's class performed some Christmas songs for the parents yesterday. It was seriously cute to say the least. Afterward, we got to decorate graham crackers with frosting and sprinkles. She made quite a few "just for me." I didn't have the heart to tell her Mommy is kinda on a diet. So, I crammed three of them down. 

Just kidding, it was four and I savored them. 

Also, George (our Elf on the Shelf) has been keeping a close eye on the kids.   

"Spider-George, Spider-George ..."

George is very mischievous this year. Much to the kids' delight, of course. And mine :) The kids' favorite hi-jinx so far was George decorating the tree with daddy's underwear. Ahhhhh, I love it. It's so fun I'm thinking of making it a year long thing. 

Stay tuned for more on George :) We've got six nights left!

Birthdays!

I have two birthdays to report! Caden Thomas turned nine a few weeks ago (okay, it was more like 8 weeks ago) and Chloe turned four last week.

 For the third year in a row, Caden spent his big day playing football with his buddies.

Want to make him happy? Get him a Walmart gift card :)

Lauren and Elyse came to celebrate, too! 

Watching Caden grow up is so entertaining. Caden's not interested in being my "helper" anymore, but that's okay. For now he begs me to play Xbox and Battleship. So we do, because I suspect one day he won't want to do that anymore either :) He's developed his father's sense of humor, which I feign exasperation over, but obviously I adore it. And, somehow he's usually two steps ahead of me, leaving me to wonder who is really in charge? Or who should be? Yikes! 

Love you, Cade, & and I'm so proud of you!

***

Turning four was a big deal for Miss Chloe! She was sooooo over being three. Apparently, four is where it's at. 

Chloe, Bode and I have a favorite breakfast spot (no, it's not McDonald's, Dad). So, I took them for birthday waffles. I pretty much ate all three plates myself. We all enjoyed it for one reason or another! 

That afternoon we had her "Dora" party complete with two sets of grandparents, mucho presents, ham supper (per her request) and cake! 

Chloe loves to dress up, opting for skirts and dresses, bows and headbands. She'll pick dresses out of my closet and ask me why I don't wear them. I'm already disappointing her fashion-wise. Ugh. What's next Coco, my hair and makeup? 

Look how happy she was! She is growing up so fast. Literally. She's almost as tall as Ali! :) 

I can't resist a Chloe flashback from age 0-4!

Love you, Coco!