Thursday, January 20, 2011

A Quick Glance At Christmas

This is a bit late to be posting about our Christmas crafts we did the last half of December, but I wanted to have a record for next year so I don't have to reinvent the wheel for myself.

We managed to do a craft or activity nearly everyday of December and it was great! Lukas loved it especially and now is constantly asking to do "crafts, Mama!". So now I need to get busy and come up with monthly sets of crafts to do, oh boy. My brain hurts thinking about it. With a new baby coming, though, I can see the benefit of having some preplanned crafts ready to go for those jealous moments when I'll be taking care of baby sister.

Marble Painted Tree
Lukas thought this was pretty cool. You just put a cutout of something on a cardboard lid with a dollop of paint or three and then give them a marble to roll around and it decorates the cutout beautifully. And doesn't require a major clean-up like when typically using paint!

My little helper.


We made sugar cookies and then frosted them, or should I say, they frosted one each and then I frosted the rest. I don't really know why I keep making sugar cookies as neither of my boys like the cookie part, just the icing. Really, then, it's because I discovered the absolute best sugar cookie recipe in the history of the world from my friend, Emily. The cookies turn out perfect every time and are the perfect amount of crunch on the edges and soft and moist on the inside. YUM!!!


Of course, we had to have some play fighting with homemade crowns and swords. Not sure if that fit in with Christmas, though it was the correct form of weapons for the time of Jesus. So that counts, right? Hmmm, maybe the Roman soldiers and Peter when he was defending Jesus?


One night we loaded the boys into the car and tried finding the Christmas ships. We missed them on the Willamette, so tried to catch them on the Columbia, but apparently the Columbia is a lot longer and the boats are not in any hurry as we never saw them. So instead, we went to Peacock Lane, which was much closer and probably more fun for the boys. Live and learn.
I'd reccommend parking a few blocks away and then walking there, if you were thinking of doing this next year. The traffic to drive through stretches forever and then you have walkers in front of the houses blocking your view. We parked and walked and it was great and Lukas loved it. Nikolas, on the other hand, is in a fun stage of not wanting to participate in ANYTHING right now, so he was miserable the whole time.


Large to Small Tree Building
They were supposed to build their Christmas tree going from large on bottom to small on top. Fun craft and a learning tool as well. Nikolas did great, and actually participated, and Lukas did pretty good for his age.


"Stained Glass" Window Trees


Paper Plate Angels



Obviously, I helped Lukas with the head. Not that it is great, but it would've ended up with scribbles for a head otherwise.

Making a nativity scene with stickers


Christmas Eve at the Grandparents
Yes, Nik is probably picking his nose. It seems to be a requirement for him as soon as a camera is pointed his way. Which is why he isn't included in many posts. He might be thankful for that when he is older.....or bummed.....could go either way really....

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

8 Months Down, 4 Weeks To Go

Not a great picture of me, but it is pretty much how I am feeling right now with less than 4 weeks until baby comes. Tired and exhausted are a couple words I could use to describe myself currently. I have even been napping the last few days when I can sneak it in, which is entirely out of character for me. I am not one to sit for more than 5 minutes at a time without getting up to do something, but now my body is forcing me to sit more and nap more. It has been helping me to stay somewhat on track with my latest committment to read the Bible in 90 days, though!
I am pretty close to being ready for this little girl to appear as I have been madly clearing out the baby room, getting things organized in the garage, washing all the baby paraphanelia, setting up the co-sleeper and crib, and making a pile to take to the hospital with us. I have also been making a few freezer meals and have plans to make more, hopefully! My latest project has been decorating the baby's room. My good friend, Sheri, came over last Saturday and painted the cutest tree with swirl branches on the wall over the crib. It looks so good! She is coming back to paint a swirlly branch out of the window and then we are going to add some owls to the branches of both. It has been so much fun to think about decorating a little girls room:) When it is all done I'll post pictures, for sure!

I'll keep you all posted should we have an early arrival!