Christmas Eve

Sunday, December 24, 2006 - Uncle Travis watched the kids sprinkle the magic reindeer food to entice Santa's reindeer to land.

Caeden said, 'I dump-ed it!" but Annah and Sylvia were very careful to sprinkle theirs all around so the reindeer would see the glitter sparkling in the moonlight.

One of our family's Christmas traditions is that the kids get to open one gift from Mommy & Daddy. This year they received the book The Polar Express, and each got red & green footed fleece Christmas jammies.

 Sylvie was very excited about her jammies!!

Last week, the girls had decided (after watching Polar Express a few times) that they would both really like to have a robe. On Saturday, Annah received a fluffy pink bathrobe from Grandpa & Grandma Lopshire, and she was ecstatic about it. That night Sylvia told Gram & Krampa that she wished Santa would bring her a robe too. So, on Christmas Eve day, Krampa set out on a mission to find one for her. He found the perfect one, so Sylvie got to open her special gift on Christmas Eve too. You can see...she was so happy...

A couple months ago, when the kids started getting excited about Christmas approaching, Daddy came up with a plan for what we would do on Christmas Eve. The first part of the plan was to play in the snow, but it was in the 50's on Christmas Eve, so that wasn't possible. Also, they planned to sprinkle the magic reindeer food, then come in and drink hot chocolate. Daddy made some for them--with BIG marshmallows.

Of course, cookies and milk were set out for Santa Claus, 

and last minute wishes and notes were left for him too.

Daddy read The Polar Express, and The Night Before Christmas before bed. 

(Another special part of "The Plan".)

Home with family for Christmas

Today we celebrated Christmas by gathering with family for two celebrations--one with the DeHaven side of Jeremy's family, and one with the McEowen side of my family.

Saturday, December 23, 2006 - Caeden always has room for cake!

I don't know why I do this...I guess I just don't expect him to actually take the picture!

Six of the seven little Lopshires opening Christmas gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Lopshire!

 Caeden could not have been more excited about a gift than he was this big Thomas pillow!!!!

Saturday, December 23, 2006 - Jeremy gave his dad a haircut for Christmas.

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Saturday, December 23, 2006 - Sylvia playing the handbells at the McEowen Christmas gathering.

Saturday, December 23, 2006 - Grandma granted everyone's wish and played a few songs on the organ out of the Reader's Digest Christmas book.

School Christmas Stuff

Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - Sylvia made this wreath of cutouts of her hands this morning at preschool.

Annah was to dress "fancy" for her concert this evening, so Sylvia wanted to too.

 

We sat up high in the bleachers for Annah's (K-2) school concert, so our photos don't look the greatest. But the concert was super cute!

Here is the kindergarten singing "Up On The Housetop."

Annah is sitting next to the Christmas tree for this song, because she was Little Nell. (As in, "First comes the stocking of little Nell. Oh dear Santa, fill it well. Give her a dolly that laughs and cries--one that will open and close her eyes.) So, she opened her stocking when it was time and rocked her little dolly right on cue.

Caeden and Sylvia both really liked the concert! Caeden was very antsy, and making friends and playing with everyone around us.

Singing Angel Band

Christmas is coming!

Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 

This morning the preschoolers at church presented their little Christmas program called Joy Train. Sylvia has been talking about the program excitedly for weeks, came home ecstatic from practice yesterday, anxiously dressed her best and had her hair done in curlers this morning, and stood up on stage...and sulked the whole time.

She didn't crack a smile or even open her mouth to sing a note. We couldn't figure out why she was so upset, and her only excuse afterwards was, "I was too tired."  

What?!?!

Below, you can see her (wearing the 'N' sign) amidst all of the other singing, smiling children...

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Sunday, December 17, 2006 - making "music" on the little horn ornaments that are supposed to hang on the tree

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Sunday, December 17, 2006 - I decided to let the kids decorate the tree. I put the lights and star on, but they did the garlands and ornaments. It makes me laugh every time I look at it.

Winter Blessings

This morning as Annah went out the door for the bus, she saw it round the corner to pick up the kids at the stop before hers, and said, "Oh! The bus is coming!" I told her she had plenty of time and didn't need to run, but she did anyway and got there and waited. As she was waiting, I saw her realize she had forgotten her lunch box and go into a panic. I ran for it, but didn't have shoes on or time to get it to her before the bus left. I knew she would be panicked, so I prayed that the Lord would help her not to worry. I decided I would take it to her after I dropped Sylvia off at school, and I went to dry my hair.

A minute later, Sylvia came running into the bathroom saying, "Mom! You need to get Annah's lunchbox and take it to her; she's waiting at the front door!" Oh crud! She didn't get on the bus? I picked up the lunchbox and ran to the door. Annah was standing there with tears streaming down her face, and the BUS was out on the road waiting for her!!!

As I gave Annah her lunch, I yelled to Miss Vicki, "God bless you for doing that! I was going to take it to her!" I couldn't believe she had gone around the block and come back to let Annah off! She said, "She was a little hysterical!!" and I thanked her again and yelled, "I love you Annah!" to my poor little girl as she crossed the street to get on the bus again.

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This evening was Sylvia's preschool Christmas program, with a theme of Winter Wonderland. The kids all wore snowman baseball caps (Sylvie was so excited to wear a ponytail and stick it through the back of her hat, but it turned out that we couldn't see her eyes for most of the program because of it!) and white t-shirts with big black "buttons" drawn on the fronts and their names written on the backs. Some also wore some winter gear, so of course Sylvia chose to wear her boots! (Our kids LOVE their boots, and wear them any chance they get!!)

The kids sang several Christmas songs, some of them in unintentional 4-part "rounds." It was very cute.

When the kids were done singing, Santa made a surprise appearance! He took the time to let all 26 of the preschool students sit on his lap and talk about their Christmas lists!! Sylvia told him she wants a princess yoyo and that's all.

Thursday, December 14, 2006 - our happy little snowgirl

Portraits Flop

We attempted to have our family portraits taken at Sears tonight. It was very frustrating. 

Caeden would NOT sit still, and the photographer gave up after 20 shots of the same pose. She tried to take individual ones of the kids, but couldn't get Caeden to sit down or stand still for one, and the girls were so tired of it all that they looked exhausted. 

We did get a good one of Jeremy and me, and were able to choose one family one that is acceptable, but we won't get the prints back until the 22nd. I guess I'll be sending cards out after the holidays--or coming up with something else. I should have made the appointment muuuuuuch earlier!

Sylvia's Name

Sylvia colored a picture for me today (one of the many she colors for me each day lately), and I noticed she'd written her name--legibly! I asked her when she got so good at writing her name, and she said, "At school!"

Mouse Christmas

Annah enjoyed being in her first musical! Practices started in August, so you can imagine the excitement and anticipation of performing the show this weekend!

She played "Marvina Mouse," and had some speaking lines and got to wear a wireless microphone. She did a great job, and we were really proud of her and all the kids in the show! 

Many of them were only 5 or 6 years old!

Thanks to Uncle Travis & Aunt Erin who came from Indiana for the weekend to see Annah's show! It was wonderful to have you here! And, thanks to Auntie E for helping Annah learn her lines back in October!

Saturday, December 9, 2006 - Annah with her face all painted, and ready to be Marvina Mouse in the church children's musical, A Mouse Christmas.

Saturday, December 9, 2006 - with her friend Emma, who was a sheep!

Saturday, December 9, 2006 - Caeden & Uncle Travis watching The Grinch at our house

Daddy & Sylvia eagerly waiting to watch Annah's performance

Sunday, December 10, 2006 - I helped run the sound for the musical...something I've never done before. I'm such a wannabe techie; it was fun!

Sunday, December 10, 2006 - a view from the soundbooth during the show

When Papa Mouse explains how Jesus came to earth and was hated by the very people he came to save, and that they nailed him to a wooden cross and killed him, Marvina Mouse asks, "Wasn't God angry?"

Sunday, December 10, 2006 - the whole cast

the mouse family in their living room

(a wedge of cheese!)

Sunday, December 10, 2006 - Marvina

This evening, after the musical, our church hosted the annual Cookies & Carols event.

Caeden quickly snarfed down all of Daddy's cookies at Cookies & Carols!

(But doesn't he look adorable in this little outfit Grandma Lopshire picked out for him?!?!)

The kids were so excited when Santa dropped in for a visit during Cookies & Carols!