Getting Into the Spirit

I’m really trying my best to get in the holiday spirit this year.  Not being in your own home makes it incredibly challenging but I've had many reminders that this isn't for my enjoyment for for my little ones.  Many of my patients have said “your twins are going to have so much fun this Christmas season,” so I’m remembering that this is really for them.  Plus, years from now they may look back and say “remember the Christmas in Uncle Will Will’s house?,” (or a least I hope it will be memorable).

Thanksgiving started off with a bang:  My favorite holiday is quickly becoming the holiday I dread. Three years ago Justin was ill, (later found out it was a bowel obstruction), last year we were in CO where a very contagious GI bug was spread through the house, and this year, C woke up Thanksgiving morning with a fever and loss of stomach contents multiple times!  Thankfully, he felt better later on so ended up making the trek up to Ames for the festivities. 

We picked out and cut down our tree later on Thanksgiving. I LOVE fir trees but rarely get one because there aren’t many planted; (in fact maybe we've never had one?).  With minimal space this year for a tree, we needed a narrow tree and this little guy was perfect, (plus they always look smaller out in the field!).  Sunday morning the kids helped us decorate, while still in their jammies.  The girls did a great job hanging the ornaments on the tree while C mostly tried to play with them and take them off. 

There’s always the debate about whether you go real or fake.  Obviously, I know nothing other than real and hope to always have a real tree. I understand why many people don’t-cost ($45 for a tree!), maintenance (watering and needles everywhere that are noticeable until there are gifts under the tree), and the mess of taking it down, but I can’t imagine doing it any other way.  In the future, I can see myself also having a fake tree in another location of the house-we have SO many ornaments. The kids have their own ornaments, some homemade, and receive a new one each year from Grandma. Plus Justin and I have our ornaments from when we were kids, and from our travels and time BC (before children).

3 smiles and 3 faces-quite a rare feat

Goodies:  I love baking and am glad the kids like helping as well. We haven’ t made much yet but hope to have more time soon. It’s also become a tradition to make sugar cookies with Grandma and Papa so hopefully we can fit that in. 

Pretty sure more sprinkles ended up in his tummy than on the cookies

Elf On The Shelf:  What has your elf been up to?  Ours has been quite naughty.  I am starting to really enjoy this tradition. My mom first told me about Elf On The Shelf shortly after I had AJ and I thought it sounded weird.  Now, it’s fun to see the kids get into it. The twins are still a little young to know what’s going on and do NOT understand that Elfie is not a toy.  One day I caught C swinging poor Elfie around and throwing him in the air.  Yikes, he probably lost quite a bit of magic that day!  So far I’ve only forgotten to “pose” him one evening but quickly recovered before AJ came down the stairs.

Christmas Lists:  AJ and her cousins went to see Santa last weekend and brought him their lists. He read each one carefully.  Needless to say, Alena may be a little disappointed on Christmas morning when she doesn’t have everything on her list, (or hardly any of it!).  I’ve never heard her mention wanting any of the electronics she wrote on her list so I blame her cousin for giving her those ideas!  These girls may give us a run for our money as they grow up. 

Sledding:  Two days in a row last week we hit the hill by the Clive Aquatic Center for a little sledding. I’m not sure who had more fun, the adults or the kids!  I can’t wait to go back again! 

Shopping:  I spent the afternoon shopping with my mom today.  It was a good reminder why I did more online shopping this year than I ever have.  The mall wasn't horribly busy but I was disappointed I didn't find what I was looking for.  The first wrapped gifts were placed under the tree tonight.  Any guesses how long it takes before a twin tries to break into one of them?

(I couldn't resist posting this cute pic of my middle child in her big girl undies and daddy's hat)