Naomi

This girl deserves a post all her own. She is energy, attitude, curiosity, generosity, inquisitiveness, brilliance all stuffed in a little 3 year old body.

She never ceases to amaze, surprise, frustrate, and make me laugh out loud.

She has a knack, like most little girls, for putting together some pretty awesome outfits. She also likes to gather together favorite items and stash them away. I'm a forever finding these little treasure troves.

So here are a few I captured on film to share.

Christmas Stockings

I am finally making Jame's Christmas stocking. It's only his second Christmas, not bad. And it's been a effort to get motivated. But I'm excited and ready to do it.
I had originally planned on a teddy bear for his stocking, but I couldn't seem to get a pattern that would look good. Or even very much like a teddy bear. I was feeling frustrated and stuck, I had already purchased the brown corduroy.Then Zach suddenly said, why don't you just do a gingerbread man? Perfect!
So here he is so far. I'm stitching the double layers of the little man to the top layer of the front of the stocking. After he's on, I'll finish all the other embellishments before sewing the stocking together. I learned my lesson the hard way a few years back. It's easier to sew stuff onto it without sticking my hand inside the finished stocking.
On this site, she has a great stocking tutorial. Mine are similar, but I have the unfinished edges out and I snip them so they are frayed.
Merry Christmas!

Edible Fun

Yes.

I am getting a little ahead of myself, but Christmas is so much fun!

We decorated our gingerbread house for a family home evening activity tonight.

While watching Dancing With The Stars. (Go Donny!)

It was really fun, I was a little surprised. Best case scenarios played out. For once. How nice!

James helped stick candy on at first and then he just wanted to eat it. We presuaded him to eat non-attached candy rather than roof and window decorations.

Naomi was a pro, she specifically did the roofline, window coverings, front door and window decorations, and the side of the roof that isn't pictured below. It's more artistic than this side.

We all ended up eating a fair amount of sugar.

This was a ready to go kit from our loving WalMart Supercenter. Naomi want's to make another one, and I have a recipe for sturdy gingerbread. I think I'll give a homemade version a try in a few weeks.

Naomi also said she wants to smash it, with her toy hammer. So we'll see how long this lasts.

Nice Smile

Naomi has mastered the "forced smile" and apparently James is well on his way.
Cute.

Christmas decor

I pulled out the Christmas boxes last night! Naomi could hardly contain her joy. This was better than the actual presents on Christmas morning.

We love our Little People Nativity. It's really the best. Go out and buy one if you don't have one, you won't regret it.

While I was loading this photo, James found the Styrofoam packaging from a new ornament. He managed to crumble it into thousands of tiny little balls that stick to everything. I mean everything.
Sweet.

Museo de Naomi

Naomi's room daily. All her drawings, art projects, etc from the past year or so. Daily spread out on her floor for her viewing pleasure. I need storage or display ideas.

T

Tuesdays with Trisha

I have busy mornings on Tuesdays. I am an aide at Naomi's preschool.

I trade for a gym membership and a discount on her tuition. I like being involved and in the know about her school. I love having a membership at the gym. I dislike getting up early and for a while felt guilty leaving James with grandma.

I don't anymore, he loves it now. Today when I told him it was time to go home, he told me "no". Stinker.

Tuesdays I get up with my alarm, 7:05. Ok, so I actually get out of bed by 7:20. At the latest!

Naomi is usually up by 7:30 and I get her dressed and seated eating breakfast.

She wears a swimsuit under her clothes because she swims at preschool on Tuesdays. And I have to remember to pack a pair of undies for after swim.

Next, I get ready, get James up and dressed then get breakfast for us.

Sometimes I take mine to eat on the drive, a banana and yogurt. Or something.

We are on the road by 8:15.

Every other Tuesday I drop James off at Grandma Stevie's on the way to pick up Naomi's cousin Dawson. On the other Tuesdays I squeeze three car seats across the back and Grandma Linda meets me at the preschool parking lot to take James with her for the day.

I have to remember to pack diaps and wipes, extra clothing, and naptime lovies to send/leave with Grandma.

(Grandmas are the best ever. THANKS!!!)

We are at preschool by 8:45 and ready for an active day at school.

After preschool Naomi and Dawson go to play at the kid care at the gym after swimming while I finish out my last hour at the preschool. There are two classes, theirs ends at noon and the second at one.

At 1:15, when the last little one has gone home and preschool is straightened up, I retreive Noami and Daws from the kids club, and they inform me they are starving.

I remembered to pack granola bars for them and all is well.

We take Dawson home and join Grandma for a relaxing afternoon while James finishes his nap.

Then I have to remember that the next morning is garbage day.

Today I was on time, and we remembered to bring everything we needed. Overall it was a pretty good Tuesday.

But I left Jame's full sippy sitting on the counter this morning. Yummy warm orange juice.