An example of true love.

Andrew and I are going on a date this afternoon.  I have been planning it for awhile and I am really  looking forward to it.  My mom is coming over to watch the kids and then we are going out for the afternoon.  This morning, when Andrew woke up he put on dressy clothes in preparation, as well as some of my favorite cologne.  He makes me smile.  Knowing that we still had a little while before we left I got ready but I left my pajamas on (dirty kid fingers).  I came down the stairs with my hair done, and earrings on and asked Andrew how I looked.  Don't squirm, I wasn't testing Andrew.  I know him well enough to know that this question does not make him anxious.  I knew he would tell me what he really thought.

He glanced up and gave my a sideways look, and comment that I looked nice but he should change because I had decided to go casual. hahahahaha  After making sure he knew I was wearing pajamas, his next comment was that if I had a headache and was more comfortable wearing my pajamas it was fine with him.  He added that he did like it when I dressed up but it didn't matter. hehehehehe I love Andrew.  He allows me to be me and it is a blessing from God to know that he loves me for who I am and not what I wear.

I did however, use a gift card to buy a new outfit and surprised him. :D

Gingerbread Houses

Yesterday, my sister came over to do gingerbread houses with the kids.  The best part was she had it already to go.  She made the houses out of graham crackers and milk cartons.  Royal icing was used to stick  it all together and to stick the candies on also.

Here is Hannah and Teresa already to go.

Ethan waiting.  If you look along the roof line you can see where Ethan has already taken a bite.

Hannah used a tiny little knife to put some icing on each candy and then she "glued " them onto the house.

Happy girl.

Ethan enjoyed eating.

Pulling off candies so he could eat more.

Enjoying the candy.

Wordless Wednesday-Hannah's first Christmas Card

Winter Play Activities

The kids have both had fun with some of our winter/Christmas activities.  What I have really enjoyed was how easy it is to pull these out when they both start asking to do an activity. 

 There is a tree matching game (I found this here).

I think Hannah enjoyed cleaning up the little trees into the pocket the most.

Ethan loves sticking the little gingerbread men and snowmen into the peg spots.

I briefly took the rice box and put some Christmas erasers in it for them to find.  However,  Ethan thought it would be fun to make it rain rice.

We switched from rice to cotton balls and it began to snow.

For the record it is my sister Teresa talking in the background not me.

From Little Tree to Big Tree

So we finally got around to putting up the Christmas Tree.  Andrew and I were both a little hesitant with Destructo boy on the loose.  It went up without a hitch and so far Ethan has been very gentle with it.  I have to say that Hannah is by far the most taken by the tree.  All day long she comments about how much she likes the tree and how pretty the ornaments are hanging on each of the branches.

Decorating her body with a string of beads.

Putting the star on top.

"Fixing" the ornaments.

Captivated.

Admiring the tree.

Christmas Tree Decorating

For the past week this has been the kids favorite activity; Mini Christmas tree decorating.  Big thanks to my sister Amanda for letting me "borrow" it from her.  It came complete with lights, mini decorations, and a star.  Hannah and Ethan will sit there for a long time and hang and rehanging the little ornaments. 

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas Parade

I have been trying to write this post since Saturday.  I almost gave up entirely.  Unfortunately, we have taking turns not feeling well the last few days.  Andrew is taking the brunt of it and the kids both have icky noses.  Hopefully, we will all be back to our normal selves quickly.  Saturday evening we decided to take the kids to see the Santa Parade.  It was very chilly, so I put the kids in their snow suits and we braved the elements.

Waiting for the parade to start.

Andrew found us a great spot at the start of the parade with lots of room.

Fire trucks were first and the noisiest.

Poor Ethan did not like the sound.  Sorry Uncle Chris (he's a fireman).

Hehehehhe, while Hannah probably didn't like the noise, she was more concerned with holding onto her candy.

The Grinch.

Rocking Horse.

I love the caption- God bless all little boys with sling shots. (It was a glass company float).

The nativity float.

Dancing Christmas Tree.

Hahahaha- Ladies on horseback.

Santa was going so fast I could not get a picture.

Activities: Daddy Style

 It has been 3 years since we got back from teaching in Korea but Andrew must have enjoyed putting his "Andrew Teacher" hat back on when doing activities with Hannah last week because he was back at it again.  Andrew put together the cutest activity for Hannah.

He scattered various items all over the table while Hannah watched.

He was showing Hannah that she could use the straw to blow things across the table/

Some items were easier than others and she enjoyed testing them all out.

Here Andrew is trying to explain that if you suck on the straw you can pick up objects too.

I think maybe he just enjoying playing with Hannah.  I love watching them together.