Can you say Eskimo?

So my mother sent the girls these awesome sweaters.  And being the mom my first reaction was 

HOW CUTE!  Then the next reaction was, ALEXA ISN'T GOING TO WEAR IT.  Then of course I feel bad, realizing that my 5 year old feels like she has been put in a straight jacket when she wears a sweater, she constantly is grabbing at her neck and trying to take it off, hence this has a zipper in front which means of course that it is really not to be worn, but is a jacket of course, and will be thrown on the floor of the kindergarten classroom and brought home in a different form and color.

SO I TAKE A DEEP BREATH.... and put on the maybe I can convince her to love it smile, when she notices the adorable sweater out of the corner of her eye and runs to me in excitement, and exclaims,

"OH MOMMY I LOVE IT, HOW DID GRANDMA ALWAYS KNOW I WANTED TO BE AN ESKIMO!"

And there was no convincing to take place...she wore it zipped up like this until it was time for jammies and then put it on promptly in the morning and I don't know how long she wore at school like this, but she did tell me her teacher thought she looked really cute.  

A Merry Little Christmas

Just a little post-view of the christmas holiday.  I have been on a technical hiatus and I must admit it has been relaxing.  I have enjoyed reading everyones blog and just letting mine pass to the wayside.  But I am back and feeling the blogging strong. (hopefully) 

Our Christmas was a delight, we spent a night at the D.C. temple with some good friends and enjoyed the beauty, and then dined at a Thai restaurant after where the host noticed our motley bunch and ever so politely escorted us to the back, which was in fact pleasant, because then we didn't have to worry about getting rowdy if we felt like it.  The food was great and the company wonderful.  Kate loved the live Nativity and sitting on the big plastic camel was a must.  

Pretty as always....

Cute and motley as always....

We Believe

Madeline's note to Santa:

Dear Santa Clause,

Thank you so much for last years presents.  We all loved the toys.  We hope you like our candycane shaped cookies.  Carly and Leighton also helped.  So did Mom.  Have a wonderful Christmas!!

P.S. Make sure Grandpa and everyone else get a special present.

Love,

The Young Family

If you need more napkins they are up above the microwave in the cupboard.

(Man I just love this kid)

Static Baby.....

Sticky, Licky Frosting and Leftover Halloween Candy...

The icing is thick and sticky, and when it dries, as hard as cement, and the best is when you add kids to the recipe.  Kids and icing tubes are so funny.  The are so excited about getting it onto their house they forget to hold the back and it squirts out everywhere.  We have even found that it can sneak onto your chair and end up on your sit down. (Sorry Christina) The creativity is endless, Alexa added a jawbreaker snow man with a pineapple nose, Robb made a broken down cottage, and we even ended up with a Christmas Explosive Device.  It was so fun to share an evening of laughs and fun with our good friends the Gregory's, I am so glad that we officially had them over. 

All the friends.

Pernille and Rick

Sugar Rush!

Tree Time....

Getting a Christmas tree is so much fun.  The kids all have set ideas on its size height and bushiness.  Kate wanted a tree that was as tall as she was, infact she saw a red bush and was so excited, because in her eyes it was a pink tree.  Alexa spotted her choice from way across the lot it was huge, but of course perfect.  Robb didn't really care about the tree per say, he was just happy that Dwane let him carry the saw.  Madeline is definitely the most opinionated. She likes the trees as tall as they are round.  Me, I like them to be perfectly symmetrical and reasonably skinny so they don't take up to much space, and Dwane just loves that he gets to wear the lumber jack jacket.  So from the pictures you can see what we ended up bringing home.  And to me it is amazing every year, no matter how Charlie Brown the tree may be, once it is all decorated it becomes the most perfect and the best.  

Everyone helping to haul the tree to be bundled.

Alexa's choice!

Robb and the SAW!

Little trees are best for me!

It's A Give Away....

It's always fun to get something free.  I honestly am not one to enter contests, but this is too fun and it is stuff that my good friend Amy has made.  She's very creative and a lot of fun... so check out her blog and all the fun stuff you can win.  Mommy and Beyond