And What is Wrong with the $3 Valentines?

Absolutely nothing!  I love those Valentines . . . especially now.  Last year during February, I was looking through a magazine which described how to make the Valentines pictured above. They're cute, right?  So cute.  I thought to myself . . . what a fun tradition to have!  Mother and daughters making homemade Valentines every year . . . and they are so much cuter than the boxed ones the girls always want.  

So I set out to buy all the supplies and  candy to make these Valentines with my kids . . . thinking it would be so memorable and fun.  WHATEVER!  

The way it really went?  I spent HOURS cutting out hearts of paper AND vinyl.   I cut ribbon the right lengths so that when we were ready to make these things . . . the kids could just put them together.  The kids were happy to put maybe 3 of them together . . . and then they wanted to go and play.  I ended up making the rest . . . meaning enough for Abby's class + extras and enough for Halle's playgroup.  It took forever and they cost around $30.  Was it worth it?  Absolutely not.  They were VERY cute . . . but . . . come on.

So this year I decided I would not make any Valentines . . . and figured the kids would be just fine picking out their favorite box of Valentines.   I have to say I was very surprised at the beginning of the month, because Abby asked me when we would make Valentines.  When I told her my answer she retorted back that she WANTED to MAKE her Valentines.  I told her she could use the construction paper we already had and cut hearts out on her own if she wanted to.

  
She did make a few of her own . . . but then after a few days decided she wanted to buy Valentines.  Homemade ones are definitely more cute . . . but I don't think the kids really notice or care . . . Abby and Halle were still so excited about these Barbie Valentines.  Happy Valentine's Day!

28 Weeks

So . . . I guess I feel like a have grown a ton this last month.  My belly is huge!   Time is ticking and I am starting to get nervous!  I really like to sleep ALL night WITHOUT interruptions . . . so I am starting to fear the exhaustion.   Can I really go back to phase 1?  Last week we put the crib away and put Gwen in a toddler bed.  I don't want Gwen to feel like the baby took her bed. She is doing okay in it, but it is different.  We will probably move Gwen out of her room next month to make room for the baby . . . which means Abby and Halle will have different sleeping arrangements also.  I really don't do to well with change . . . sometimes I am amazed I am still alive and have not died of a heart attack . . . or an anxiety attack!

New Year's Day

New Year's Day we went sledding . . . again.  It was so fun . . . but it so weird to me to think that my kids have been sledding more during this Christmas break than I have in my whole life! That's growing up in Washington I guess.

I went down the hill once . . . only because Abby begged and begged me to do it.   My big belly makes me nervous!

Christmas 2008

Christmas morning.   

Christmas Eve . . . our activities included acting out the nativity and opening presents with pajamas in them!

The eve of Christmas Eve dinner at Grandma's!

Christmas . . . To Give or to Give More?

I think my girls had a great christmas!  They loved the lights, the tree and of course all the food! They loved getting presents . . . and were so excited for everyone to open presents that they picked out.

Apparently though, my plan with distracting Abby from the American Girl doll with other gifts from her list did not work.  At the end of the day . . . she was still wondering why Santa didn't bring her the gift she had specifically asked him for . . . the thing that she wanted the most.
Abby still really believes in Santa . . . and doesn't understand why he didn't just make the doll in his workshop and give it to her.  He gave it to other girls.   She told me that she knew that "I" couldn't buy it for her because it was $105.  I asked her how she knew how much it was . . . she told me that she saw it in the catalog.  I told her that maybe Santa just knew that she didn't play with dolls all that much and must have figured she would use her other gifts more often.

I have to say . . . I feel terrible.  I feel like we are in a version of the Christmas Story movie, and Abby is a nice little girl that asks Santa for something . . . only the movie doesn't end right!  She didn't get her doll!  Ben feels like she will be fine, and that disappointment is healthy . . . especially where she did get other things she asked for.  I agree that it is fine for kids to not get EVERYTHING they ask for.   But since she didn't get MOST of the things on her list . . . and since the American Girl doll apparently was the most wanted gift . . . I feel like this is a terrible situation!  20 years from now . . . she will remember this Christmas because of the disappointment!  What have I done?
I am tempted to find a doll now . . . and then put it under the tree . . . hidden away in the back corner.  And then, when we take the Christmas tree down, Abby will find it . . . and maybe think it was there all along?????  HELP?????  Do I let this go or fix it?????

Wish List

I don't get my kids EVERYTHING on their wish list for Christmas . . . but I do like to make sure that they at least get the ONE thing that they really want. That ONE thing that they keep asking for . . . the thing they tell Santa that they want. Until this year.

Abby this year is asking for an American Girl doll. If you ask me . . . I think these dolls are EXTREMELY pricey (they are around $100-150 or more!) . . . it is not going to work in our budget . . . and Abby doesn't even really play with dolls . . . so why she is asking for one, I don't know. But I feel like if we bought her one, it would get played with a handful of times and then sit on the shelf. So this gift is not happening.

Halle is asking for a REAL LIVE kitten. She already has picked out 3 names to choose from for it. I know that she would LOVE having a cat . . . but what a commitment! I'll end up taking care of it . . . and I don't EVER want to own ANY animals with fur. So this gift isn't going to happen either.

I had my girls make wish lists for Santa, and they did have quite a few other items on there. So they ARE getting things that were on their list . . . just not those things they told Santa that they want. Am I a terrible mother?

Hair Cuts

My sister in-law is visiting this week and luckily has some sweet hair cutting skills.  She has cut all of our hair . . . but it is Gwen's hair that I am the most excited about.  Gwen has had the shaggiest hair for so long!  Thanks so much Liz!!