Dear Santa, We're Sorry...

I guess I should be happy that Bella hates strangers and pray that this continues when she's 4 and playing in the park. I have to admit, I really, really, really, really wanted her stranger-hatred to pause for just one evening, so she could smile happily on Santa's lap. Not so much...we showed up at Chick-Fil-A and she had a great time. She was in a really good mood, so about halfway through dinner, we decided to try it.

I picked her up, pointed out Santa, moved to the Christmas tree to show her the ornaments, and then pointed to Santa again. She was great with all of that until she figured out what we had in mind, and then it was definitely all over from there. We took one with me still holding her, but it didn't matter - she already knew the plan, so we decided to just let her scream it out on Santa's lap. Santa was a champ, by the way. He was the same Santa that CFA had last year and very sweet.

We returned to our dinner to let her calm down and then watched about 10 other children smile sweetly on Santa's lap (stupid kids). I posted one on FB already, but here are our official Santa 2010 pictures...enjoy!

Let's Twist Again!

The Christmas program was a huge success! This year, it was designed as dinner and a show; I think having dinner really added a fun element, because people were able to just relax and visit with each other. I invited the parents of one of the little boys that I watch, and Steve invited a co-worker and his fiance. I survived with only one embarrassing moment - thankfully, it's too long to describe for the blog.

On to happier memories...our song, "Let's Twist Again" was an absolute blast! Our costumes were horribly unflattering (well, mine was), but we just tried not to look in the mirror after getting changed. Some picture of our group...

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Ashleigh, in the green skirt, sang the solo. She did a great job!

I think Emily bribed someone to be able to wear a V-neck shirt; it fit much better than the other shirts. As you can see, "goldenrod" is not a good color choice for me.

Our program

What's A Girl To Do?

I was all prepared to write about a special moment Bella and I had today. As I was sitting on the stairs, watching her and Rex play in the playroom this morning, she walked up to me, took the toy out of my hand, and wrapped her little fingers around mine to hold my hand. She then gave me the sweetest, most satisfied smile. It was precious. It would have made for a beautiful blogging moment. But, of course...

A few minutes later, I was in the kitchen and heard what sounded like pine cones being smashed against one another. The only place I have pine cones is ON TOP of the dining room table. That's right...I walked in to find this...

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She used the farmer's bench to climb up on the table! How did she figure that out?!? Maybe it wasn't that hard for her mischievous toddler brain, but I really never thought of the bench being a potential hazard. Apparently, she found the pine cones and candle too hard to resist.

It was hard to scold her when I was secretly so impressed that she figured out how to climb up there without dying.

Our "Snow Belle"

Mom Wires sent a box of Christmas goodies this week! (If your mother-in-law doesn't do this, I'm very sorry, but mine's the best.) The box had Christmas cookies, some cute outfits for Bella, our yearly ornament (she buys one for each of us - again, the best), and a Little People Nativity set so that Bellla could put her grubby little hands and mouth on her own Christmas decoration! We took some pictures of Bella in her new PJ's by the Christmas tree. I switched out the PJ pants with thick tights and boots to make it look more like a "day" outfit for the pictures. Now, I have some seriously cute nieces and nephews (I think my sisters-in-law put special chemicals in their food to make them this way), but these pictures are so stinkin' adorable!

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Yes, I gave my child a glass ornament...I was trying to distract her and I didn't think she'd put it in her mouth. Silly, Mommy.

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This one is going on her high school Senior "memories" board one day!

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Her "sweetness" pose

Girls Gone Wise...

I teach the 10th grade girls' class at my church for Sunday School, and I am preparing to do a study with them on the book, Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild. I cannot tell you how unbelievably excited I am about this book. My parents did a great job of communicating to Mel and I about sex and dangers, etc., but I still feel like a lot of the teaching stopped at "don't have sex." In all fairness to my parents, it could have been that my hormonal teenage self was just ignoring the lessons, but still...

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This book covers topics like body language, flirting, setting boundaries, and appearance. It would probably be a good study for a group of women, too, but I am just so excited to teach it to the 10th grade class. I would love to think that 16-year olds are still innocent and naive, but we all know that's just not true. And I really want to talk to them about real-life experiences; not just" don't have sex", but all of the decisions and warning flags that should go off in their minds before they're even at that point. I haven't finished the whole book yet, but I would still highly recommend it to someone with teenage girls. The website, http://www.girlsgonewise.com/, is also an incredible resource.

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Friend Time

I have to post a picture in honor of one of our best friends, Melissa. We were all at Melissa's house on Saturday night to help put up their Christmas tree and decorations (which were gorgeous, by the way!). Melissa (or, Auntie Melissa) usually thinks Bella doesn't like her since she sees Bella at church, and Bella is always cranky and tired. On Saturday night, Melissa and Bella had some fun "toy time" with just the two of them. It was really sweet, and I think Melissa enjoyed getting to spend some time with her when Bella wasn't screaming and clawing for Mommy. Ah, the joys of a toddler!

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Weekend Plans

One week down, only two more to go! I am barely containing my excitement to be in Ohio! Normally, I don't long after cold, snowy weather and gray skies, but this trip means a great road trip with Steve, stopping for dinner at an actual restaurant (or pizza delivery), staying in a hotel, and an entire week to crash with family that we rarely get to see!!!

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Tonight, Steve and I are going to see The Nutcracker. One of our youth group guys won the lead for the toy soldier, so we're going to support him and make this our "Christmas date". I spent yesterday baking, and we're going to visit Steve's widows and widowers (he's a deacon, so they're not his ACTUAL widow) on Saturday morning. :) We're bringing Christmas cookies and poinsettias...very "Christmasy."

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Sunday begins a loooooooong week of choir rehearsals, dance practices, and the Christmas program at church. I'm in a 1950's dance routine for the song, "Let's Twist Again" - complete with poodle skirt and saddle shoes! It promises to be extremely fun and completely humiliating all at the same time.

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Here's a video of Bella on her horse! Hopefully, it will load...

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