Daddy's Girls

KatieJane lost her first tooth last night and between that and Lillian losing 3 this month, the tooth fairy has been busy!  It was really hurting her so she had Matt pull it even though he told her it could use a few more days. It hurt a little bit but she was too excited to care. She was still jumping up and down about it this morning. I told her she seemed more excited about the tooth fairy coming and bringing her some money than she was about Santa! She’s been waiting forever to lose one so she really feels like a big kid now. 

We decided years ago that we are not traveling anymore for Christmas Day. It’s too hard to try to cart presents and everything home after Santa comes so we decided to see family the days leading up and spend the actual day at home. Normally that means we’re in Vivian until late on the 24th but with the way everyone else’s schedule was we celebrated at the camp on the 23rd this year. So our Christmas Eve was very low key. We came home about noon so that I could cook and clean. About 4:00 we opened gifts from each other.  I have been so excited for months to tell this about this! We’re going to Mexico in March and taking them swimming with the dolphins. Lillian said it was her favorite gift! Katie is excited but with no instant gratification I’m not sure it was her favorite.  We went to 5:00 church and the candlight singing of Silent Night is one of my favorite childhood memories and something I want the girls to experience. I remember always being moved by it and it allowing the excitem

Yesterday was our Christmas celebration with the “deer camp family.” We drove straight there from Baton Rouge for an afternoon of cousin giggles as they look at all of the presents Cookie decorating for Santa And family time The kids played for the afternoon and were patient until it was present time. Kids of all ages got some really nice surprises. But the best part is always just being together! 

We pulled out of our driveway at noon Friday to go down to Baton Rouge to celebrate Christmas with my side of the family. We got there just in time to help set up for the big family party. We had 17 adults and 5 kids all over for a dinner of ham, fried turkey, au gratin potatoes and a veggie casserole followed with Dad’s pound cake for dessert. It was a group effort of everyone bringing something and it was delicious! Dinner was followed by the kids opening gifts from nana plus their great aunts and uncles. Then we sent them outside while the adults played games- there was a game where you guess the Christmas carol from emojis, a white elephant exchange and trivia all complete with prizes.  Saturday morning Matt left with Dad and Ryan to go woodcock hunting. It’s become their annual tradition and they always enjoy the time together. Matt got a limit of 3, Ryan got a couple, and Dad said he had no need to clean his gun. 😉  While they were gone we took the kids to the park and everyone

Tomorrow is really the last day but they aren’t going because we’re leaving for Baton Rouge directly after my morning closing. They are missing Polar Express Day but got to go to their class parties. There were snacks, games, crafts and lots of excitement.  I’m Katie’s room Mom so I had to stay in her class but I did manage to pop in to Lilli’s room for a few minutes to say hi. Yaya was there to watch all the fun and I was so thankful. I’m sure she was busy with her friends but I know she would have been upset if no one was there for her. Thanks Yaya! The rest of the week has been good too. Sunday Kelli and I took Lily and Lillian to see the Jim Henson Christmas special in theaters. Katie wasn’t interested so she and Matt did some Christmas shopping and went out to eat. Both girls were happy with what they chose to do. Of course being the week before Christmas I have a million things to do. But it’s one of those times that you hear God laughing because as I was helping with a kindergar

This morning was our favorite Christmas tradition... Breakfast with Santa at Jubilee Zoo. Lillian was supposed to go to her art class party but because we weren’t able to go see Santa last weekend with KJ sick she decided to skip. She said several times she made the right decision. Between feeding animals, big and small... Feeding ourselves... Making a new “friend” (Like Build A Bear)  Having a snowball fight And meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus themselves!! It’s the Christmas activity they enjoy the most. At the 1st of the month I was looking up other things in nearby cities and gave them the choice but they wanted to go to this more than anything. I know one day they will outgrow it but for now it is definitely a fun way to spend a Saturday morning! HoHoHo! 

Both girls had their Girl Scout Christmas parties tonight and they were insane! I didn’t even stay but the 30 minutes total I was there during drop off and pick up was enough to give me anxiety. 😉 And I usually don’t mind a crowd of kids. But that was a lot of little girls! Katie’s was at the church where they usually meet and Lillian’s was at her troop leaders house. There was dinner, games, gift exchange, and lots of laughter.  Girl Scouts has been a really great experience and I’m so glad we’re doing it. They love it and I love that they are making new friends but also have some of their old ones with them too. And they teach great values- what a sweet touch they added for the Moms.  Merry Christmas to all! 

Christmas time is a busy time for everyone. Between cooking, shopping, wrapping, parties... there is always something to do. KatieJane was out of school for 6 days with waking pneumonia last week so I used the time at home to get started on some of those things. I made craft stick frames for her class to decorate during their party, wrapped gifts (which isn’t always easy with a cat), worked on neighbor and client gifts, babysat Josie...  Plus still had the normal day to day things like art class.  Once she was better we met Yaya at Mall St. Vincent for our annual picture with Santa and dinner at Piccadilly.  The girls sat and talked with Santa for awhile.  She was well just in time to go back to school and win the first round of the American Heritage poetry contest  Lillian had a big week too because she played “Grace” in a scene from Annie at Cafe Tap. She did so good and we are proud of both of our girls! 

Matt is a good husband everyday. Not to be sappy but He really does do things every day that make me know he loves me. Sometimes it’s really simple like the way he said hello when he gets home. But last night he went above and beyond. I mentioned in my last post that I was going to have to miss my neighbors girls night because of Katie’s sickness. I had a babysitter lined up but had to cancel because the doctor said she really didn’t need to be around anyone that she hadn’t been around already. So I was prepared to stay home but I got a text from Matt saying he would be here. He drove in for a few hours so that I could go to the party while he kept the kids. He said normally in these situations (when it’s duck season) I get the short end of the stick without complaint. So this time he was going to take it. And I have to give credit where it is do because it was really very sweet of him. On top of him coming here, he handled dinner. And on top of that when I walked in the kitchen was cl

It’s funny how you can have a zillion things on your to do list and one of your babies needs you and it all gets dropped without a 2nd thought. That’s Mom life and I wouldn’t have it any other way! This week all really started last weekend. We went to Christmas in Roseland with Kelli and her kids on Saturday.  We had a great time and the lights were beautiful as usual but Kathleen was complaining of a pain in her side to the point where I even googled where your appendix is. That search turned out to be the opposite side so I didn’t think anything of it and sent her to school Monday. I was volunteering on Monday morning and could tell by the look on her face that she felt awful so I checked her out when I got done and brought her straight to the doctor. During the routine check they could feel her spleen and decided it was most likely mono and said she was out for the week. I have a house under contract and 1 million things to do for Christmas but all of those plans were dropped.  (She

I was woken up at 2:15 this morning by KatieJane saying it was time to get up. She was so excited because Lillian has been saying all week that Coco usually comes on the 1st and she knew that was today. (What does that say about what we have to look forward to on Christmas morning???) I convinced her to go back to sleep but at 5:30 we were back up and waiting for Lillian to wake up. She was not disappointed by what she found! “I’m Back” in M&Ms... how fun is that?? There was even a note from Santa saying it was ok to eat M&Ms before breakfast. And as usual she also filled the advent calenders and today was light up necklaces and more candy. That Coco!! It’s looking like Christmas around here. We’ve got a few outside decorations out and the rest of the lights will be hung this weekend.  There’s new artwork hanging from Lillian’s art class She also got to go to the Nutcracker with 3000!!! Other 3rd graders from Shreveport/Bossier yesterday  We did some toy for tots shopping last