Our First Snow!

Happy New Year!  Now that Jeff and I are almost over the flu, Ellen over the tummy-itis that she had and Brenna a milder version of the flu and an ear infection, our life has returned to normal this week.  We've had such mild weather this winter so far, but it's turned cold enough to snow this week.  We had our first snow this morning, but it was a slushy snow and melted almost straight away.  However, there was still enough mushy snow on the car for me to gather a bit in a bowl to bring inside to the girls.  They were so excited!  A little ball of icy snow and they were dancing around the lounge!  More significantly, this was the first time Brenna has seen or touched snow, so I had to take a video of her first experience with it.  Tonight it is supposed to snow overnight for a real snow, so we'll see what happens!

Cookies, Cupcakes and Reindeer

Since we had many cut-out cookies leftover to ice, we invited our friends Gemma and her children, Amelia and Max, over to ice the remaining cookies.

 

Our darling daughter decided it was more fun to disintegrate her cookie instead of icing her cookie, though she loved icing it the day before.

A week or so later, Ellen asked to make Christmas cupcakes. So, like the amazing mommy I am, I made her red velvet cupcakes... from a boxed cake mix! I did, however, also buy Christmas cupcake cases and snowmen chocolates, as requested.

 The finished masterpieces!

 So stinkin' cute!

On Christmas Eve the girls donned their reindeer antlers to play "Reindeer Den"... because reindeers live in dens, duh.  We dined on reindeer food (sliced bell peppers, cucumber, apples and clementines... because that's what reindeer eat... don't question it!), and read Christmas books, including listening to Great Grandma read "The Night Before Christmas" that she sent last Christmas. Snow also fell in the lounge and it was freezing cold... brrr!

Christmas Day

Our Christmas day was filled with mountains of gifts, heaps of wrapping paper and family from afar. Ellen was so excited for Christmas morning, and as much as Ellen and I tried to explain to Brenna that Santa Claus would be bringing some presents,, we're not sure what she truly understood.  However, both girls understand that a couple presents and their stockings are from Santa and the rest of their presents are from family members who love them dearly.

Ellen is showing Jeff her new Tangled DVD from Santa found in her stocking.

 Brenna is hugging her chocolate penguin.

 The girls are opening their stockings (Ellen is sitting behind Brenna in this picture).

 The girls and their stockings.

 Opening more presents.

 Brenna is opening her Minnie Mouse Pony Stable toy from Santa.

Ellen opened her Frozen create-your-own snow globes from Santa.  Actually, Jason and Angela bought it for her, but when we went on the train to visit Santa at the beginning of the month, she asked Santa for two things: Ariel snow globes (she got the Frozen ones, and fortunately didn't complain it wasn't Ariel) and a twirly skirt Cinderella doll.

 It's the twirly skirt Cinderella doll!

Cutie Pie Brenna Boo.

 Color-on Lambie from Doc McStuffins from Grandpa.

 Santa pancakes for Christmas breakfast.

After breakfast we went to the Christmas service at church.  Ellen and Brenna are aware that Christmas celebrates Jesus' birth, not just presents and Santa Claus.

Play-Doh style salon from Mommy and Daddy.

 An Anna doll from Mommy and Daddy.

 Princesses Ellen and Brenna modelling their new tiaras and sparkly dress-up shoes from Mommy and Daddy.

We had our Christmas lunch at about 2:00p.m.  We had ham, buttered carrots, roasted Brussels sprouts, chipolatas (mini sausages), orange and cranberry stuffing balls and glorious potato dauphinoise (creamy, garlicky, cheesey au-gratin potatoes) and salted caramel cheesecake that Ellen helped me to make on Christmas Eve.  I bought posh Green & Black's vanilla ice cream for the girls and for Jeff and me to have with our Christmas pudding later in the evening. 

 At 3:00pm the Queen spoke about light in this dark world and how Christ offers everyone hope.

 On Boxing Day, Brenna opened two remaining gifts while Ellen watched in her new, larger Elsa dress.

 Brenna's new (extremely noisy) Toot Toot garage.

Of course we had a nice Christmas and we hope that one day more family can spend the day with us.

Ellen's First Nativity

Our angel, Ellen, was in her first nativity at preschool this afternoon.  Ellen sang beautifully and we are such proud parents!  Unfortunately, we weren't permitted to take pictures during the performance, so I took a few beforehand.

It was so cute... while I was taking pictures of Ellen, Brenna gradually shuffled her way beside Ellen as if I had forgotten to include her in the picture.

This bad picture was taken as the kids were being seated. Luckily Ellen was in the middle of the room (next to Mrs. Claus) so we could see her during the whole 15-minute performance.

Christmas Cookies

Ellen, Brenna and I baked Christmas cookies today... together... the three of us... my vision of what I've always wanted to do with my children... came true.  Christmas music even played in the background.  Ellen really loved the large gingerbread cookie cutter, but only one (of two) managed not to break, so it was her's.  Having the girls in the kitchen with me can be challenging, but Ellen wanted to learn how to place the cookie cutters around the edge of the rolled-out dough and even taught Brenna how to push down "all the way". I tried a new cut-out cookie recipe today and they turned out really well.

 

 Oh, and Bunny helped, too.

 For some reason I thought Brenna would automatically attempt to spread the icing...

 but she did what any 20-month-old would do and ate most of the icing off the cookie (don't worry, the knife is blunt).

 Ellen decorating her gingerbread man.

 "No, Mom, there's no icing in my mouth!"

 Brenna really enjoyed sprinkling on the sprinkles and gold stars.

 And tasting the sprinkles.

 Ellen's beautiful gingerbread man.  I love how the gold stars are all in a line.

 Our finished creations...