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Every Christmas since Maya’s second Christmas we have made a gingerbread house with her. I usually buy the pre-built one that you just have to decorate since it is the decorating with candy part that Maya enjoys the most. Each year we have so much fun making our little gingerbread house. And, each year they look better and better.
Maya’s favorite part is probably when she get to sneak candies as she watches Lorne get the house all ready for her job, the placing of the candies. Plus, she likes when she gets a few tastes of icing since Lorne usually sneaks a few tastes and can’t get away with it without letting her have a taste too 
Anna couldn’t really be of much help this year, but she did have fun watching all the action. I’m sure next year she’ll be right in the middle of it all causing trouble.
Maya was pretty happy with the finished product. I think this is the best one so far. It looks pretty darn good!
Every year since Maya was born I have been determined to do photo Christmas cards and every year I end up procrastinating and then just sending out plain old regular cards. This year I was determined not to procrastinate. I was determined to send out adorable Christmas cards of my beautiful girls to all our friends and family.
And guess what…I did it. I took some pictures of my girls dressed in their pretty Christmas dresses in front of the tree, made a photo card online and ordered the appropriate amount. The cards should be arriving today or tomorrow and will be promptly mailed out to our dearest friends and our family so they can enjoy a little Christmas cheer care of my lovely little girls. I’m so proud of myself for not procrastinating this year. I’m so glad I finally got my butt in gear early enough that I won’t have to send out generic Christmas cards again this year.
The photo shoot was chaotic and crazy but I did get some really cute shots of the girls. Here is a little sneak peak at some of the adorable shots I got (and these aren’t even the ones that made the cut!).
Now that I’ve managed to do it once I’m going to be determined to do it every year. Let’s see if I can keep it up 
Christmas is my favorite holiday. I have such fond memories of my Christmases growing up. Many wonderful family memories warm my heart this time of year. My mom was a big Christmas decorator. December hit (well usually the later weeks of November) and our house was transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Pictures on the wall were replaced with Christmas decorations, the tree was put up (a couple of years there were even 2 trees!), Christmas goodies were baked, Christmas books filled our book shelves and Christmas music filled the air.
I always get excited when Thanksgiving arrives because it means I get to start decorating for Christmas This past weekend our house went through the holiday transformation.
Christmas lights were put up.
The tree was put up and decorated.
Bits of Christmas cheer appear in little places throughout the house.
The box of Christmas books has made its appearance, it didn’t take long for them to find themselves scatters around the family room floor.
Soon the sounds of Christmas music will be heard in our house almost daily and the smell of Christmas baking will fill our house. Looking forward to the weeks ahead as Maya and I make a few Christmas crafts together and we make our annual gingerbread house.
Busy, busy, busy. Lorne’s parents are arriving tomorrow for a 5 day visit and to spend Thanksgiving with us. Which means I’m super busy getting everything ready for their arrival. My house needs cleaning, laundry needs to be done. groceries need to be purchased. Between cleaning and grocery shopping and general business I forget to stop and remember that this week is about giving thanks and remembering what we have in our lives to be thankful for. That is until I see these two faces in passing as I’m running around the house vacuuming and dusting and organizing.
I see my two beautiful girls smiling up at me and I remember in a heartbeat that they are what I am thankful for. I’m thankful to have two wonderful daughters that fill up my heart. I’m thankful for a husband who makes it so I am able to stay home and raise my girls. I’m thankful that I get to be their mom and his wife. I’m thankful for my sweet, quiet, beautiful life with my wonderful little family.
We’ll be busy enjoying each other and the company of Lorne’s parents this week. I hope you all have a wonderful time with your own families this Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Maya has been dying for Anna to be old enough to actually play with her. Every day she talks about how much fun it will be when Anna is a “bigger baby” and can play with her princesses with her. Seriously, when that does happen, my heart, oh my heart, it will melt completely.
Until Anna is that “bigger baby” Maya is making do with playing with her the best way she can. Which, either involves just playing beside her and pretending Anna is involved or reading to Anna or playing with Anna’s baby toys with her. It is adorable to watch them interact. Anna adores her sister, and smiles whenever she sees her. Giggles and squeals abound when the two of them really get going.
The other day I put Anna in the doorway jumper for a few minutes to give her a little something different to do. Maya decided that it was time that Anna learned all about the world of dress up. When I said Anna may be too young to play dress up her response was “Mom, Anna isn’t too young, she’s just the right size”. How could I deny her the fun of dressing up her sister in tiaras, fairy wings and princess trucker hats with a response like that
I’m not too sure Anna enjoyed herself as much as Maya had hoped, but Maya sure did have fun. Oh the fun these two are going to have together.