Christmas Fun!

I'm late getting the Christmas time pics up, but here they are!

How adorable are these little fashionistas?!

This was when we had Riley over for a play date after school one day. Noah was looking for some good tunes on his I-Pad to play for the gang.

Leila and Dea doing a Christmas tree craft.

I brought Leila and Amadea to Noah's Christmas sing-a-long at his school. There was a bake sale at the back of the gym. Suddenly, Amadea and Leila stated that they were very hungry.

Spot Noah in the crowd. It was also PJ day at the school!

Selfie of the singers in the crowd. I also bought them light up reindeer noses in the gym. I love how Amadea's sporting hers on her forehead.

Then we came back and made Christmas cookies!

Drew handed out the baking supplies.

Maryam was so sick, but still found enough energy to help us with the cookies.

This was a few days later, when Maryam was beginning to feel much better. It's so nice when they're back to their old selves after a horrible illness.

Amadea helps with her Play Dough ice cream sundae.

Santa baby.

We had a few extra people over for Christmas cookie decorating day!

Over on the far right is Aidas. He was the very first kid to ever attend the daycare! He started when he was 10 months old, and stayed until he was almost 4. Needless to say, Noah and Aidas are still great buddies. They spent their formative years together. ;)

We also had Thomas for the day! So nice to have him. And Riley! She became pregnant in the morning, and proceeded to have 4 children. Not sure what child she was pregnant with in this photo, but she looks radiant.

We made some ornaments in the afternoon. Aren't they cute?

This is the end of the day, when there were 3 left. Riley requested that I take a photo of them like this.

I guess I'll finish the blog post with a little girl enjoying the outdoors. :)

Ring Around the Rosie

We made a Menorah using a paper plate, a toilet paper roll, a paper towel roll, and lots of tape. I used a pen to poke holes in the top for the "candles" (which were actually straws with red flames taped to the end).

The kids helped to decorate it. Then, every day at either lunch or dinner, we put the appropriate number of candle straws in, depending on which day of Hannukah it was. We sang "On the first day of Hannukah, I put in my Menorah", to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Then we counted only the little candles, "One, Two" (as in the picture below), "Two little ca-andles, plus the Shamash". The Shamash is the tall candle, only used for lighting the others. So, there are 9 candles in a Menorah, but only 8 days of Hannukah. A little confusing for the kids, but I really think our awful, made-up song helped with that! :)

We decorated gingerbread cookies this year, instead of a gingerbread house. I still hope to decorate sugar cookies with the kids next week.

They are always allowed to eat one cookie, and to decorate as many as they want. This is as far as Marcus got with the decorating. Similar with Maryam. At this age, they don't believe in delayed gratification. ;)

This little guy has left our daycare as of Friday. :( But we know he is in great hands and that everyone will love him wherever he goes! We can't wait for him to come back and visit. (And it's only the first day he's been away. Yep, we love him to pieces!)

Drew watched from the sidelines. He is becoming a MUCH happier camper these days! With the exception of nap time. He hates nap time. :)

Ta-da!

Leila and Dea did the number line last week. We started at 1 and counted, up, so they knew spatially where to put the next one. Next time I plan to make the activity a little trickier for them. I think they're ready!

Drew watches, in the stands, again. lol And of course, Maryam (the blur) jumps on the bed, while singing "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" I love these guys!

Drew in the tents!

Drew in the swing! He LOVES nap time, if it's in the swing. ;)

Maryam loves underdoggies on the swing. She can't get enough!

When Drew is not in the swing, he is very active at the playground.

He took off for the hills one day. We all crawled behind him. He's a little adventurer!

I am just in awe of the beautiful weather we've had lately!

Here is one of the cutest firefighters I've even seen. She was running around singing the "Drive the Fire Truck" song we do at music circle. Big brother Noah was getting very irritated at this. Of course, she then made sure to sing a little louder, and a little longer. It was adorable.

This is where the cool kids hang!

And here is a video that is short and sweet! Till next time!