Getting Ready for Christmas!

We have been busy doing all the things you do before Christmas.  I can't believe Christmas is in just two days.  Where did the month of December go?! 

We took the kids to see Santa last Sunday.  They decided to go up together and bring their lists with them.  Drew was concerned he would forget to tell Santa everything he wanted so he wanted to bring his list with him.

Kayley didn't say anything.  She just showed Santa her list!

Posing for a free picture after I declined to
pay for the official picture with Santa

The kids and I made sugar cookies today.  Kayley lasted about 7 minutes, but Drew hung with me almost the entire time.  He is definitely Mommy's little helper. 

Hard at work

Also hard at work

He might have stuck is finger in the frosting a time or two

She hates baking as much as I do!

Or maybe she is crying because I told
her to stop eating all the cookies

And we ended the day with a gingerbread house.  Neither lasted long at this activity so we rushed through it to be finished.  That may be our first and last gingerbread house!

Our masterpiece!

Iowa Basketball...in Peoria

The Iowa Women's Basketball team played Bradley last Saturday night so Andy and I took the kids to the game.  Bradley was trying to promote the game so tickets were only $1 each and it worked because they had record attendance.  I think there were more Iowa fans than Bradley fans.  We do travel well!  Unfortuntely, Bradley's 3 point shooters were on fire and Iowa was flat.  Bradley beat Iowa.  We ended up leaving shortly after the beginning of the second half.  The kids were getting restless and the game wasn't that fun to watch at that point! 

Christmas Program at Preschool

Drew and Kayley had their Christmas programs at preschool on Friday.  Overall, I think they had a great time. 

Last year, Kayley cried as soon as she saw me, ran over to me and refused to take part in anything.  This year, she smiled proudly and stood with her class and sang until the boy next to her touched her leg.  Between songs, she told on him to her teacher for everyone to hear.  Then he pushed her leg a little harder and she burst into tears and ran to her teacher and sat with her teacher for the rest of the program.  Little bit of drama from that girl. 

Things looked up when Santa made a visit.  She went up and got her present, but didn't want to get too close.  Santa brought her a princess book of stories and we have been reading it over and over and over!

Getting ready to sing "Jingle Bells"

Safely on Ms. Collette's lap

Santa reading the Threes class a Christmas story

Getting her present

Last year, Drew came and stood with us while the rest of his class sang.  He wanted nothing to do with it.  Notice the theme with our kids?!  This year he was so excited to sing for us!  He had a great time.

Santa brought him a book on space.  He recently learned about space at school and is constantly telling us everything he knows about space.  He wasn't as into his book as Kayley was hers.  He seemed to already know most of what was in it.  We read it once and he hasn't asked for it since.  I hope Santa has better luck with the rest of Christmas!

Angels getting ready for the program

Listening to Santa read a Christmas story

Blurry picture with Santa

I have tried for two days to post the videos of Drew singing, but they won't load.  I'll have to get my IT guy to help me out!