Ward Christmas Party

Sugar

Tonight I made one of my favorite meals, but which no one else really likes.  Jane is pretty much always contrary when it comes to dinner.  She doesn't like things on default.  I know for sure that she truly doesn't like chicken.  Who doesn't like chicken?!?!

Anyway, it's basically whole wheat egg noddles, wilted cabbage, caramelized onions, brown sugar, butter, and salt.  I love it.  It's simple and delicious.  I mean, butter . . . sugar . . . butter . . .

I made Jane try a bite.

J:  I don't LIKE noodles!  (I'm pretty sure she does . . .)
....
J:  I don't LIKE the green stuff!
Me: But that's where all the yummy part is!  That's where the butter and sugar are!
...
J:  But, Mom!!  I don't LIKE sugar!!

Wanna bet, little girl?  Remember Halloween??

Jane could eat graham crackers, milk, grapes, cheese sticks, and pickles for the rest of her life.  Oh, and barbecue sauce.  She likes that.  Maybe I should tell her about the SUGAR in it!  ;)

Physical Education

Audrey has "specials" each week: Music, Art, and P.E.  Her favorite is actually music.  Art is frustrating her lately because she wants to paint all the time and they're not doing much of that right now.  She adores "Coach Kelley" for P.E. (as do all the other kids in the school.  Truly, he's like  a celebrity.)  But lately she's not so into P.E.  After school yesterday I asked her how her day had been.  She told me she had P.E. but that she "hates P.E."  I was surprised and asked her why--didn't she like Coach Kelley?  She said, "I LOVE Coach Kelley.  But I get so hot!  It's like exercising in the desert!!"  I said, "Hmm, that would be pretty hot . . ."  She just looked incredulous and nodded at me--like I was a moron for sending her out to run in the desert three times a week.

Soaked

In other news, Claire soaked my cell phone in a cup of water (along with her graham cracker) for an extended period of time.  We're talkin' a few hours.  If cell phones had feelings, our house would be like a house of horror to them.  None of them ever make it out alive.  And very few last their first year.  :S  Scary!

Circus

A "big screen tv"--I think the ponies and the shark really enjoyed watching Blues Clues with Jane in the privacy of their own home.

Jane wanted to have snack, but before she would let me help her into her chair, she had to run and get something.  She came back with this and told me "Baby eat!"  Then she set her up at the table beside her.  Too cute!

As a side note, this baby has withstood the test of time.  It came with all of the other dollhouse stuff about 4 years ago.  And I am always finding it in the most random places!  It is truly a miracle that it hasn't gotten lost, swallowed, or vacuumed!  Sometimes I won't see it for months, then Claire will fall asleep under the dining room table totally naked (another story) and when I go to put her to bed, I find it tucked away in her little fist.  Then it disappears again for a few months and shows up again in the corner of the under-sink cupboards in our least-used bathroom . . . it's lucky!  

I think what I love most about this picture is that little sunshine sticker on her shirt . . .

Princess Aurora, and Cinderella . . . Cinderella "Dressed in Yella!"  Ha!  She didn't want to be Belle, so Audrey told her that Cinderella dresses in "yella" in "the song Daddy taught us with the hand claps."

Oooooo . . .

Aaaaaaaah . . . 

Work it! 

Oh, and don't forget to notice their matching fans they made . . . one of them is made out of instructions to a game we don't know how to play, and another one is a party invitation with important information on it.  But I didn't have the heart to spoil their perfect DIY accessories!

We did celebrate Christmas this year . . .

I just didn't take any pictures of it.  Dave took this one.  And we took some video of it.  Which I may post someday.  :D

The big gifts this year were:
Dave--closet organizer for his pants and a shoe shine kit
Crystal -- new knives, a watch, and a Rouxbe.com subscription
Audrey -- a huge art kit and a toy chihuahua
Jane -- a box of Disney princess barbies and some dress-ups
Claire -- a Minnie Mouse shopping cart and Little People cars

Having church on Christmas Day was actually really nice.  It helped us remember the reason for the season much better.

I didn't do much as far as traditions.  But David and I decided that it was time to start our annual Hunt Family Nativity Play.  We have enough people now that it would be fun.  :)  I think the girls would really love it.

Because I have been given much

A few weeks ago, we watched the Disney short "The Little Match Girl" with the girls, so they could spend a moment thinking about our responsibility to help others at Christmas (and all year round).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUSzQBaWq0Q

Super sad.

So, this morning, Audrey leaves half a bowl of cereal on the table and Dave asks her "hey, don't you remember that some kids don't have food, like the little match girl? Don't you think we shouldn't waste our food?

She runs away without a second thought.

A few minutes later Jane decides she's done as well. But before Dave can start his lecture, she jumps down from the table and waves one of her little hands dismissively in the air and says "I'm done, daddy. Give mine to the little match girl."