November and December were busy months, as I’m sure they were for you too.  Since the weather has been so amazing, we visited the park quite a bit and even made it to the zoo and the Children’s Museum.  We celebrated Daddy’s birthday on the 20^th and then headed to Lake Monroe to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with the Smith side of the family.  We even had our first annual Smith Family Turkey Bowl (a football game)!  Of course the weather was unbelievably beautiful as it has been even through Christmas!  I think we have worn our winter coats only two times so far.  We went to pick out our Christmas tree on one of the two coat-wearing days. 

Advent was particularly nice for us this year since Emma is old enough to comprehend the season leading up to the birth of Christ.  We were able to do different things as a family to make the season more real for her.  We had our Advent wreath and calendar.  Steve also made a wooden manger and we had a bowl of straw on our table.  We told Emma that we are awaiting the birth of Christ and we need to prepare our hearts for His coming.  In order to do that we told her that every time she did a good deed or was kind in any way she could put a piece of straw in the manger to make it nice and soft for baby Jesus.  We weren’t sure how long that was going to last, but much to our surprise, it lasted the entire Advent.  It became very important to her.  Of course whenever she made a bad choice she had to remove a piece of straw and honestly, that didn’t have to happen but a handful of times. 

It is so difficult these days to fight the commercialism and teach your children why on earth we are celebrating Christmas at all.  Sometimes it’s nearly impossible for the Christ Child to compete with the jolly plump Santa who is sitting in every shopping mall and is on the television constantly.

On the feast of St. Nicholas, we had the girls put their shoes outside of their doors for St. Nick to fill with treats.  Emma picked the biggest boots she could find and Ruthie grabbed her boots as well.  It was really cute.

Mid December we went to a Christmas party with Dt, Opa and cousins.  The kids had a terrific time making crafts and even watching an animal show that ended with the introduction of a real reindeer!  That was a hit.

While the kids were in the car ready to go to Christmas Eve Mass, I quickly went around the house and put the baby Jesus figures in each of the Nativity scenes we have around.  I then put a baby Jesus in Emma’s manger and put it under the tree.  As soon as we came home, Emma ran to the tree and saw that all of her good deeds had paid off.  She was so excited!

Emma asked for a violin and a toy trumpet this year for Christmas.  We found a toy/real violin for her, which she just flipped over.  She looked so natural picking it up and trying to play it.  She is also so careful with it and keeps it in the case.  Ruthie of course had to get an instrument as well so she got a purple recorder which she toots all over the house.  It is adorable!

Just before Christmas, Sittoo and Giddoo came for a quick but wonderful visit.  The girls were so sad to see them go, but know they will be back soon for a longer visit when little sis is born!

On the 21^st, we went to Dt and Opa’s for the annual chapel service and Christmas present opening.  It is so special to see the traditions continue each year and to now be able to have my children participating.  We start in the main hall with a prayer and each of the kids take a piece of the Nativity and we process up the steps to the chapel singing and the kids place their Nativity piece in the manger.  The story of the birth of Christ is read and then we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.  We go around the room and mention what we are thankful for most from the past year.  Dt and Opa then lead the kids down to open gifts.  It is a memorable evening.

This month Emma began sleeping in the top bunk of an amazing bunk bed we found in the basement of Dt and Opa’s.  They had to be restored but are just beautiful.  Anyway, Emma absolutely loves going to sleep now.  She and Ruthie will eventually share the room when the baby moves in to Ruthie’s crib.  We have put another crib beneath Emma’s lofted bunk for Ruthie when the time comes.

Emma is very excited about the new baby coming (not as excited as Mommy is to get the baby delivered!).  We’ll keep you posted!  Happy New Year!

 

Emmaisms (misspelled words are NOT typos :)

“Look, Mom!  I have a frickle (freckle) just like you!)

“Mom, I look fantaskit, don’t I?”

“Ruthie is absolutely adorable!”

I asked Emma to do something and she said, “Sure, Mom!  Did you hear that, Mom?  I said, ‘Sure, Mom!’  I think I deserve a treat for that!”

Emma is big on dressing herself.  She has a very eclectic sense of style.  She likes to layer and of course top things off with a hat, scarf, sunglasses, etc.

We were in the car driving and Emma started talking about the word temptation.  While I was trying to come up with an acceptable definition for her, she blurted out, “Mom, temptation is when someone struggles with something they just can’t handle on their own.”  I then said, “Well, Emma, what do they do when they can’t handle their struggle?”  She said, “They have to ask God for help.  That is the only way they can get through it.”

 

Ruthisms:

She counts to 13!

She says, “Emma, whRyou?”

She is also using 2 word sentences such as, “More water.”

She is a shoe fanatic.  She received a box of shoes for Christmas.

She also enjoys tucking a purse strap under her chin, walking to the door, opening the door and saying, “Bye bye, Mommy!”

We use a naughty corner for discipline for Emma (which thankfully is used very rarely).  Ruthie however thinks it is really cool to go stand in the naughty corner and peek out and wave!  She probably won’t find it as fascinating when she is placed there in a year or two!