Who needs Christmas presents when you can have Christmas decorations? I always, always look forward to setting up the decorations, but this year I was especially excited. I guess I wore off on the girls too because they have been absolutely LOVING the decorations . The singing Santa (which Hazel has been scared of the past 3 years) plays constantly any time it's down from the high shelf. Eliza especially loves that thing.

Giving Santa a big hug. And I love how she posed for the camera:)

I love watching how happy it makes them. This video is a bit long, but you get the picture within the first few seconds...

Then there is the small fiber optic tree in their bedroom. Any time Eliza sees the tree she signs "tree" in hopes we will turn it on for her. Bedtime the past week has been a breeze as the girls drift off to sleep staring at their tree. Every time I turn it on Hazel says, "Mom, it's like happily ever after!" And you know what, I have to agree. It's wonderful to celebrate the Christmas season remembering the true meaning of Christmas without being wrapped up in all the gifts. Sitting in front of the tree with my girls in awe is perfect - just like happily ever after.

Tonight little miss dress up asked me for a Christmas costume. Ummm okay. I came up with the Sugar Plum Fairy (she is most definitely a Christmas character).

The Sugar Plum Fairy

Bottom line - I love Christmas and I love Christmas decorations.

It Makes me Smile...

Life with two young kids is so busy sometimes. It seems the floor is never clear of toys and we are always, always running a few minutes late. Some days I can't wait for bed time. But then I remember how short these year are. And how much I will miss my children needing me, and talking my ear off, and constantly wanting to be held. I never want to forget these special years and moments. So here are a few of the moments that have made me smile this week...
 
Hazel:

"I NEVER like mullets. EVER!"

Last night during her prayer Hazel prayed "Bless my Cinderella dress not to get more holes so I can go to the ball."

Recently she's been asking me lots of "Mom, have you ever..." questions. Normally she asks so many that they drive me crazy, but I had to laugh this morning when the first words out of her mouth were"Mom, have you ever droven a house?"

The other evening we were discussing dinner plans. Hazel said she wanted to go to a restaurant but I told her no because we were saving money to go to California for Christmas. She replied, "We can just use the money in your wallet then fill it up again when we're done."

Last night she was playing mermaids in the tub and trying to get Eliza involved too. I loved this moment because I remember playing mermaids with my sister in the backyard kiddy pool all the time.

ELIZA:

Eliza never cries when she wakes up and wants out of her crib. Instead I hear the sweetest "MA! MOM! MA!" from her bedroom.

We took away her pacifier this week and with the exception of one rough night she did great!

Last night I made spagetti and she wanted seconds! Eliza eats like a bird especially at dinner so for her to want more of any savory type food is huge. Keep it up little girl and maybe we can get some meat on your bones.

 On Friday while I was teaching ballet for Hazel and her friend, Eliza plopped her little bum on the floor with us and tried to stretch too. She would learn back and put her arms up. So cute!

Today in church she hummed along to the songs.

One more that makes me smile... I love how much Mike is enjoying teaching. He is loving it more than even he thought he would. So glad he's found his calling in life and a job that he loves! Good thing too since he has plenty of school ahead of him.

Halloween

We had a fun Halloween. Hazel of course was ecstatic for a holiday that meant she was allowed to dress up as a princess all day. Here she is dancing and singing "So This is Love." I love that girl's love for princesses! 

 Eliza looks up to Hazel so much she has started enjoying dressing up as well. Here's little Miss Belle and Daddy. During Trunk-or-Treat, Eliza sat with me in the car because she wasn't feeling well. I thought she'd just want to sit and eat a sucker. Instead she quickly picked up on how to pass out the candy and helped the entire time! (Also, check out the blue lips)

 When it came time to carve pumpkins no one was surprised by Hazel's choice...

 Not wanting to be outdone, Daddy showed Eliza some patterns and she "picked" Batman, haha. Their pumpkin turned out great too!

The last Halloween adventure was Trick-or-Treating. Mike teaches institute on Wednesday nights and couldn't come so we went with some friends from church. At one house they had a dance area set up in their driveway complete with lights and fog. I assumed Hazel would be scared but she walked right up and danced her heart out for a few minutes. Cracked us all up. Eliza was all about the candy. She had to have one piece in each hand, and wouldn't put any in her bucket until we were at the next house and she got a new piece:)

Happened in to Homeschooling

Since Hazel is 3 1/2 going on at least 5 she was dying to start school in September. So I figured we'd put her in preschool. That is until I checked out the price! Um yeah - this graduate student family cannot afford to pay someone that much to teach Hazel colors, shapes, and letters. So, I decided we'd do a little home preschool instead. A friend in the ward was wanting something for her 4-year old but was very pregnant (and now has a cute 2 week old baby) so I invited her son to join us.

Two days a week Thomas comes over for preschool and both of the kids LOVE it. Hazel seriously wakes up every morning asking if it's preschool today. I've also really enjoyed teaching them. I find it too easy to get wrapped up in cleaning, organizing, running errands, etc, etc that I feel like I don't take enough time to just play with my kids. So preschool has been great for that. Eliza loves it too and often watches what's going on or participates in her own way.

Hazel and Thomas as Prince and Princess during Fairy Tale week.

Showing off paper bag pumpkins from this week's theme.

 But wait, our home school adventures aren't over yet. Hazel also wanted to start taking ballet classes. Yay! (Let's be honest, I've been planting the seed for some time, but she genuinely wanted to to do). I checked out studios in the area and prices. What I was seeing just wasn't that great. Either the teachers for pre-ballet weren't highly qualified or I didn't like the feel of the studio. Then I thought to myself, why pay money for less than stellar ballet classes when I could teach her. Haha! So, I rounded up a few girls her age and stated a little home ballet class (it's easy to round up 3 and 4 year old for free ballet lessons).  Obviously it won't take her far, but she's loving it! Her "best friend" from church Leah comes and it makes Hazel as happy if not more to see her as it does to do the ballet class. And once again, I'm loving teaching ballet (and saving money)! So our year of home schooling has definitely been a win win.

Love the bun and leotard!

Hazel as a butterfly.