and a partridge in a pear tree

The kids all dressed up after church

I was really trying to get a picture of them together and it was not. going. well.

so you take what you can getI actually love these two
my sweet boy playing nativity. he actually cried when we put it away this weekend. i just loved the lighting in the living room that day. too perfect.


All dressed up for our MOPS Christmas playdate! Ellie is sporting her adorable outfit from Miss Jenny....I mean really. :)



First attempt to get a picture with Santa was at school. That didn't happen because Alex got sick and we had to miss. I was super bummed bc it was going to be free and I could take Ellie to join in.
Second attempt. Our neighborhood park. It was Ellie's naptime so she was out but I thought at least we would get a picture of Alex with Santa. Well, this is what I got when Travis came back. Our buddy Evan went too (which was so fun) but then something happened and there was confusion and then neither boy would sit on his lap. So they stood and told Santa what they wanted. Lil stinkers. You can see Alex really telling him! :) I think he asked for "guys".


The boys did have fun and really enjoyed the carolers. They even got to ring the jingle bells. Third attempt. Mommy ends up paying a rip-off mall Santa for a decent picture. We barely made it (I think I questioned myself a hundred times of why I was torturing myself for this silly picture.) Alex did great! I was so proud of him. The Santa was really good and said all the right things to make him comfortable. Ellie even liked him. She kept looking up at him and staring and then she would look at me. All serious, but no crying! I was so impressed. Of course we took a bunch of pictures and the guy couldnt get them both smiling or looking at the camera at the same time so this was it. Travis and I agreed that next year we better make those free Santa opps work!
Alex's school had all the kids make shirts this year. Too cute if you ask me!
all of his school art hanging in the playroom. The first ones are watercolor trees that I made with him one day. Really easy- use blue painters tape to tape off the tree and then let him paint with watery water colors. He loved pulling the tape off after it dried. You could use this same concept with any thing- I saw it done with ABCs like a letter of the week.

I also wanted to post a really great recipe. There are several nice things about these cookies- first on my list is that they are dairy free, egg free, peanut free! Bonus, for those of you that need it, wheat free too! This was my first experience with Dairy Free Chocolate Chips and I really liked them. Taste just as good, for real. I would not lie about chocolate.
Second, they are easy to make and easy for a toddler to help dump ingredients in. And most importantly, they are good! Of course Alex wouldn't eat them, but I did and I liked them. I think Alex is just not into chocolate yet. Crazy I know. It is just nice to know that we have something we can make for the holidays together.

Chocolate Yummies

1Pkg (6oz) semi sweet chocolate pieces (we used dairy free)
1/3 cup butter or margaine (we use smart balance light)
16 large marshmallows
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup flaked or shredded coconut
2 cups rolled oats

Melt chocolate pieces, butter, and marshmallows in double boiler;stir until smooth. Remove from heat. (chocolate-butter-marshmallow mixture may separate but will hold together when the rest of the ingredients are added) ** I stick this all in the microwave for 45 seconds, stir, and then 30 more seconds. **
Stir in vanilla, coconut, and oats. Mix thoroughly. Drop by teaspoonfuls (tablespoonfuls!!!) on waxed paper...or in your mouth! :)
Refrigerate.