Christmas Day

Happy Birthday, Jesus! Happy Birthday, world's greatest Poppy!

Christmas Day at our house was so much fun. The kids received way too many presents from Santa (so many that they almost didn't fit in our living room). We spent the morning opening gifts and playing with the new dollhouse and new "choo-choo nain." Then the kids and R. watched all of the new movies everyone received and set-up more of the giant train track P. received while I cooked. Later in the afternoon the Stillwells and Mimi and Poppy joined us for dinner. Afterwards we put a candle in Poppy's pie and sang "Happy Birthday." Earlier in the day we sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus. K. reminded me that we shouldn't forget that Christmas is Jesus' birthday.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas! We're off to Florida celebrate with Nana and Uncle C. and Aunt J. Can't wait...

Christmas Eve

Christmas eve is always spent with the Armstrongs... We had a great meal and everyone opened a ton of gifts - we all had a great time. Then, once we returned home it was time for everyone to get their PJs on, read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" and sprinkle K.'s magical reindeer food on the lawn. I love traditions...

Happy Birthday to you... (party #4)

Today P. celebrates the big "2." And tonight P. had an ice cream sandwich with two candles (my cake making abilities are worn out as we near the end of this month). We sang "Happy Birthday" to him six times. Every time we finished he wanted me to relight the candles and "Happy Birthday to you, again...sing it momma!" Once he was dangerously close to touching the flame of a candle. He thought it was hilarious. K. and I almost had heart attacks. It's so hard to believe our little guy is two. Time certainly flies...

December Party #3

Saturday we celebrated K.'s and P.'s birthdays with family and friends at our house. The kids had a great time and I've pretty much perfected my cupcake making abilities, even though I took the easy way out on P.'s cake this year. Last year and this year I made the Williams-Sonoma Vanilla Train Cake for P. (Thanks Nell and Lori for the W-S train cake pan.) Last year's was decorated complete with a Christmas scene (see picture), not this year. This year's was sprinkled with "snow" - at least that's what I told him. He didn't mind. As soon as the song was over and the candles were out, he had a "choo-choo cake" in hand.

Thanks to everyone who came and made it such a special day for my children.

December Party #2

Last Saturday K. celebrated her birthday with a few friends from preschool. They decorated cookies and ate until their sugar levels were off the charts. I think they all had a great time. I know K. did. And she received a ton of great presents. After celebrating K.'s birthday, we headed off to two more parties...Happy Birthday Will and Sydnee!

"Daddy got ran over by a reindeer?"

This is the question K. asked me after I ended a call with R. tonight. I guess the multiple "are you OK?" questions with the occassional "deer" thrown in concerned K. And yes, R. did hit a deer on his way home from work. As soon as he walked in the door K. asked again. Luckily, R. is OK. As you can see, the car did suffer some damage...what a great time of year to hit a deer. Off to the shop we go...

December Party #1

Here are a few pictures from K.'s first of three birthday parties this month. All day she kept saying, "I'm turning 5 today!" We're celebrating with her friends tomorrow. More pictures to come...

BubbleShare: Share photos - Delicious Christmas Recipes.

Happy Birthday, Princess!

Tomorrow our baby girl celebrates her 5th birthday. She told me tonight that she was so excited that she was about to cry (you all know how dramatic the girl is). R. and I are so thankful that we have K. There's never a dull moment with her. She's caring, compassionate, smart, beautiful and full of personality...And she's only 5! We are so proud to call her ours.

Christmas Parade

The town Christmas Parade was Monday night and K's dance class rode a float. I begged K. to sit this year out (she rode in the parade last year, too), but she informed me that she "had to be IN the parade." Couldn't argue with that, even if she had been to the doctor only two hours earlier for double ear infections and a respiratory infection (P also has an ear infection and a respiratory infection). So we went and before the parade began she was ready to come home. You can tell by her expression in the photo, I did manage to get her to smile in a few.

'Tis the Season

Nope, not that season...birthday season. This month alone we'll celebrate five birthdays within the Armstrong family, and Miss 'Melia (the nanny) will also celebrate this month (we consider her a part of our family, too). The fun began last Saturday and will continue until the end of the month...party prep, celebrating the day of the birthday, celebrating the Saturday after the birthday (K) and the Saturday before the birthday (P), celebrating two in one day (Mimi & S.), and even celebrating Christmas day (Poppy). Not to mention, R. and I are celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary on Dec. 18. It goes without saying...December is a busy month.

K's party this weekend will be all about decorating sugar cookies and cupcakes. The treat for all of the children attending are these aprons. Tonight I painted for more than two hours. Maybe next year I'll choose a party favor that requires a little less work...