Christmas is so magical with you. We spent so many nights driving around looking at Christmas lights- your eyes would just light up, even if the house had a simple strand or two- you loved seeing any lights at all. We spent so many hours singing and dancing to Christmas music (your favorites this year were I want a hippopotamus for Christmas, The little drummer boy, frosty, and Rudolph.) mama and you had several baking days and you would always suggest turning in Christmas music, then you would say "that'd be a good idea." So mama would turn on kids Christmas station and we would laugh and sing along. Making memories like that are so important - I have so many wonderful memories from my childhood and I want you to have the same. My parents didn't have the most money growing up but that never mattered to them or us- we had such a happy home and I want you to look back and smile about your childhood like mama does hers. You had a lot of fun making sugar cookies- you never took a bite of one (neither did mama, I don't like sugar cookies either) but you loved using the cookie cutters, helping me frost them, and pouring ridiculous amounts of sprinkles on each one. We made Nancy (your daycare provider) two large containers of goodies...when we were making the Reese's cookies (that you love) you told me that maybe nancy could make her own Reese's cookies and you would keep these. Ha. You kept some but nancy definitely got her cookies too.

You helped mama wrap a million presents - I smiled when I remembered how my Mom would corral us when we were trying to help when she wrapped. She would fold the paper and give us the important job of holding it down

So she could tape it. Thanks for the tip, mom. That was your super important job this Christmas too ;) 

Every year, Auntie takes the girls shopping at the Dollar Tree and they choose our presents for everyone. This was the first year I took you to do the same. Mama has two weeks off of work for the holidays but Daddy does not- so sadly, he missed out on this adorable shopping trip! You chose Planes wrapping paper and Ninja Turtle name tags that way everyone knew they were your gifts. You were so excited to shop- you were adamant that you were going to carry the shopping basketball by yourself, but that lasted about twenty seconds ;) I had the greatest time doing this with you- I think some of your gifts were so incredibly random but you were so proud and excited of each one...the randomness made them that much more special! Daddy got a blue loofah...when I asked if that was for a girl or a boy...you said "that's for a man!" Poppy got shampoo (the fact that poppy is bald made mama laugh inside.) Uncle Ezra got a large mirror, Auntie got a green bird, Kendalyn got a toy guitar, Kassidy got a rhino toy that makes sounds when you too it over, Kam got the same thing but in a tiger form, Aunt Sheena got a yellow bird, and uncle David got a green cup. "Uncle Dave will really love this." Was what you said as you chose it. In line to pay, you decided you needed to get mama "hand polish" so you chose a bright pink polish for me and a toy motorcycle for yourself. We came home and wrapped them up immediately :) 

Daddy did hi infamous Christmas Eve shopping, so you and me went to Grinchmas" with auntie, uncle Ezra, and the girls. It was a church program that was based around the grinch ...absolutely adorable! You were in awe! I so wish our church did big productions like that...it was definitely amazing. 

Christmas morning, we woke you up and you were so excited to see if Santa had came! You had set out cookies and milk for him the night before and you said you were going to try and listen for him. When we woke you up, you told us that you didn't think he had came because you dint hear him. However, when you made it to the living room and saw all the presents under the tree...you could not have been anymore excited! You ran to see if Santa had eaten your cookies- which he had! Dusty was also sitting there in he cookie plate so in sure he helped Santa eat the incredibly sprinkled sugar cookies ;). Our fireplace doors were still open from Santa coming down the chimney and get this... There was a piece of santas coal that must have gotten snagged and was stuck in the door!!! You were just certain he was going to come back for it. Santa had also left his magic Christmas glitter on the fireplace. Amazing!!!!! 

You were definitely spoiled this year - not just at our house but everywhere!!! At our house you got a big slide for the basement, lots and lots of toys, puzzles, movies, books, your stocking was over flowing with candy! We had a brunch at poppy's house which was so nice and relaxing. There was a million presents there for you too- talk about sensory overload. We joked that you were going to have a heart attack if you didn't slow down a bit, I had to tell you a few times to sit down and take some breaths. You were so cute! You did not quite understand that other people had presents to open too though...you were just running around trying to help everyone open their presents, you wanted to here every one of your presents out of their boxes and play with everything immediately. ( Poppy bought you a big batman play set which seems to be the Christmas hit this year. We have spent many hours playing with it since.) after Poppy's, we went to great grandma kathys where you had even more presets, and then great grandma party's for EVEN MORE!!!! By the time we got home around 8, mama and you were easy to crash. Which is exactly what we did. What a long but wonderful day!  

The Adventures of Dusty

Day 1: Toilet Papered our Living Room
Day 2: Dusty was sitting out with a tea cup full of milk and opened up your favorite breakfast - chocolate chip muffins. You caught him just in time though before he was able to eat anything!
Day 3:Dusty was fishing goldfish crackers out of the bathroom sink - he caught three!
Day 4: Dr. Dusty had a stethoscope on and was checking Mickey;s heart.
Day 5: That ornery little elf was sitting in the bathroom on the christmas tree - he had put christmas bows all over the bathroom mirror!
Day 6: Listen to this! Dusty colored, cut, and pasted a mustache onto your picture!
Day 7: Dusty put streamers across the hallway entrance so you had to break through them to get into the livingroom - SILLY DUSTY!!!!

Day 8: Buzz Lightyear and his Army-Men friends must have gotten tired of Dusty's ornery shenanigans - we found him taped to the wall while Buzz and the Army Men surrounded him. You were not very happy - you kicked over the army men and threw buzz on the stove to "cook" him. YIKES!
Day 9: Dusty turned our bananas into MINIONS!!! We found him sitting on top of them holding the permanent marker.
Day 10: We found Dusty sitting on top of your Woody remote controlled racecar - he apparently was racing Lightning McQueen last night and WON! Buzz and him must have reconciled their friendship because he was controlling the remote control and helped Dusty to win! :)
Day 11: We found that bad little elf in the bathroom with shaving cream on his face and your Daddy's razor - oh my!
Day 12: Every morning, you help make Mama's coffee. Dusty was trying to steal your job! We found him by my Keurig trying to make some coffee!
Day 13: Dusty was in the bathroom sitting on your Lightning McQueen potty...he had pooped marshmallows!!!!!!!
Day 14: Dusty decorated the dining room with christmas lights! They started on the kitchen floor and we followed the trail to the dining room - they were wrapped all around the table, chairs, and chandeliers! You loved it!!!
Day 15: Dusty and his friends (Mickey Mouse, Kitty Kat, and a Snowman) were playing Candyland this morning.
Day 16: Dusty tried to rob your piggy bank. We found him in the living room with your blue piggy bank and he had gotten some of your change out - we caught him just in time! We put it all back in your bank. Bad Dusty!
Day 17: Dusty cornered Rudolph with your marshmallow gun.
Day 18: I woke up and could not find my glasses anywhere - I woke you up and told you that I had lost them. You said "Mama, you need those!" So we woke up and walked around the house to find them...DUSTY had taken them and was wearing them as reading glasses! He was reading a book to all of his friends. You were so happy to have helped find my glasses.
Day 19: After waking you up, you told me that I had something all over my face. That bad little elf had drew ALL OVER Mama's face - he put spots all over my face and gave me whiskers. I looked like a cat!!!! You laughed and laughed!
Day 20: Dusty turned three rolls of toilet paper into a snowman! Dusty the Snowman!
Day 21: We found Dusty in the living room riding your bike!!!!
Day 22: OH MY GOODNESS! Dusty took all of your underwear and decorated the Christmas tree with them!!!!!!

Day 23: Dusty made you cinnamon rolls for breakfast! He said they were from the North Pole! 

Day 24: Silly Dusty crawled into your race car bed last night- we found him all warm and comfy under your covers and sound asleep on your pillow. (You were comfy in mama's bed) 

Day 25: Dusty bought you pajamas to wear and he wrapped them up for you! However, he must have gotten a little too excited bc he started to unwrap them himself- we found him halfway inside your present! 

Day 26: He was sitting on the milk and cookies plate you left for Santa. He must have helped Santa eat all those delicious sugar cookies you made him :) 

Winter is here! Not officially - that is not for a few weeks - but the winter cold has certainly arrived. 

Daddy and Poppy went on a hunting trip a few weeks back - we had a fun weekend just the two of us. We spent a lot of time with your girls and a lot of time lounging around together. Also, while he was gone - we celebrated Kassidy's birthday party with her friends at the skating rink! Daddy was upset that he was going to miss your first time skating - and I will be honest...he certainly missed something special. I find myself thinking of you on that day and I still cannot help but smile to myself. You had the time of your life. You spent most of your time chasing Uncle Ezra and Kambree around - you sure love them. You had on little fisher price skates and the skating rink has little "walkers" that are to help little one's skate - they are just made of PVC pipe but they worked wonders for you. You skated your little heart out - I have this image of you "skating" around and dancing to the music - it was obvious that you felt like such a big kid out there. It makes me smile but it certainly makes me sad to think about - time has really gone by too fast. I cannot believe you will be four next month - it just truly feels impossible. Anyhow, back to our solo weekend.. Another thing you really enjoyed was baking! Mommy and you decided to surprise Daddy and make him his favorite cookies. You are at the age where you just love to help so you helped with every single step and we ate a lot of the dough in the process... You could not have been more excited to give Daddy his Resses peanut butter cup cookies though as soon as he got home. 

We celebrated Thanksgiving with the whole family - you (of course) helped Mama make a peanut butter pie and Daddy and Mama made the other dishes. Might I say, we brought baked corn and macaroni and cheese and everyone raved about them - we gave ourselves the "Best dishes of the day award." Ha. Naturally, you did not eat anything at all but a Lunchable...but there was SO much food there. We had it at Auntie and Uncle Ezra's house. 

You continue to thrive in preschool. We catch you singing songs that you have obvioulsy learned there - we love listening to you and watching you learn and grow so much in such a short amount of time. I love going through your backpack when you get home so you can proudly show us all of the artwork that has been sent home for the day. You do so many crafts there!! I had to buy a three drawer storage bin that will be used for all of your artwork. I am just a hoarder and want to keep EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING you do is just too perfect and too cute! I want it all! Your last day of preschool for this semester is the 17th and that will be the day of your Christmas Program - I am so excited. I have always gone to Kendalyn and Kassidy's programs and finally I get to see my little man up there! 

We have been going to church a lot - Mama is serving communion and I now help teach Sunday School. It has always been so important to me for you to be an active part of the church so Mama is really trying to encourage that. You have been doing fantastic in Sunday School, you run right up to the front of the church for "Children's Moment" and you happily go up to "Worship and Wonder" during church. The church program for our church is this Sunday - it is the 50th anniversary of the "Peanuts" movie so that is the theme for the program - I am interested in seeing how you participate in that ;) 

We decorated for Christmas this past weekend. Christmas is a hard time for Mama - I just miss my Mama so much, I miss my Grandpa so much. As I have told you so many times - YOU make my world happy again. YOU make my Christmas special. Every time I look into your eyes as you see Christmas lights or you help decorate the tree - I see the magic of Christmas. It is just so special. You loved helping Daddy put the Christmas tree up and then we put all the ornaments on it. I showed you the ornaments that Ma bought you - she bought you two "First Christmas" ornaments and I told you that. After you saw your first christmas ornaments - you could not stop talking about how this was your first christmas and you were just so excited for it. Ha - so you misunderstood a little bit but you were certainly a blast. We put out our christmas houses, set out our christmas calendar, and put out tons of decorations everywhere! We have so many decorations that we actually had to put a christmas tree in the restroom...Mama might buy a lot of stuff...again, I say...I am a hoarder.

With the christmas decorations came your new friend DUSTY!!! One day we woke up and found the elf on the shelf book - we read the book which explained that an elf might be coming and that he or she would be Santa's little helper. The book explained that he would report to Santa if you were bad. Your rseponse was "I dont want that elf here... I want to be bad!" Well...you did not get your way because the next day we found the ELF! He had toilet papered our living room - that ornery little elf. You laughed and laughed and named him Dusty! You explained to Mama and Daddy that you could not touch the elf because it would make his magic disappear. Christmas will be so much fun again this year - every year you get more and more excited about it. :)