Funny moments in the car

 Yesterday we went to Silver Dollar City! We had a great time. The weather was wonderful and we love when Jason gets to come with us! We have decided to take a year off from going though so we made sure to really enjoy this trip. We had just been getting a little burned out on going so often!

We really enjoyed the rides, but we also loved the Christmas decorations. The huge fontanini nativity set is one of our favorite decorations!

 The drive home had some funny moments. We hopped into the car and started handing out bags of popcorn to Lily and Valerie. Daphne yelled, "I bite! I bite!" I replied, "Daphne stop threatening me! I will get you a bag!" Oh wait, guess she meant that she wanted a bit of food! Aren't little ones cute with their words! :)

Valerie was even cuter on the drive home! She said, "I have to go to the bathroom." I replied, "Can you hold it?" She put her hands on her private and then took her hands off a minute later. She responded, "Mommy, I don't need to hold it because it can hold itself!" Ha Ha! I love how literal a three year old can be! I hadn't even realized what she was doing!

The Birth of a new Christmas Tradition

Most of our family traditions are based around the traditions that I grew up with. However, each family has different dynamics and I have learned that things are just not always the same.

One tradition I took from my parents was to always read the nativity story on Christmas Eve and to have the kids act out the story of Jesus' birth with our nativity. We also have chosen to keep Christmas day as being just our little family. We also take from the example of the three wise men and each child gets three presents on Christmas morning (we started that three years ago and love it).

So one tradition that changed was a part of Christmas Eve. Growing up, we didn't live near any relatives so on Christmas Eve we would open all of the relative presents. On Christmas morning we would open all of the Santa presents. Since, we now live near family, but not close enough to do Christmas Eve, it has left us with no presents on Christmas Eve. I really don't like to have too many presents anyway, but I missed the tradition of it.

So this year, we are starting a new tradition. We are going to do an ornament exchange with our girls each Christmas Eve. On Thanksgiving, we will draw out names and then each work on finding one special ornament for our chosen family member to open on Christmas Eve. This will help teach my girls about giving, but not just by buying little junk for each other. This will be something special to look at on our tree each year and to remember who we got it from. This year will be slightly different since we hadn't thought of this earlier! Jason and I will just buy each girl an ornament to open on Christmas Eve, but we will tell them about the new tradition then! I love this time of the year!

 Daphne is 17 months now and as fun as can be! We are really enjoying this age! She can repeat anything we say. She also has several two word combinations such as "thank you" and "all done". She really does say more words than I can count!  She even has one sentence that I have noticed..."I wan up"! :) If I ask if anyone wants food, she is the first to come running and shouting "me, me, me". She loves food and will sit at a table eating for hours! lol.

She is into everything and that is a challenge. If I walk out of the room, she will get a chair and push it to the kitchen counter. She loves going through the drawers. However, she is also very smart and a good listener. I told her "no" to touching the Christmas tree and after four weeks, she still hasn't bothered it or the presents underneath! Yay for that!

Daphne has such pretty green eyes! I love thema nd hope they stay green! I just had to throw that in there!

She got a new elmo doll. She says "Elmo". It is precious and she gives it kisses with a big "muah" sound! She loves being held. She can say most of her friend's names. My youngest is definitely a blessing to my heart!

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