Christmas Vacation

I am so glad for Christmas Vacation! I have enjoyed having my kids all home at the same time, and believe it or not, I feel like I have a little more time to do some extra things around the house! When the older two are at school, I need to play and entertain Rachel, when they are home, the three play together and I have some time to "catch up". This Christmas Vacation we have had an abundance of snow to occupy Jacob and Ashley. I just need to help with the bundling up and the unbundling over and over, but that's okay! I am also so glad we have a basement where they ride their scooters and bikes and release some energy.

This was a Sunday morning we were all dressed ready to go to church, when at the last minute we did not go due to ice, so I had time to take a couple of pictures. My girls like to dress alike. Every Sunday morning we deal with the issue of matching dresses. I do not have matching dresses for my girls, since we rely on hand me downs, but this year, I tried to find new Christmas dresses to match. Ashley is in the big girl section of clothing, so I did find a red dress to match, although it is not identical. On this particular morning all girls were happy since they "matched".

I did manage to get the kids together for a quick picture. Rachel does not like to be out in the snow since it is so deep and hard for her to walk, plus she does not like being bundled up so much. This was Violet's first time outside as well. I had her bundled up good as you can see. We are all dealing with colds and coughs, so the little ones weren't out long. I do enjoy watching Jacob and Ashley play in the snow, and did get out a little to throw some snowballs at them. I feel torn, wanting to play outside with them, but yet needing to be inside with the little ones.

The cookie making is in full swing. I have not made as many different kinds of candies and cookies this year. I just can't seem to get it done. But I do have a lot of willing helpers. I let them help and am thankful for kitchen space for them to all work at the same time. It's also interesting to see who hangs in there and works until completion and who just works a little and then they're done.

I sit Violet in her chair while I work in the kitchen. She loves cheerios, banana pieces, crackers, and throwing her sippy cup on the floor! Notice her missing sock? That seems to be her little trademark. Wow, is she growing so fast!

We are currently reading Little House in the Woods, as our reading project, and hopefully will finish this book soon and move on to the next. Well, it seems as if I have used up my time, the kids are getting restless, with all the interruptions it's hard for me to concentrate and keep my train of thought going, so until next time........