Christmas a few days early

We always head out to another town a few miles from us a few days before Christmas. We spend time with Aunt Janet & exchange gifts. We spent the whole day, and we all had a blast! Jaden got the play-doh desk she wanted & Morgan got a Barbie~ They were elated (as you can see by the pictures)

The Lure of a Playground

These days almost every city has a play ground. These new play grounds are nothing like the ones of the "goold old days", they are MEGA-playgrounds!

Jaden earned her oven!

Jaden had to wash her small cake pans and supplies before baking.

Mixing it up

Putting the batter into the pans

Putting in the brownie to cook (above) and taking it out (below)

Jaden did it! She has officially given up the thumb-sucking! (Just in time because her adult teeth are coming in now).

I gave her the oven as promised (from Aunt Amy). She LOVED cooking and cooking- She made 4 brownies!! Yummy!

Watch out Martha Stewart- Here comes Jaden!!!

Is it cold where you are?

It's 9 degrees here in Texas- at least in Grapevine, and only in the ice exhibit. Can you believe Texans pay to see and feel the cold!? Yes we do!

I have tons of pictures to show all of the fun we had, but I am exhausted, so that will have to wait. Here is a little bit about the exhibit:

With two million pounds of hand-carved ice, Gaylord Texan brings to life the Dr. Seuss holiday classic — How The Grinch Stole Christmas! In a series of colorful scenes straight out of the original storybook pages, the spectacular ICE! attraction brilliantly showcases how the "Whoville-hating" Grinch with a heart two sizes too small learns the true meaning of Christmas.

The unique attraction is created by 40 master artisans from Harbin, China, who magically transform 5,000 blocks into the city of Who-ville. From the Grinch's frozen mountaintop lair and 20-foot high slides to a variety of family photo opportunities and the picturesque Who-ville including feasting Who's and Max the dog, the enchanting attraction is sure to make more hearts than just the Grinch's grow three times in size.

Making Butter~ Chapter 13 Cows

churning/shaking the cream

The finished product (above)- and eating the butter they made (below)

notice the "M" in Morgan's hair (below).

Jaden and Morgan made butter today for class. We are up to Chapter #13 which is the letter "c" and the study of cows and dairy products. They were amazed by the different foods that are made with milk. Then, we put some whipping cream in a pint jar and shook... and shook... and shook... (about 30 minutes) and it turned into beautiful delicious butter. Wow! It was amazing to see the transformation from complete liquid into a soft butter.

Not Easily Broken

I just got done watching this movie. It was rather good. Some parts heart-breaking, but overall a moving movie. It is definitely one of those movies you'll want to watch with your husband/wife, especially those who have been in a long-term relationship (anything that has lasted over 7 years- You know about the ups and downs). The title is based on what the preacher told the couple who married that there are 3 strands of rope that tie the two of them together and keep their relationship intact- one rope is the husband, one rope the wife, and the other must be God, or the relationship won't make it.

Playing with Daddy while he watches TV

Daddy was watching the game/games that he watches every weekend. The girls have been getting anxious for him to spend time with them. So, they decided to play with him while he watches his game... and they turned him into a princess! (you can see how excited he was about it!)

Driver's Education

Can you tell Morgan is scared?

If you see this jeep in your neighborhood, retreat to your house! Jaden is still trying to figure out how to steer and reverse & stay on the sidewalk. Jaden got the jeep for Christmas from Grandma Frances 3 years ago (right before Morgan was born). I'm just glad this is a plastic car and not the real thing she is practicing in!!

How to Stop a Thumb-sucker

The thumb-sucking-stopper device above

Jaden has been a thumb-sucker since she was just a fetus. I have sonogram pictures of her sucking her thumb. I wonder how it all begins really. I know that later, it becomes a habit. This habit of hers has driven me crazy for awhile.

At age 2, I spoke with her pediatrician about the thumb-sucking. He told me not to worry about it, and some times calling attention to it can make it worse. He, also, said that she would stop on her own... So, I waited patiently, and then, not so patiently...

At age 3, I asked the pediatrician again what he thought. He just smiled and said that she would grow out of it, especially when she gets around other kids with the peer pressure to stop...

At age 4, I said to myself... Regardless of what the pediatrician says, it is time for her to stop. At this point, she was only sucking her thumb at night and nap (whenever she was trying to get to sleep). However, the reaction I got from her was like an addict getting their drug of choice taken away from them! She said she would never be able to stop. Then, came the everyday battle of trying to stop her- Explaining buck teeth, braces, etc.

At age 5, she lost her first 2 teeth, and now her adult teeth are coming in. But, how to stop her?!?!?!

Several kids at the home school coop had thumb sucking contraptions on their hands. These things cost over $100!!! There is no way I could do it.

Something clicked in Jaden (that is the only way I can explain it) 5 days ago. I told her (and not for the first time) that I had an exciting present for her, but she couldn't get it until she stops sucking her thumb. Amy gave us an Easy Bake Oven (brand new in the box)!! I told Jaden it is sitting in the house ready for her to use and make wonderful, delicious cakes, cookies and more... All she has to do is STOP SUCKING HER THUMB!!!

She is extremely excited about having her own oven and baking her own treats. She will get the oven after she has gone without sucking her thumb for 10 days straight (and she is not allowed to start back up)! She has done 5 days so far. The only way she is able to avoid sucking her thumb during the night is to have a reminder wrapped around it...

So, our contraption (to avoid the expensive one) is... Scotch tape! Just take a line of Scotch tape and wrap it (loosely) around the thumb... And, wha la! It really works!

Some links for thumb sucking products:

https://www.thumbguard.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=THUMBGUARD
http://www.yourhandaid.com/estore/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UE10DC/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=

Dreaming of Snow

Jaden's snowman is above & Morgan's is below

Jaden, Morgan & I read through the book "White Snow Bright Snow" by Alvin Tresselt. It was detailed with the fun of snow, and we really got a full vision of it in our heads. I wanted to get in a plane and head north immediately! Since that is not possible, we made snow pictures instead.

Decorating the Christmas tree

After the Christmas Parade, Jaden decided to place the candy canes she received in the parade onto the Christmas tree. She only had 3, so it made the tree look kind of strange. Yesterday, when we were running our errands, I found some smaller candy canes. They were shrink-wrapped (instead of completely packaged in rectangle wrappers). It was $1 for 50 canes.

Once we got back home, the excitement was one. Jaden and Morgan loved hanging the candy canes... Then, they turned on the lights & the magic of Christmas was upon us!!

More from the small town parade