Charis' Adventures: December 2009

Monday, December 28, 2009

Kansas Christmas

The day after Christmas, I had to check the gardens at work and then Charis and I drove overnight to Kansas. She did great in the car and we only got kind of stuck once in the snow. We spent five or six days visiting family, playing with Kristen and Audrey (my sister's daughters) and playing in the snow.

First snow angel.

First snow man.

I somehow only got pictures of the snow. But we had a great time! Charis has been wanting an umbrella and my mom got her an umbrella with matching boots, rain jacket and bag. Charis has been loving all the rain we have been getting because she can use the umbrella and matching gear. My mom and Debbie also got her more dollhouse furniture and Charis loves them too! Thanks Mom for helping us get there and your wonderful presents for Charis. Thank you Cecilia and Phil for letting us stay with you, play with all your things and daughters and Phil for taking your lunch break to come home and play with us in the snow and make it special.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas morning

I also made part of Charis' Christmas present. A playground set and beds and table and chairs for her doll house.

Again we asked Charis to call for us, so she would not see her gifts. But she forgot and kind of saw it on her way to our room. But it was still fun.

We traditionally start Christmas morning with reading the bible story of how Jesus was born but since she had some presents that were not wrapped, we let her play for a little while first.

She was so excited to get to read out of her bible this year. Then we did our other tradition... we thank Jesus for something this year and give him a gift - something we promise for Him for next year. Charis got to write her own this year, we just helped her with spelling.

Then Charis played while Kris made breakfast.

Skot joined us for opening presents. First we started with her stocking...

We were able to take our time and even play a little with the new things before opening the next one, I hope we always get to enjoy Christmas morning this much.

Robot bank and money to put in it.

Another robot ornament.

Paints and watercolor paper from Skot!!!

Presents from the Henry's ... dolls and candy canes. She immediately lined them up and then played with them on the new playground.

Thank you Henrys, Charis loved them!

We also gave her a motorcycle, horse and bike for her dollhouse, some princess dolls and eight robots to protect them.

We played and ate lunch and then headed over to the Elkinton's. We hung out and played poker and opened a few more gifts and stockings.

Thank you Elkinton's and Boren's for Charis' gifts. We had a great Christmas - thank you everyone for helping make it so great!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

More Birthday!

Birthday lunch by request - of course she choose Mac and Cheese.

And more presents... wow she got a lot this year!

Paint brushes from Skot. Thanks Skot!

And Megan and Jonathan's present, thank you for the dress up doll. Charis loves it!

We spent the rest of the day, relaxing and playing together. Charis had a great day!

Mommy and Daddy's Presents

The birthday party was a little hectic during present time so I saved ours til it was just Kris and me and the Elkintons.

I made Charis' big birthday present this year. I put together and sewed several different dress up costumes. She loved trying on all the different costumes and I was so happy to see her have fun with it.

Just a few pictures, I made or put together a dozen costumes.

We also did the Elkinton's present after the party. Thanks for the beautiful hat and princess books, Charis loves them.

Party

Charis wanted her 4th Birthday party to be at the Little House at my work again this year.

We invited family, my friends, Kris' friends, and Charis' friends from school and church. It was a full house with at least 12 kids and around 22 adults.

Kris and a couple of his brothers and I decorated it the day before. Charis loves all the balloons and ribbons.

We started with playing around in the little house and making paper face masks.

Then some outside time, with digging for fake bugs and playing with balloons.

And what would a party be without cake. Charis requested chocolate cake with no frosting with whipped cream. She also requested the cupcakes the form together to make a butterfly. So I made the butterfly cupcakes, some star cupcakes and some regular cupcakes. I am glad I went a little overboard because we had a lot of people.