I have been very busy….So, here are days 12-20.
Day 12:
Day 13:
Day 13 - Front
Day 13 & 14 - Full Layout
Day 14:
Day 14 - Dylan's Christmas Program Front w/Tag
Day 14 Tag
Day 14 Back Page
Day 15:
Day 15 - Girl Scout Investiture Front Page
Day 15 - Girl Scout Investiture
Day 16:
Day 16 - Note to Dylan
Day 16 - Note to Dylan
Day 17:
Day 17 - Front Page
Day 18 - Note to Ella Front
Day 18 - Note to Ella Back
Day 19:
Day 19 - Front
Day 19 - Back
Day 20:
Day 20 - Front
Day 20 - Back Page
Day 8 & 9 Full Layout
Day 9 - Christmas Cookies
Day 9: Christmas Cookies – Every year, I exchange cookies with several girlfriends. This year, I made gingerbread cookies, and apricot, raspberry & hazelnut thumbprints.
Day 9 & 10 Full Layout
Day 10 - Christmas Tree
Day 10: The Perfect Tree journaling reads: I love our beautiful tree this year. Again, we went to Mayne’s Tree Farm and picked out this beauty. It is one of our newer traditions, but we all love doing it!
Day 10 & 11 - Full Layout
Day 11 - Peter Pan
Day 11 - Peter Pan Back Page
Day 11 journaling reads: Experiencing Peter Pan with Dylan & Ella was so much fun. I was a bit apprehensive because it started at 7:15 (D & E’s bedtime), and ran for 3 hours with two intermissions. It surpassed all of my expectations of what a high school production could possibly be. The acting was well done; the singing was on key and Ellen projected her voice throughout the auditorium; and all of the amazing effects kept each of our attentions. When Wendy, John, and Michael began to fly through the magic of wires, pulleys and harnesses, Ella whooped ang laughed whole heartedly. Dylan was also enraptured by everything that was happening on the stage. He stood gripping the seat in front of him and whispered questions and comments to me throughout the play, “Mommy, where is Ellen’s hair? Did she cut it off?” or “Mommy, look at the fireplace!” or “Watch Tinkerbell!” Our neighbors in the seats ahead of us commented on how well behaved Dylan and Ella were — and loved all of Dylan’s commentary throughout the program.
As expected, December has been extremely busy. Blogging is new to me, and I’m not sure how to balance out all of my other commitments with my own commitment to blog, so I won’t apologize for not posting, but just move on. My goal is to finish my December Daily album by the stroke of midnight tomorrow night, Dec. 31st, 2009. I think it will happen, but no pressure. I am in catch-up mode after having out-of-town guests and the Snowpocalypse of 2009 and general Christmas craziness.
Journaling for Dec. 5th: Today we had our first snow of the winter season. It was a very wet and heavy snow, but so beautiful to watch it fall.
With all of the snow that we got, we had to change our plans for the evening. We ended up watching holiday movies, and scheduled the DVR for the rest of the movies.
Day 6 - Front Page
Day 6 - Back Page
Journaling for Dec. 6th: Today we decorated 2 gingerbread houses — one for Ella and one for Dylan. Dylan spent most of the time eating his candy. I kept saying to him, “Stop eating your candy!” He would say, “I’m not eating it, I’m licking it!” When I decorated with “his” candy, it was very sticky. Yuck! It was still fun watching you both decorate your houses.
Day 6 & 7 Full Layout
Day 7 - Front Page
Page 7 & 8 Full Layout
Journaling for Dec. 7th: This year, Ella wrote her Christmas list using both words and pictures…She copied her words from the toy catalog, i.e., “Grocery Store, just like the real thing” or “Clean up is now a breeze.” She also drew pictures of the store, the fishing pole, the roller skates, the teeter totter and so many others. I love her creativity and tenacity in communicating all her “wants” for Christmas.
December 8th:
Day 8 - Front Page
Day 8 - Back Page
Journaling reads: One of the best parts of December is the Advent Calendar. It is so much fun to see the small treat inside or the note that tells you where to find a hidden candy or another sweet. You children definitely make life (and Christmas) so much fun.
Day 4 Front Page Full Layout
Day 4 Front Page
Day 4 Back Page Full Layout
Day 4 Back Page
Journaling reads:
Tonight we met up with with many friends to eat dinner at Foster’s Grille. Then we went to JMHS to watch the Tiny Tots Christmas. Both of you so enjoy being with your friends, and loved seeing some of your favorite characters (Dora, Elmo & Santa). The music got you groovin’! Christmastime is so much fun with you guys to share it with!
Full Page Layout
Day 3 - Front Page
Day 3 Back Page
Day 3 Back Page - Full Layout
Tonight, we headed to Wesley church for Wednesday Supper with the Haas’ and to meet a special visitor – Santa! This was Dylan’s first time sitting on Santa’s lap. In year’s past, Santa has been too scary to sit with, but this year was different. Both of you were excited to see Santa, and tell him what you wanted for Christmas. Dylan told Santa about the real dog he wants and Ella told him about the cupcake maker.
Full view
Front of Page 2
This is the first entry for my 2009 Daily December album:
Day 1 - Front Page
Journaling: Today was spent shopping for all of the finishing touches for decorating the house. Mom & I went to TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, and Michaels, toting Dylan everywhere we went. Then, we decorated and cleaned up all of the craziness. I tried to get ready for tomorrow night’s party fighting the two crazy monsters who were destroying as I was cleaning. They ended up in bed by 7 pm!
The full moon was out tonight and I think my kids knew it. We’ve been reading a book, called Dogteam for the last two weeks. It’s about a team of huskies running through the snow at night. It is beautifully illustrated and is written in a simple poetic way. It is a pleasure to read it aloud to my dog-loving boy. In the inside cover, there is an illustration of a single wolf howling at the moon. We’ve acted this part out many times. So, after I sent the kids to bed, there was a lot of protesting and then there was howling (I believe, at the moon). What an appropriate finish to this day!
I’ve been thinking more about the December Daily and decided to prepare a little more for each of the pages. As I try to organize myself and our family for the holidays, I looked at the calendar for all of the parties, performances, and activities that are already booked (Wow! Does December get filled up fast?!?) I have been receiving the Holidays in Hand emails from JessicaSprague.com and also brainstormed with Noah, the activities we wanted to share as a family…
Already on the calendar:
2 – Babysitting Co-op Party
3 – Tiny Tots Concert
4 – Ella’s Hip Hop Performance
5 – Ferreira’s Open House
9 – Baking Christmas Cookies
10 – Cookie Exchange
11 – Peter Pan
12 – Family Christmas Party
16 – Matthew & Alison arrive
18 – Last Day of School
19 – Neighborhood Christmas Party
24 – Christmas Jammies
25 – Christmas Day
To include in December Daily Album:
I’m really looking forward to the holidays this year! I think I’m ready…Now, if I can remember to bring my camera.
I am so excited that I am ahead of the game for this year’s Daily December album. Here’s all of the foundation pages…
