Christmas Party Fail

So, our Life Group (Bible Fellowship, Sunday School...etc) had our Christmas party on Sunday and it was so fun! Why do I say fail in my title then? Just wait...

I guess I should back up. My work Christmas parties are A.W.E.S.O.M.E. Everyone brings yummy food, we get to talk and hang out and then we have an awesome white elephant gift exchange. It is super fun and funny!

This year I came home with the cutest mosquito ornament (what can I say...I AM a science teacher, ha!) and Chris with a HORRENDOUS limited edition pilgrim nutcracker.

Fastforward a couple of days later when our Life Group was having our Christmas party with a white elephant gift exchange...well we already knew what we were bringing!

Except...no one else apparently has taken part in a white elephant gift exchange and brought nice gifts. Seriously, a gingerbread tree kit, snowglobe etc.

So thus...the title...now we are just HORRIBLE gift givers... :)

The Completed Christmas Countdown

Lorelei did a countdown to her first Christmas. I got this idea from one of my dear friends, Jenny McKinney who does this with her two boys. I sent out an e-mail each of the days in December leading up to Christmas with a letter and a picture or two from Lorelei chronicaling her daily activities. Here is a recap for those of you who didn't get the e-mails. (I apologize for this oversight if I missed you…remember Mommy is working and going to school full-time) So, sit back, relax, and I hope you enjoy our first Christmas together!
December 1, 2009

Only 24 more days until my first Christmas!  I have been trying to be a good girl!  My mom took a picture of my at the wedding a little over a week ago trying to check out if the girl in the mirror was "naughty or nice."

Love,
Lorelei


December 2, 2009

Only 23 more days until my first Christmas!  Mom tried to put a little Christmas tree beside me to take a picture for today's note but...well, it didn't last very long!  I am walking all over the place! 


Love,
Lorelei

December 3, 2009

I seem to have misplaced December 3^rd! I will edit and fix when I find it. I do have the pic that went with "her" note. 

December 4, 2009

 Only 21 more days until my first Christmas!   Mom is sending you three pictures.  The first one is showing how I climbed Dad to get some yummy chocolate covered popcorn.  Then you can see me with it.  I have such a sweet tooth! 


Love,
Lorelei

December 5, 2009

Only 20 more days until my first Christmas!  I am enjoying all of the new things that are being put out for me to play with!  Daddy got my big girl car seat out.  I loved it!  Finally Mom and Dad listened!  I have been saying, "No Dad." and "Mom, I'm mad!" for several months now but they still kept strapping me in that baby seat!  I will like my big girl car seat even more when I get to face forward!
Love,
Lorelei

 December 6, 2009

Only 19 days until my first Christmas!  It took Mom and Dad the WHOLE weekend to put the tree up because I was such a special helper!  I NEVER want to be in my walker but I walked over to it and "asked" to be put in it so I could get at the tree even faster!  Mom put special ornaments at the bottom of the tree just for me to look at!  I hope your tree has special ornaments just for you!

Love,
Lorelei

December 7, 2009

Only 18 days until my first Christmas!  Remember how I decided I liked my walker to be able to get to the tree faster?  I found another use as well!  I can zoom up and catch the fridge door before it swings shut!  That is super fun!  It will be even more fun when I can open the door by myself and don't have to catch it!  You should have heard me yell when mom scooted me back to close the door!

Love,

Lorelei

December 8, 2009

Only 17 days until my first Christmas!  Today I wanted to tell you about my Daddy.  I think he is magic!  I can be playing, playing, playing…never want to stop.  He picks me up in his strong arms and I go straight to sleep! 



It reminds me of my mom's favorite verse Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV), "The Lord your God is with you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." 

Love,

Lorelei

December 9, 2009

Only 16 more days until my first Christmas! Mom looks funny in this picture but she just had never seen me play in a box before!



Love,

Lorelei

December 10, 2009

Only 15 more days until my first Christmas! Can you believe it? I went Christmas shopping with Dad. People say I look just like him. I don't understand why. Just kidding! I am happy to look like my daddy! Who do you look like?



Love,

Lorelei

 

December 11, 2009

Only 14 more days until my first Christmas! Have I mentioned how much I love to eat? My Mumsy and G.O. bought me a highchair for Christmas (they gave it to me early when they were in town) My mom has figured out shredded cheese is so fun for me to eat! I get very quiet while I focus on getting every. Last. Piece. What is your favorite food?



Love,

Lorelei



PS-shredded cheddar is not my favorite food. Chocolate is. In any form: truffle, Klondike bar, etc.

December 12, 2009

Only 13 more days until my first Christmas! Daddy got me ready for a party I went to with Mommy. Silly Daddy put my tights on my head!



Love,

Lorelei

 

December 13, 2009

Only 12 more days until my first Christmas! Sometimes Mom forgets to put up her shoes ... and I try to wear them! Hope you are having fun trying new things!



Love,

Lorelei

 

December 14, 2009

Only 11 days until my first Christmas! Last night Mommy was moving furniture around and I was along for the ride! We have so much fun all the time! What do you do for fun?



Love,

Lorelei



PS-I do not drink Diet Coke. I was just holding it.

 

December 15, 2009

Only 10 more days until my first Christmas! I try to help Mom with the chores every day. I pulled all of my diapers down so I could step on them. That is helping, isn't it?



Love,

Lorelei

 

December 16, 2009

Only 9 days until my first Christmas! I have been very busy! I have been going to lots of parties as well as being busy at home! Mom caught me in action after my bath figuring out exactly what was in the middle of the toilet paper roll! What new and exciting things have you discovered lately?



Love,

Lorelei



PS-Mom feels it is necessary to mention that my diaper is double stuffed for nighttime.

December 17, 2009

Only 8 more days until my first Christmas! I helped Mom bake a cake for a party we went to. I took a bath while it was baking and then came to check on it. Have you been making any special treats for Christmas?



Love,

Lorelei

 

December 18, 2009

Mom is sad she didn't realize I was going to be so cute while opening this present from Aunt Annie and Uncle Roo!  She said she would have videotaped the whole thing! I unwrapped the present and handed Aunt Annie every single piece of paper.  A couple of times she put the paper down and I had to stop and pick it back up and hand it to her again.  Then when I opened it up and saw this beautiful fur jacket with ears and a bow by one of the ears, I squealed and kissed it! 



Love,

Lorelei

December 19, 2009

Christmas is next week! I am so excited! I am sending a picture of me on Thanksgiving. I turned 8 months old that day!



Love,

Lorelei

 

December 20, 2009

Only five more days until my first Christmas!  I went out to eat with Mom and Dad today after church and there was an aquarium right at our table! I loved it!


Love,
Lorelei

December 21, 2009

Only four more days until my first Christmas!  Lately I have been having my foot up while I eat.  At the restaurant yesterday I even turned all the way around with my foot up!  What new tricks do you have?


Love, Lorelei

December 22, 2009

Only three more days until my first Christmas!  I have been very sneaky with the presents under the tree so it is a good thing the countdown is short now!  I went shopping with Mom and Dad today, it wore me out!  This is a picture of my on the way from the car to the last stop, I slept through mom putting me in the sleepywrap and everything!
Love,
Lorelei

 

December 23, 2009

Only two more days until my first Christmas!  My Aunt Patti came in town tonight, I love her so much!  What special friends do you get to see this Christmas?


Love, Lorelei

December 24, 2009

Tomorrow is the day!  I am sleeping now getting ready!  What are you doing to get ready?


Love,
Lorelei

December 25, 2009

Today was my first Christmas!  I had such a good time!  I had lots of fun spending time with family, opening presents, and eating good food!  What did you do today?

Love,
Lorelei

Christmas Traditions

You have them.  Even if you haven't labeled them as such.  I will share one of ours.  While growing up, every Christmas card recevied was placed in a basket.  Each night we would take the card in front and pray for that person or family at dinner.

Chris and I endeavor to do the same in our family.  It is easier for us to find a rhythym to life when I am on Christmas break and we are both our of classes.  Funny how that works, isn't it?  We do find ourselves trying to be intentional with schedules and traditions even more now that Lorelei is in our lives. 

A couple of years ago, my parents gave us the Proclamation Ornaments from Love Worth Finding.  On one side of the ornament is the prophesy and on the other side is the fulfillment.  The ornaments came with a little devotional booklet.  Chris and I try every year to do all of the ornaments, one on each day in December.  It hasn't happened yet.  We don't get the tree up by December 1st, aren't home that night, etc.

So, I am wondering.  What Christmas traditions take place at your house?  Are there any you had growing up that you wish you had now?  Are there any new ones that you have started since having children?

Worse Than Kids

I am pretty bad at Christmas!  If my name is on the gift I shake it.  I am a pretty good guesser too.  When I was little my mom had to start making secret codes on the gifts so I wouldn't know which ones were mine and guess them.  Then the fun was figuring out the code. 

Then I married Chris.  He gets so excited about the gifts he gets me he usually wants to give them to me early and then have to buy more.  This is not fun to me.  I like to bother you with my guessing.  I want it to be a challenge.  I don't want to easily win you over.  I really don't want to know. 

This year we have Lorelei.  Yay!  I am so excited to see her on Christmas!  She opens presents so well!  Two nights ago, I randomly said we all needed to open a present.  See... I am worse than a child!  Well, it wasn't hard to convince Chris.  He got to pick one of his presents...he opened a new pair of shoes!  He told me they made him run really fast!  I kept catching him doing little jumps!  See why I married him? 

I opened a new camera!  Remember my last post when I was wishing for one?  Wishes do come true!  And better yet, it is pink!!!

And Lorelei?  She got some water flutes.  She couldn't quite figure out how to blow on them so she just held them up to her mouth and sang for the sound!