Christmas, Continued

I like Christmas to last for weeks, so I’m drawing out the posts.  (That’s true, but in reality, I just haven’t gotten around to it.)

The Christmas morning step picture…

And the step picture at my parents’ house on the 26th…

We went from sunny California (playing at the Palm Springs Airport)…

…to chilly Michigan.

We were hoping for snow, but it has been extremely mild.  I’ve been wearing a sweater or sweatshirt without a coat most days!  We were lucky enough to have snow one morning, so Dan and the girls could make a snowman.

Snow is in the forecast for next week, but Dan will be gone.    I’m not exactly one to brave the elements, so we’ll see if another snowman/woman gets made.

Well, we’re off to celebrate.  Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Sorry I didn’t get a Christmas post up earlier.  We once again traveled on Christmas Day, as it is a great (not busy) day to fly and then celebrated with the Van Houten clan on the 26th.

We stayed busy the whole Christmas season, doing different activities, watching Christmas movies, and trying to do “Christmas-y” things.

The ornaments were rearranged the next morning, to make up for the lack of height on the part of the ornament placers.

We celebrated with our little family on Christmas Eve. The girls got mini Build-a-Bear kits, Legos (I’m sure the girls will love them if Dan ever lets them play–he’s kind of a Lego hog), and a couple games.

The girls with their new kitchen from GabbaGreat and Aunt Jean.  There will be many great memories with this, as playing in the kitchen is one of their favorite things to do.

I can throw away my homemade one–it lasted us 2 good years.

We saved stocking stuffers and the annual “Stair Picture” for Christmas morning.  I’ll have to make that a separate post.

Music

Every Monday morning, you can find us at Mrs. Kimm’s house for music class.  Like gymnastics, I feel it is so beneficial for the girls.  I love, first and foremost, that they are having fun and developing a love for music.  But additionally, they are listening to and following directions, developing rhythm (it definitely has improved!), learning fine motor skills by playing instruments, and engaging their brains.

Mrs. Kimm does a great job with the class.  It can be anywhere from four to seven 2-3 year olds each week, and they read stories, do chants and songs, play basic instruments, and learn musical terms.  There’s a balance of listening activities and movement activities.

The other week, they did a bean bag song, which they’ve done a few times before.  They listen to the music and march around and then listen for where they are supposed to balance the bean bag.  They’ve all gotten pretty good at it and know what to expect now; it’s fun to see their progress.

 

Then they did a new song about a train.  I had to get a video because it cracked me up how they clung to each other.  I’m surprised they didn’t end up on top of each other on the floor.

 

 

 

As you can see, the girls love it–it’s one of the highlights of my week, too!

Barry/Beary (now Barely) White

When Aliyah was a baby, she was given a gift.  A white bear.  She had blankets to snuggle with, but she became partial to this bear.  Over the course of the last three years, it has been hard to get her to even let me wash the thing.  I have to sneak it into the laundry, and even then, she ends up searching for it halfway through the cycle, panicked, and I have to explain that Beary needs to be cleaned.

Dan and I decided to look for a look-alike so it could be washed and, heaven forbid, there could be a replacement in case it’s ever lost.  We misplaced it for a few days a while back, and it was a rough few nights.  I looked for a new Bear-y White everywhere and could not find one that would fit the bill.  First of all, there aren’t many white stuffed animals (who buys white for a kid, right?).  Second of all, this was over three years ago–merchandise comes and goes.  A friend bought a white animal that she thought looked similar (it was a kitty), but Aliyah just ended up wanting to sleep with both of them.  Fail.

Then while shopping for gifts for Livi’s birthday, I happened upon a white bear.  (Cue music.)  I was willing to spend whatever amount of money it would take to save us from possible disaster if Beary ever met his end.  So I bought it.  I’d say it’s a decent match. Not perfect, but the best I could find.

Is she satisfied with her Bear’s replacement?  Ummm, no, most definitely not.  It was a waste of $18.  Yes, $18.  But I had to try, right?  And who knows, maybe if something does happen to Beary, “other Beary” will do the job.  For now, it sits and waits, beautiful, soft…and clean.

Why am I spending so much time writing about this?  Because it’s a major part of life in the Schenkel household!  I know I’ll look back and love thinking about Aliyah’s Beary and Livi’s “minkies” (blankies) and the trauma when one is lost and the joy when it is found.  Plus, I know how important these love objects are (The Giver reference) because–confession–I still sleep with my blanky!

 

Ring Those Bells

Tonight was the church Christmas program.  This has always been one of my favorite events, even before having children of my own.  Seeing little kids dressed in their Sunday best and singing (or not singing) their little hearts out is one of my favorite things ever.  I always grin from ear to ear when the little ones get up there, and Dan and I nudge each other and whisper about so-and-so who is so cute or you-know-who who lifted up her dress.  It’s always a great time.

This year was no exception, and to make it even better, Aliyah was able to perform!  Her Frogs class sang 3 songs.  Aliyah has been very excited about this and practiced often at home.  I was a bit worried that she wouldn’t sing at all or, even worse, would cry and run to us, but she did great!  She wasn’t as animated as her practicing, but she did a wonderful job.  So did her friends!

Sorry about the camera shaking at the end.  I was laughing because Aliyah’s friend Eden was picking up all the pieces of blue tape that were set there for kids to know where to stand.  It was adorable.  And in the second video, notice Aliyah’s friend Luke casually fall into the poinsettias.

 

 

The rest of the program was great, too.  I love our church!  If you want to see the entire service, watch here.  (It’s not there yet, but I assume it will be eventually.)

Maddie and Kenz weren’t able to be in the program because Maddie’s immune system still isn’t 100%, but they came and watched.  Aliyah is all smiles with these girls.

My beautiful Aliyah

My girls

Uncle Sam

The first morning in Denver, Uncle Sam took the girls to IHOP…by himself.  They had a great time, and forged quite a bond.  I only have this one picture of Uncle Sam with Aliyah, but it’s a good one.  So sweet.

 

Travel

All right, all right.  We know that our girls are pretty much the cutest ever, but every once in a while, that knowledge is confirmed by strangers.  Yesterday was one of those days.

My Uncle Sam and Aunt Cynthia were generous enough to host us for Thanksgiving again this year. We used some birthday gift money from Gigi to buy the girls some luggage. They were the hit of both ONT and DIA.  Here they are running up the jetway off the airplane.

 

And now holding hands through the airport.  Everyone stopped, looked, smiled, laughed, talked to us or the girls.  Wouldn’t you?

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.

Livi’s ABCs

So I was able to get Livi to sing the ABCs for me the other day.  Here she is!

ABC, Sing With Me!

I’ll have to get a video of Liv singing her ABCs, but in the meantime, here’s a video of her singing with Aliyah…and AlphaPig from “Super Why.”

Birthday Video

Here’s the only video I took on Livi’s birthday.  Wish you were here, Baba and Papi, Gabba Great and Aunt Jean, Gigi, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins!