Merry Christmas, Mandy Rose!!

Last year, Mandy Rose didn't really "get" Christmas. Now, don't get me wrong. She "got" getting presents; but she didn't understand the meaning of Christmas. This year, we have talked alot about it being a celebration of baby Jesus' birthday! She would practice singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus....so cute! Of course, she is also into Santa, snowmen, The Polar Express, Christmas cookies, Christmas lights, hot chocolate, and presents!!! She is 4 years old after all!

It has been a crazy Christmas this year. I had surgery the Tuesday before and, unfortunately, had some complications that landed me back in the hospital for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (don't worry, I'm doing much better.) Daddy, Mama Kitty, and Papa Ron got to open a few gifts with Mandy Rose on Christmas morning but they saved most of it for when I got home. Since she is such a good kid, she was perfectly happy to open just a few things at a time! Lord, I love this little girl!

Mama Kitty & Papa Ron got her a new baby doll! We actually gave her the same doll when we were in China, so now she has twins!! We have named them YinYin (her nickname in China) and MeiMei! Rifling through her stocking! Santa left her lots of goodies!!

A whole stack of new books!!

Santa scored BIG TIME with a new keyboard for Mandy Rose!! She loves it!!

It even has a working microphone, so we got entertained quite a bit!!

Papa Ron chipped in and helped set up her train set...which she promptly tore back down again! Four year olds, sheesh!!

Last year, we started the tradition of growing an amaryllis for Christmas. I had to take a picture of Mandy Rose and this year's flower. They are both beautiful!!

Although this Christmas was not the ideal I had pictured in my head, Mandy Rose had fun and she learned more about Jesus. Really, isn't that what it should be all about?

Delilah!!

For the last couple of months, Mandy Rose has been talking about a puppy. All the time, we are hearing, "I need a puppy!" "Momma, I want a puppy!" "Daddy needs a puppy!" There is the crux of the matter, Gary is not a dog person at all! He did not even want to consider the possibility.

Today, I was parent helper at Mandy Rose's preschool. During circle time, her teacher was asking each child what they wanted for Christmas. Mandy Rose didn't miss a beat..."I want a puppy!" So, when she went down for a nap, Gary and I discussed it and he agreed! Yippee! (Momma kinda wanted a puppy too!) I found an ad in the paper for miniature schnauzer puppies and called. There were several left, so I made a trip about an hour north to bring home our latest addition to the family! She is actually a toy schnauzer and will get no bigger than about 8 pounds (which means the cats will be bigger than her! Ha!) We named her Delilah. There is a little inside joke to her name. Our best friends, the Dresher's just got a new puppy too which they named Samson. So, Delilah just seemed to fit!

When Mandy Rose woke from her nap, Daddy told her that Momma had gone to get her a present. When I got home, I was carrying the puppy behind my back and Mandy Rose was asking, "Where's my present, Momma?" I asked her what she had told Mrs. Shirley she wanted for Christmas? She again said, "A puppy!" Then, I brought Delilah out from behind my back. She just looked shocked! She acted like she couldn't believe that Delilah was real! She has spent the rest of the evening carrying her, kissing her, loving on her! This evening, we went out for our traditional tour of Christmas lights around Wichita. Mandy Rose insisted that Delilah go with us and we happily obliged her. I know training Delilah will be work, but the joy on my daughter's face is worth it!

Merry Christmas, Mandy Rose!! Little Miss Delilah! She is only about 8 inches long and weighs maybe a pound!

Mandy Rose and her new puppy!

Look closely! Delilah is sleeping between Mandy Rose's legs! She stayed there during our whole Christmas light tour!

Goofing off with Daddy's hat while having hot chocolate at Starbuck's!

Our precious girl...how could we deny her anything!!

Happy Birthday Mandy Rose!!!

This year's birthday party for Mandy Rose was at our house. The theme was Dora the Explorer. Last year, we had a HUGE bash and held it in the fellowship hall of a local church. This time around was to just be immediate family and close friends....a much simpler affair. Mandy Rose really "got" that it was her birthday this year! We have been counting down the days for last 5 weeks or so. She also starting making requests. She emphatically decided that she wanted cupcakes which I was happy to supply. They are much easier than a cake! I am no kind of cake decorator, but I think they turned out cute and everyone said they were really yummy! We had Mandy Rose take an early nap so she would be well rested for her party. Once she got up and dressed, she was READY for the party to begin! She sat in the livingroom chanting, "People...come to my party now, come to my party now!" Soon everyone arrived and the party was on!

My sweet little girl...she makes her Momma so happy!

Mandy Rose had been practicing blowing out her candles. Unfortunately, she tends to blow up her nose rather than down at the candles, so Momma helped her a bit!

Now it is time for the booty!

She got some really terrific gifts, very thoughtful! She has been enraptured playing with them ever since! One of her gifts was a Dora bath toy, so she most decidedly needed to take a bath in order to check that one out!

Mama Kitty and Papa got her a "Snuffles" bear. When my brother Matthew was about to be born, my mom went searching for the perfect teddy bear and found "Snuffles". Now, he might not admit it, but I bet that bear is still somewhere in Matt's house and he is 26 years old! He lovingly called him "Fells" and he got loved along the proportions of the Velveteen Rabbit! Mandy Rose was very excited to get her new teddy bear!

Aunt Michi gave Mandy Rose a $10 bill to spend on her own. She is young enough that she doesn't quite understand the pleasure of spending money, but she will soon enough!!

The party was a big success! Mandy Rose was the center of attention and loved every minute of it! We were thrilled to share the celebration with so many friends and family. Our little girl is a big 4 year old now. She's growing up!

Making Cinnamon Ornaments

Last year, I started the tradition of making cinnamon salt dough ornaments for our Christmas tree. It is a fun project for Mandy Rose and I to do together and it makes the house smell amazing when they are baking! Even in the chaos of getting ready for the end of my semester at WSU, I still wanted to continue this tradition. We took one evening last week and got to work! Mandy Rose likes to help with each step of the process. I measure out the ingredients and she is my little "dumper". Most of it gets in the bowl! Then she helps me stir...until it gets too tough and she hands it back to me! LOL!

Cutting out the shapes is the best part! She really could do this on her own this year!

I think her next favorite part is watching the ornaments baking in the oven. Whenever I have anything in the oven, she insists on the oven light being on so she can watch! And, being the #1 member of the family, I gladly submit to her request!

Our finished ornaments! Aren't they cute? But she is even cuter!