A Gingerbread House Decorating Playdate!

I love my friend, Michelle. She's so creative, very crafty, super smart, funny... and totally crazy! 

She invited 14 kids to her house for a gingerbread house decorating playdate. Fourteen kids! She's nuts, I tell you!

I don't know anyone else who could have possibly pulled a party like this off, other than my friend, Michelle. She knew exactly how to set it up so that the kids had everything they needed right at their finger tips! (For the behind the scenes details, check out her blog entry about it here.) I was amazed at how creative the kids were and they all seemed to have a fabulous time. I know I did!

All us moms tried to pitch in to help clean up, so hopefully there wasn't too much of a mess afterwards, but still... fourteen kids! 

I bow down to Michelle.

Here are some photos from our super fun, super festive gingerbread house decorating playdate. If this doesn't get you in the Christmas spirit, I don't know what will!

Here's a photo of just one of the decorating stations.
Michelle had three tables set up and ready to go.
Isn't it so festive!

There were all kinds of fun candies to decorate with, including suckers.
Chase didn't understand the concept of decorating with the suckers.
Clearly suckers are meant to be sucked!

"Hmm... what's this thing in front of me and what am I to do with it?"

I mean seriously. Isn't this so festive!
(Note: My kids would not wear the chef hat. I tried.) 

Wondering where Charlie was this entire time?
In the playroom.
He's not into that *crafty* stuff.
Unless, of course, there are wheels involved.

That's Michelle in the black. Doesn't she just look like the perfect hostess?

This was my... er, uh... Chase's finished gingerbread house.

STOP THE PRESSES!
Charlie has joined us at the table. He is actually decorating a gingerbread house!
(I wonder if he knows this house doesn't have wheels.)

Wait one minute. Is that a smile I see on his face?
Oh, yes. And a sucker.
What fun is decorating a gingerbread house if you can't eat half of the decor?

And this is Charlie's gingerbread house. He thought the house needed a door so he used pretzel sticks.
HE'S A GENIUS!

Charlie's Four!

Well, it's official. My sweet baby Charlie is four. I can vividly remember being pregnant with him and loving every minute of it. And, I remember our trip to the hospital and how excited we were when they told us it was a boy. Charles Owen Arning. 7 lbs, 15.5 oz, 21 inches. He was so cute and snuggly. I couldn't believe I was actually a mom! I was in awe and frankly, totally scared out of my mind!

But, now here we are, four years later with a wonderful, nice, polite, smart, inquisitive, playful, imaginative and amazing little boy, Charlie. Wow, how the years have flown by.

Since we had our Fire Truck Birthday Party just a couple of weeks ago, and with Christmas right around the corner, we knew we weren't going to have a big party for Charlie on his actual birthday. But, I've decided that as long as I'm around and the boys are living under my roof, they will always wake up to balloons on their big day.

So, that's how our day started... by blowing up balloons at 6 am. But, it was all worth it. Charlie - and Chase for that matter - loved it!

Here are several pictures from Charlie's fourth birthday.

Charlie isn't sure what to think of it!

Or, maybe he's still just asleep.

Ok, now we're getting into it!

It's official. He loves it!

Wow! Look at all of them!

Believe it or not, this is Chase. At first, I thought it was Charlie! Did you?

There's just something so fun about little boys in matching pajamas...

Aren't we lucky to have such a fun, woodsy playground in our backyard?

There's even a tree swing. Charlie loves to go HIGH!

Isn't this sweet? Four balloons for turning four.

Love this one, too!

Cupcakes are on the way!

So, that's that. Charlie's fourth birthday. Can't believe next year he'll be five! Let's hope this year goes S...L...O...W...

Oh, What a Day!

What had such a fun day on Thursday! It really couldn't have been any more festive.

Our big day started at Charlie's school for the annual StoneBridge Preschool Christmas program. Let me tell you, there is nothing sweeter or more angelic than listening to a room full of two, three and four year olds singing "Away in a Manger." It just does a heart good!

And, it's so adorable watching your big boy on stage as he scours the audience looking for you. You'll pretty much stop at nothing to get his attention, including jumping up and down, waving your arms frantically, all while screaming his name. Hey, whatever works!

I was so proud of our Charlie, too. He actually SANG this year, and even did a bit of choreography! Of course, his most favorite thing to do was put his hands down his pants, but you've gotta start somewhere, right? Regardless, it was a wonderful program and really got us all in the Christmas spirit.

After nap time, we took both boys to Bass Pro Shops for our annual trip to meet Santa. This year, I made a letter for each boy to give to Santa, complete with the one thing they really wanted for Christmas. This turned out to be a great move because it really broke the ice and gave the boys something to do and say to Santa. Charlie was all smiles and really seemed to enjoy meeting the man of the hour. And, surprisingly, Chase was the first to walk up to Santa, but he just threw his letter at him and ran off. It took some serious coaxing to get him to stand near the man. In fact, Mike and I had to get in the picture too, just so Chase would cooperate.

I still consider the visit a success though, because there were no tears involved. Who knows what next year will bring! Maybe a photo of Charlie AND Chase, sitting on Santa's knee sans parents with - dare I say it - a SMILE on their face?

A Mom can dream...

Oh, and I would like to mention that when I asked Charlie what his favorite part of the day was, he said, "singing on stage."

Be still my beating heart!

Merry Christmas!

Cutie pie Charlie before his big show at school. Isn't he adorable?!

Could not be any cuter if he tried!
(I would like to mention that Chase had a coordinating outfit, but he refused to have his picture taken. Surprise, surprise.)

This is Charlie at school, before the performance. Doesn't he look confident?!

This is Charlie with his teacher, Mrs. Jacobson. I adore her.
(I think Charlie has a crush on her, too.)

Charlie with Mrs. Jacobson and a classmate, Cruz.

All of the boys in Charlie's class were shepherds. So adorable!

He found us! He found us!

Notice the hands down the pants. What's that about?

I had his shirt tucked in at one time. Oh, well.
(Must be all the hands down the pants.)

I included this picture because I would like for you to take note as to how Charlie TOWERS over his classmates.
Somebody hand the boy a basketball, STAT!

Cute smile! (Why the hands be down the pants? Is that a boy thing?)

I love this picture. This is post show. I imagine he's thinking, "Yeah, I really rocked that show."

I am so happy about this picture! I love it!

This picture cracks me up. I love the look on his face.

These are our letters for Santa. Aren't they cute?

We love going to Bass Pro Shops for our Santa photos because there is so much to do!
Case in point: sitting on four-wheelers!

And looking at trains.

And coloring.

We're next to see Santa!

Look at the smile on his face!

This is our family Santa photo. No tears! And, a big smile on Charlie's face, I might add!

And this is Charlie's picture with Santa...
...with his hands down his pants.
(Even Santa looks appalled.)