Sharing Day

Every year at school, giving is emphasized during this crazy busy season and shopping, wish lists, and getting. The children are to bring a homemade or inexpensive purchased gift to give to all their classmates. While unloading Kendall's Christmas box full of stuffed animals, books and other random loot I came across a gingerbread mold. My teacher juices started flowing. What could we make with what we already have?? How about gingerbread crayons!! After a quick google search of how exactly to melt crayons in the oven and a long tedious process of peeling a bajillion  (yes, Kendall helped peel til we were done) crayons we were in business.

We made a huge mess, had lots of fun and spent our afternoon doing for others.  Now the hard part is Kendall keeping it quiet until sharing day gets here. She thinks rainbow gingerbread crayons are the best thing ever.  And Mommy is happy it's done and scratched off her to do list.  And Daddy is happy it was totally free. (I even managed to keep the wrapping free also.)

Little Elves

Mrs. Claus, the CEO of Operation Goza Christmas, put her elves to work this morning to maximize productivity and meet upcoming deadlines. Because we all know behind any successful organization is one hard working woman.  The grand prize should go to the real Mrs. Claus though.  No way Santa could pull all that off by himself every Christmas Eve.  No way.

And Lil Elf Brielle provided entertainment.

Thankful for Beignets

When I was a kid my dad and I went quite often to Morning Call or Cafe du Monde to get beignets and cafe au leits.  It's really one of those childhood memories, along with Saints games, that I will always remember about my dad and me. Seriously, I love them so much I've been known to treck several blocks through pouring rain in the French Quarter just to get a frozen cafe au leit.  They're THAT good.

So of course, since I'm trying to raise my children somewhat as New Orleans girls who happen to live out of state, we took Kendall for her first experience. She received her first lesson before bite one on how to scientifically bite into a powdered sugar covered beignet.  Breathe out and you'll spray a puff of sugar all over yourself and your table guests.  Breathe in and you'll get a big 'ole snort of sugar. True New Orleanians can eat an entire order with no sugar on (or in) their noses or clothes.  It's a true test that must be mastered. (Point in case: guy behind Kendall in green shirt.  Local. No sugar remnants on his hunter green shirt, which is a brave color of choice.)

Kendall did pretty good for her first time.  And I think she likes it enough that we'll be going back for plenty more practice.

Thanksgiving 2012

Over the past few years Thanksgiving has turned into our busy travel holiday.  Way too many people to see and things to do.  Way too little time in which to do it.  Oh well.  We slam as much in as possible.

After heading down to my beloved New Olreans on Wednesday, we headed over to Baton Rouge to see my grandmother.

Here's our family picture of the season...

IF I had had the patience to wait to do Christmas cards, this one would have been the winner.  But for the first time ever it'll be just the girls but I saved alot of $$ by being an early bird.

And here's the sweetest picture of the girls.  I'm kinda glad it didn't come out perfect (in one Brielle was smiling directly at the camera...so was Kendall...but with her eyes closed) because then I would have been really upset of settling on my Christmas card picture this year.

I'm gonna dress them in matching outfits as long as I can get away with it!

CANNOT believe my sweet girl is FOUR!

Grammy, or Myrt as all her children and grands affectionately call her by her name, got to meet her newest great-granddaughter.  She was so excited to see a sweet baby.

We got another four generation picture. We have one from when Kendall was a baby.  AND we have one of me as a baby with MY great grandmother, Myrt's mom, Mamaw. 

And here's the whole fam.

The next day we took Kendall back to the NO Children's Museum.  Just like me as a kid, the grocery store is her favorite. Though she didn't seem amused by JuJu's photography.

This was Brielle's view of it all.

Kendall was a little more hospitable at the restaurant.  She proved to be an excellent waitress for Mommy and JuJu.

One more Thanksgiving.  One more enjoyable time with our family.

Thanksgiving Program

Kendall's school Thanksgiving program was so much fun. (Just as much for Mommy as Kendall I do believe.) It's not often I get to be just "mommy" and show up to preschool events. Usually I'm "director and mommy" and I'm in charge of making sure everything goes as planned. So this day I could relinquish all duties and responsibilities and just relax and enjoy. And I must say, though I love my job, it was nice for a change.

Here's Kendall dressed as an indian.

Afterwards Daddy went back to work and the girls enjoyed the beautiful weather at the park. Brielle was there but she didn't make it into any pics.

Kendall brought this home from school.  So sweet...