Operation Christmas Child

Each year for Christmas we donate something.  I usually let the kids pick a name off a tree of a child their age and we get some things off their wish list.  This year I head about Operation Christmas Child and knew this is what we were going to do this year.  People fill shoeboxes with fun things for kids, drop them off with $7 for shipping and then the boxes get shipped to kids in another country.

 I told the kids what I wanted to do and they were excited!  We collected a bunch of little toys, candy and hygiene items and filled our boxes one day after school.  We had to drop them off by November 22nd, so it was a little earlier than I'm used to, but it was nice to have it done.

 I paid the $7 shipping for each box online so we can track them and see where they end up.

Sara did all the packing by herself and got everything into the box.  I had to help Brandon because he just shoved stuff in and didn't really pack it.  Sara wrote a letter with her name and address, so maybe she'll get a letter back.  This just became our new Christmas tradition!

Sophia eating

 The other day Sophia found some baby food in the cupboard and she wanted to eat it.  I opened it for her and got her a spoon.  She liked it, but was done pretty quick and pushed it away.  Then she wanted some veggie straw chips and she started dipping them in the baby food and chowing down!  So weird!

 This is the first time Sophia has eaten corn on the cob and she loved it!

 I made smoothies for the kids this week and Sophia had to have some.  I gave her some in a cup with a straw, but at the table she found a fork from dinner the night before and started eating it that way.

After the kids went to school some cupboards were left open and Sophie got a bowl and a box of cereal out.  Whenever she wants a snack I tell her to get a bowl and bring it to me.  I have to unlock the door for her, but she knows right where they are.  Love her!!

Sugar cookies

 I love eating sugar cookies, but hate making them and decorating them.  Usually one batch makes a lot of cookies and when I have to decorate them all by myself it gets old really fast.  This year Sara wanted to help, so I was more than happy to make the dough.  I showed her how to do it and she had lots of fun getting messy!

 She frosted some.

 And decorated some.

We even had some of her friends over to help.  I still ended up doing a lot of decorating, but it was nice to have some help cutting them out and baking them.

First snow

 As soon as Brandon came home from school he made this snowman.  He wanted to make a big one, but had a hard time lifting the snowballs up on top of each other.  The snow was really wet and heavy, but it was perfect for making snowmen.

 When he was done he wanted to smash it with the shovel.  I know it's a bit disturbing, but he's a boy, so I just stood back and took pictures.

 Sophia got dressed in all her snow gear and was excited to get outside and play.  She had to learn how to take big steps so she could walk in the snow.  She did not like it at first, but slowly got used to it.

She didn't want to touch the snow at all when she first started, but finally would put her hands in the snow and then try to shake it all off.  I think she liked it, but she didn't want to stay out too long.

Playing

 Sophia loves playing with Brandon especially when he gets out his cool toys.  Ben and I had to teach Sara and Brandon that playing with Sophia right now means letting her do whatever she wants and you just go along with it.  It's a work in progress, but they are getting better at not controlling her.

 Sophia's favorite thing to do right now is jumping.  She likes to jump on our bed and on the couch.  Everyday she gets us to hold her hands so she can jump.

My first bountiful basket

I finally remembered to order my bountiful basket and I love it!  I was so excited to get persimmons and the black seedless grapes were amazing.  I have never had brussel sprouts before, but I am going to learn how to cook them and we will eat them for dinner this week.  Yum!

"i keem"

Sophia loves "i keem" and as we all know she has to eat everything herself.  When I tried to take it away from her in the car she pitched a fit, so I gave it back to her and let her make a mess.  As you can tell she did a good job.

 I don't know why she holds her utensils at the very end like that.  Probably to give her the best control, or to make the biggest mess.

And when she was done went directly into the bathtub. 

Halloween 2010

 Sophia loves Minnie Mouse, so I ordered her costume from the Disney Store.  She loved looking at herself in the mirror, but would not stand still for me to take a picture.  I had to run down the hallway in front of her and snap it while she was bringing me a book to read.

On Friday we went trick-or-treating at Melaleuca while the older two were still in school and she had fun, but got tired of seeing so many people.

The IT department's theme this year was "How to Train Your Dragon", so Ben got to dress up as a viking.  I think he had fun in this pie eating contest, even though he didn't win.

When Sara and Brandon got home from school we went back to Melaleuca so they could trick-or-treat and then we went to the pumpkin patch so they could get some pumpkins.  Even though it was last minute there were still lots of pumpkins.

 Sophia loved riding in the wagon with all the pumpkins!

 The only way I could get her to keep the Minnie Mouse ears on was to do four small ponies in front then put the ears on, bring the ponies over the headband and do four more ponies.  She tried pulling them off, but got nowhere, so finally gave up and left them alone.

 On Friday we went trick-or-treating at the mall and it was so nice.  I loved being inside and the kids got lots more candy.  It was a pain taking Sophia's hair out the day before, so I didn't do it again and she would not keep the ears on.

 Sara and Brandon went trick-or-treating with their friends, so Ben went home to pass out candy and I walked with Sophia around our neighborhood for a little bit.  It was kind of chilly, but not cold enough for a coat which was nice!  She had so much fun!

 As soon as Sara and Brandon got back they dumped out their candy to look at it.  I told them about the candy fairy and if they left their candy out on the front porch she would take it and leave them something.  They both went through their candy and kept only their favorites giving the candy fairy most of their candy.  The next morning they each got $3.

 Brandon the vampire.

 Sara as Alice in Wonderland

 Sara just wanted to draw on her pumpkin this year.

 Brandon's pumpkin

Somebody decorated Sophia's pumpkin for her (Brandon I think).

True Love

Sophia loves her In-N-Out cheese sandwich!  

And the "sun" that she has clutched in her hand.