Sweets, Treats, and Smiles

Every year since I've had kids I have wanted to make gingerbread houses or trains, but each year I realized they wouldn't be much help and would just be overwhelmed with the activity. I decided this year was the year. On Wednesday after school we had Victoria's carpool buddies and their siblings and mothers over to make graham cracker trains, just to make it a little simpler. It was a huge success! I thought the kids would sit for two seconds eating all the good stuff and be off to play, but they all sat and were great helpers with their trains. Karissa did eat the whole time, but at least she had a good snack beforehand. Victoria started out eating at the beginning until she saw her friends having fun decorating theirs. She ended up being the last kid at the table putting on last minute candies. Next year I'm making the real gingerbread!





Karissa had a special treat at church today. Since she turns 3 two days before the new year she gets to graduate from the nursery to the primary program in church. To get the children acclimated to primary, they brought the ones in who turn 3 in 2009 for singing time. She was so cute sitting there starring at the chorister with her huge eyes, who probably looked like she was ten feet tall to Karissa since she was sitting right below where the chorister was conducting. I could tell she was nervous as she was either wringing her hands or clenching them together under her chin. Her feet barely came halfway to the floor from her little chair, whereas the others from the nursery (all boys), could just about touch the floor with their feet.


Austin has finally started smiling for the camera again, though I've had to crank up the cheesiness a few notches. His sisters smilied so willingly for the camera at his age, I barely had to do anything, but Austin, though he loves smiling and laughing at his sisters all the time, is totally serious as soon as I bring out the "gray box".