Sleepover Fun, Cookie Party, & Christmas at Nana's

Thursday night Cohen had her best friend Josie over for a sleepover.  She had been counting down the days for her to come.  We had made plans as soon as school was out for her to come.  Josie is in kindergarten this year and Cohen sure misses her at school.  These two had such a fun time together!  I have to admit I laugh just listening to their conversations.  They had a fashion show and dance show with dress-up clothes, played Barbies and babies, and were even nice enough to play with Kate.  I think Kate really felt big around these older girls.  After Kate went to bed I let the girls have some hot chocolate and this is where the conversation got interesting.  Cohen and Josie kept finding similarities in themselves and then suddenly became convinced that they were really sisters.  Here are the things they told me they had just alike:

• same color eyes, skin, and hair
• they both had a little "spot" near their eye
• there noses were the same shape
• they wore the same shoe size
• their teeth were close together
• they each had a sister with blue eyes so they thought they (Georgia & Kate) could be sisters
• they both have something they love to sleep with

I was trying so hard not to laugh at them.  They were so serious.  I even snapped a picture of their "serious" faces but Cohen was holding back a smile.  All night and the next day they kept finding more ways they were alike and thought they were sisters.  All I can say is the world better watch out for these  two!

Hot chocolate time

Serious faces thinking hard about being sisters

 Friday I took both girls to their friend Brooke's house for a cookie decorating party.  They had tons of fun adding sprinkles to their cookies.  They also made gingerbread houses.  I have never been good at those so I'm glad Cohen got to make one there :)  I told Jennifer, Brooke's mom, that she was a trooper to have these kids making all kinds of cookies and gingerbread houses!  They really enjoyed it though.  Cohen was very proud of her house but of course when we actually moved it the walls fell in.  It was a fun time though.  Kate loved being able to sit at the table and eat!  While the older kids were using their crackers to build a house, she was eating away at her crackers.  The party was during her usual nap time so I was just thankful she stayed in a good mood and didn't have a melt down.

never enough sprinkles

eating all her graham crackers

We finished our Friday night with our family Christmas dinner at Nana's house.  We had wonderful food and had fun being with family!  The girls got to open their first Christmas gifts.  Another thing I have been meaning to blog about is Cohen's new found love of nutcrackers.  We were at Nana's house about a week ago and Cohen fell in love with one of Nana's nutcrackers on the mantle.  It was so funny  that Nana gave it to her.  She just hugged on this nutcracker and has played with it!  My sister then gave her 2 more that she had gotten from work.  Cohen has loved them...my little Clara!  Well last night Nana gave her a new big nutcracker that was a football player.  Cohen has loved football so much this year since her GA game trips so this was a great gift for her.  She has named her nutcracker Aaron :)  It is so funny that she loves them so but I think we have a new Christmas item to collect each year.  I have really noticed some beautiful ones so maybe we can get more after Christmas on sale :)

Her new nutcracker!

Helping Nana open her new blower :)

When we were packing up to leave we couldn't find Cohen anywhere.  At first it wasn't a big deal but when she wasn't in Uncle Davis' room we started to wonder.  Pop quickly looked under Nana's bed and decided to play along with her since she was under there hiding!  She loves to hide and scare someone!  He did start giving us hints so I got my camera ready.  Kelly lifted the bed skirt and I snapped hoping it would work...it did!  This is exactly how she looked, waiting to be found!  Nutcracker and all!

Cohen's Preschool Christmas Party

Tuesday was the last day of school before Christmas break, which meant a fun, chaotic Christmas party at school!  I know the kids were so excited.  Its so fun to watch their faces getting to exchange gifts with their friends and have a fun party together.  This year they had a book exchange, ate lots of party food, and exchanged goodie bags.  Cohen had some beautiful ornaments to give me that she had made at school.   I love her sweet artwork!  

Kate got to enjoy Cohen's party too!  After handing out the cupcakes, there was one left and guess who got it...  Kate enjoyed the cupcake, (and mostly the icing), more than most of the big kids.  You can tell by her face!  

I am so glad to have Cohen out of school for a little break.  I know she loves school but I'm glad to be able to sleep in a little later and enjoy the holidays together.  

I love the expressions on their faces

Yummy!

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Cohen & Kaylyn

Playing their favorite...freeze dance

Kate is always a fun "toy" to play with :)

My 2 beautiful ornaments that Cohen made me

Last night Cohen, Jessica, and I made some Christmas cookies.  I always like to make my favorite "spritz" cookies that I've loved since I was a little girl.  My aunt always used to make these and bring some to my grandma and I would have to have a few!  I'm pretty sure it was actually my grandma's recipe and now my Mama has given it to me.  I love them so much!  We pulled out the cookie press and made some last night.  Cohen chose to make Christmas trees, wreaths, and snowflakes.  We had a pj cookie party!  Nothing more fun :)

sampling the finished product :)

Cohen's Christmas Program

 Yesterday was Cohen's preschool Christmas program.  The 4 year old class dresses up as the Christmas story and Cohen was Mary.  The kids were absolutely precious and did such a good job with all of their Christmas songs.  I just think this is such a precious group of kids.  Having taught most of them last year it makes it so much more special getting to watch them at these performances.   About a week ago Cohen came home and told me that she was going to be Mary at school and ever since then I have been so excited to watch her. She cracked me up  though because right after she told me she was Mary she started smiling...I knew what was coming next so I asked her who Joseph was going to be and she just smiled bigger and said, "Brody".  I knew this was probably why she was looking forward to being Mary.  I found out last night that she was caught giving Brody a kiss at school too.  I don't know what we're going to do with this girl.  

I personally think she was the cutest Mary I've ever seen though!  I didn't let myself cry but I sure could have.  They were so cute.  Cohen was very interested in what must have been the baby doll laying in the manger.  She played with the blanket several times and was looking down at the baby.  I had to ask Sara afterwards if there was a real baby in the manger because I couldn't tell, but I just knew she was interested in something!  I was such a proud Mama!  

I have to say I held my babies extra tight last night.   My heart was broken to hear about the school shooting.  I have cried several times watching the T.V. and I pray that God can provide those families with some peace and comfort.  

My sweet little Mary

Mary & Joseph

Keely & Madison as wise men.  These 2 sang out so loud and good.  It was precious!

Looking at Baby Jesus :)

Group shot

Snack with Santa

Tuesday night was the preschool's big fundraiser, Snack with Santa.  The kids get to come and eat, make crafts, and see Santa Claus!  They also have their lists for Santa hanging up and ornaments they have made in class.  Cohen got off to a rough start when we got there and did not want to see Santa at all...just like always.  Kelly had to take her out and talk to her then come back in.  We ate first while waiting to be called for our turn with Santa.  She did good when it was our turn though.  She went right up to Santa and even though I can tell she is nervous sitting next to him, she really does good.  She was even more excited to hear she was on the nice list!  

Kate on the other hand was a little different.  She has no fear of Santa himself, but has been extremely clingy to me lately.  I really wasn't thinking about this since she had been fine at the mall, but when I sat her down beside Santa she went crazy!  She was so mad that I had put her down.  I tried walking out of the room but you could hear her screaming.  I tried putting her down and making a quick run, but we ended up making it a family picture with Santa and of course she was fine.  At that point I was holding her again and she wanted to tap Santa on the head, play with his hat, and give him high 5's.  My friend Caron does the Santa pictures and she was able to show me ours which were hysterical.  I ended up getting 2 pictures, one was of the family which everyone was smiling in, and the other was during Kate's fit where she is looking at the camera screaming and both Cohen and Santa are looking at her with these funny looks on their faces.  Cohen is trying to smile but is looking at Kate like she's crazy and Santa just looks like he could run from her!  Definitely one for the scrapbooks.  I love that we have pictures each year at Snack with Santa.  They make for great comparisons!  Cohen's picture with Santa on her 2nd Christmas is just her back running from him!  It is the same Santa and he about has the same look on his face as he did this year looking at Kate.  Priceless!  I never liked Santa when I was little so I feel bad getting a kick out of my own children's reaction!  A huge thanks to Caron with Rich Beginnings Photography for this picture!!

The rest of the night went smoothly.  Cohen made 2 more ornaments for the tree and Kate made one.  She was all about dipping her finger in the paint.  LeAnne and Baylor were there with us and we had fun watching the girls play with "Santa's tools".   It was a fun night and good fundraiser for the preschool.

Cohen & Baylor

Don't you wonder what they are thinking?

Kate loved looking at all the ornaments on the trees

and playing on the stage!

Cohen & her bestie, Josie

Cohen & her friend Reagan got a kick out of being dressed alike

Cohen's First Christmas Parade

I'm behind on my blogging but we have had so much sickness that it has messed up so many of our plans, including me staying updated on this blog!

Last Sunday, Cohen was in her very first Christmas parade.  Her dance group rode and marched in the Lavonia parade.  The 3-4 year olds rode in the back of the truck and threw out candy while the older girls marched.  Cohen was all up for the job of throwing out candy!  I had told her to be sure she didn't throw it all out at the beginning, and that we had to make it last.  I was riding with her so I would hand her handfuls.  She took her job a little too serious and I had to keep reminding her to throw it.  She was so busy looking for people she knew and could throw the candy out to them.  She also was very good to throw it out to small children...some too small to eat the candy :)  Her favorite part was when we got to her daddy.  He had told her to throw him candy and see if he could catch it and she was focused on doing that.   It was a fun time for her and she enjoyed her first ride.

Getting ready to throw

Kate-18 months

I can't get over how fast my little Kate is growing!  It is definitely true what people say, the second child grows up faster!  I love every minute of watching her though!  Kate is Miss Personality!  She is always into something and you will get a good workout trying to chase her around.  I could wear myself out just cleaning up after she makes a mess, but its well worth it.  I don't post every month anymore but I did want to post this time because she is doing so much and I don't want to forget it!   What has really been a lot of fun to watch is how Kate and Cohen interact now.   Kate wants to do everything she sees Cohen doing.  I hope they will be close sisters.  I can see them playing more together as Kate learns to do more and that is really fun to see.
Kate's vocabulary has grown a lot too!  She can say so many words now and will try to say new things every day (if she gets in the mood, that is).  Her favorite word is still "Mama" and we've had a few rough nights lately since she has had an ear infection, but she has started waking up in the night and will call for me over and over and over.  If I had counted how many times she called out "Mama" last night I would probably have counted at least 150 times!  Its really funny to hear but at 4:00 a.m. I'm also praying that she will just go back to sleep.  Here are some of her favorite words though:
Mama, Daddy, Sissy, Dooley (Doo-ee), baby, Denny (Nenny), Suzy (cee-cee), Bebe, Brock (Baaak), P (Auntie P), Pop (Bop), Apple, Bubbles, Dora (Do-a), Ho Ho, and leaves.  She tries to say more but this is a good list.  She will now tell you the sound animals make and she can do dog, cat, cow,pig, horse, and sheep.   Sheep is my favorite because she just says, "aaahhh".

Some other things to remember about this stage:

• She LOVES books.  She will bring us books to read all throughout the day
• Loves to be outside!  I am loving these last few days because we have been able to play outside a little more.  She loves to go to the playground, jump on the trampoline, and swing.
• Loves to play with Dooley's toys.  She will pull each one out of the basket and then sits and puts them back in.  I give up trying to make her play with her own toys.  It keeps her occupied :)
• Loves to watch T.V.  I don't let her watch a lot but to get some things done I am more than glad to turn it on :)  She loves Bubble Guppies, Dora, and Sesame Street.
• Wears 12-18 mos clothes and a size 5 shoe
• Weighs about 23 pounds.  Our official check-up is next week.
• Loves a singing stuffed animal!  We have a few Christmas stuffed things that sing and she loves them.  
• When I take her picture I will say "cheese" to her and she repeats it back and even smiles!  Learning quick to humor Mama!
• Kate LOVES to eat and for anyone who reads this that is around her you know how true this one is!  She is always ready for a snack and that is a great way for me to get away from her if I need to drop her off.

I could write all day about my sweet girl.  She still has wild, crazy hair and to see her wake up with her hair going everywhere and a big smile on her face it makes my day!!  

Love these girls!