Naturally, with Holy Week upon us and Easter just around the corner, I have felt compelled to finally finish my Christmas recap. Haha.
Advent and Christmas seem like forever ago, but I suppose it's still important to remember how the Jesus story began with the Nativity as we also prepare for His dying and rising again.
Maybe it's the former elementary Catholic school teacher in me, but teaching my children the joys of the Christian holidays makes me happy. It helps me get excited about the liturgical calendar, and it is so fun seeing their faces light up as they start to understand, in their own way, their faith.
It was a little difficult to "squeeze" a lot of pre-Christmas time in because we spent three of the four weeks of Advent traveling - to Indianapolis for the baptism of my godson, to Virginia for a cousin's funeral, and to Asheville for a couple's trip with one of my oldest friends. As such, we weren't able to check out Cheekwood Holiday or go to Bass Pro to see Santa. And my mom took Lissie to the Governor's Mansion this time instead of me.
But, of course, we still did a lot of our other traditions and started new ones. The ornament book calendar that tells a little bit of the Nativity story each day. The chocolate advent calendar. Advent wreaths. Making Christmas cookies and gingerbread trains. Christmas puzzles. Made blessing bags for the poor and homeless.
Gingerbread train!
The boys working on their train.
Christmas cookies for Santa!
My tradition of doing Christmas puzzles with dad
has been extended to Lissie, the master of all puzzles!
Jesus' birthday cake!
Blessing Bags for the poor
And, this year, the kids were a part of the Christmas Pageant. Lissie was a sweet angel, and Xavier opted to be a bleating sheep.
Christmas itself was relatively low-key. It was probably the last time we could "bribe" our kids to stay upstairs before waking us up to check out their presents. We enjoyed a hearty Christmas breakfast and presents and spent the day being lazy, watching holiday movies and playing with our new loot.
Play-doh
New trampoline
Random Holiday Pics:
I made new Christmas PJs!
Matching set for the boys, too!
I took Lissie to Franklin's Dickens Christmas before her ballet recital.
Lissie had always wanted dance lessons, but I never wanted to pay for them. This past summer, I entered her name in a giveaway to win three free months of classes at Dance in Bloom. Well, she won! And, of course, she loved every moment of them, and so I had no choice but to continue the lessons. Haha.
Naturally, then, when she wanted a dance birthday party, I obliged. She was due for a big party since we've done it pretty low-key for the last few years. Plus it's her last one with her classmates before they all disperse to different schools, and I already know she's going to miss all of her friends.
So, a few days before her actual birthday, all of her classmates and some friends from church and other play groups gathered at Dance in Bloom for a fun dance class! The theme was Tutus and Top Hats, and we gave each child a choice in their attire, as well as a wand to match.
The favor table with the tutus, top hats, wands, and lollipops
The only picture we snapped of the whole group.
Xavier's face cracks me up.
Everyone had a blast dancing and parachute-ing and tumbling!
It took this little guy a while to let loose!
But he finally did!
Justin wanted us all to get dressed to the theme! Top hats and tutus galore!
And here are a few shots that we took at home with the birthday girl:
Sweet, sweet girl. How in the world is she about to turn five?!?
Five. 5. I have a five-year-old. Wow. Arguably no longer a "little kid," definitely not much of a "preschooler," and well on your way to being a big Kindergartener.
Every year and every birthday have been reminders of just how quickly you grow up, but this one is hitting me hard. Soon I'll be dropping you off at big-kid school five days a week, which is not nearly the same as dropping you off across the hall while I teach my own class at your preschool. I know you need this to foster that independence and grow and learn with your classmates and new friends, but I also know I'll miss you while you do it.
Because you truly are so fun to be around. You're smart and caring and giggly and thoughtful and inquisitive and just all around amazing with your super big heart and smile. You love your family and friends and, of course, your best buddy, Jesus.
Oh, Lissie. You ponder a lot about God and Jesus and Heaven and Mary, asking questions that are thought-provoking and hard for me to answer. You have a sweet heart and long so much to see all of the saints and angels. You've said to me many times that you can't wait to go to Heaven to see them - even knowing that it means you will be missed here. "Don't worry," you say. "I'll be having fun, and you'll get to come, too." You often want to stop by the church after school to say a short hello to Jesus and Mary, and you always wants to say hi to any priest or sister that may be around - regardless of whether or not you know them personally.
You are still very shy, but you're coming out of your shell more and more. You've made great friends at school (which is easy when in a class of just eight equally awesome girls), and you've started taking ballet. You're definitely not as social as your brother (who I often worry will just walk away with anyone who so much as smiles at him), but you are learning to hold your own.
You also have a big heart. Ever since you saw me give my leftover lunch to a homeless man on the way to our car at school, you've insisted that we pray for him every night. And when we see a needy person on the streets or someone selling the Contributor, you always want to help out. We even started making Blessings Bags filled with toiletries, snacks, and other items to keep in our car so that you can give them out when we see someone who might need it. And they are always, always, always in your nightly prayers.
And how smart are you! You love to read and be read to and are motivated to read "learning books" on your own. And all of the questions! If you don't know something, you ask for help. If you don't know a word, you ask what it means and immediately add it to your growing vocabulary repertoire. Even I was surprised with the results of your Kindergarten Assessments!
Oh, Lissie. I am so grateful that God has lent you to me. You made me a mommy, and I love watching you grow and learn.
Happy happy birthday, sweet girl. Stay amazing.
Love,
Mommy
Some of your loves:
dancing
reading
going to church
broccoli
all things food, actually
princesses
dressing up
everything art
picnics and playing at the park
playing piano
Some of your dislikes:
sharing with Xavier
when you don't get your way
radishes
"boring" stuff
Here's my Interview with a Five-Year-Old:
And some random pictures from the year:
Silly goof at the park.
First Father/Daughter Dance
Serving lunch at an area homeless shelter on Valentine's Day
Trying your hand at your roller skates
(that you got for your birthday two years ago)
Getting ready for Kindergarten!
Loving all things art.
You refuse to let me help you choose a practical outfit.
You wear what you want to wear.
Beach lover....even if it is just a Nashville "beach"
First ballet class!
Doing what you do best: dress-up.
And somehow roping your brother into being your sister.
