christmas card outtakes.

It was December 17th. Christmas cards were the first thing on my "to do" list yet the last thing on my mind. I am such a procrastinator. I get off work late that Saturday, rush home, throw some festive outfits on the kiddos, and drive to the waterfall in the back of our neighborhood for a quick photo session in hopes I will get a decent pic of the two rugrats. My memory card was full and so was my heart. These two kiddos love each other so much. And we love them more than they will ever know. Out of five hundred plus pictures, I only got a handful of decent ones but they warm my heart so. Don't they look so happy?





Even if our Christmas cards don't reach mailboxes until December 23rd, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Love,
The Rices

sweet girl.

Our princess is growing up so fast and she is such a sweet little girl. She gives big hugs and kisses. She loves her brother to pieces. Follows him everywhere. She loves shoes and purses and pretend (and real) credit cards. Ha! She is all girl and I'm loving it. She is loving and kind, bubbly and outgoing. We love her to pieces.

She is exactly what I prayed she would be. Thank God for our precious little girl.

gingerbread party.

Despite all of the craziness of the holiday season, I have always wanted to host a gingerbread party for P and his friends. And my friends, too, of course. This was one of the few parties that I have hosted at my house, but because the guest list was small, I figured it would work okay.

Some pictures of the decor and the food.


I made some peppermint trees. This was actually very easy!



Peppermint-creme filled red velvet whoopie pies. And, yes, I made them from scratch. I'm proud of myself.



North Pole cupcakes. Just a simple cupcake recipe with a peppermint stick stuck in the middle. I used icing to attach the North Pole sign.






I had aprons made for each of Phoenix's six little guests. They were adorable in their aprons.



Some pics of the kiddos decorating. I was very impressed with how focused the kids were on perfecting their little gingerbread creations. They were so cute!










All of the kiddos with their creations.


We also played a game, in which I read a story about a gingerbread man and the kids had to pass a present around the circle each time I said "run". It was a complete and utter disaster, but the mamas got a good laugh, nonetheless.


I had a blast at the party and I think all of the kiddos and mamas had a good time, too. I am so thankful for our wonderful friends.

preschool christmas program.

P's Christmas program at his preschool was absolutely the cutest, sweetest thing I have ever seen. The kids hollered every word to every song at the top of their lungs and their dancing and hand motions were all over the place but my heart was filled with pride and my eyes filled with tears as I watched my sweet boy's performance. He loves his school, loves Jesus, and we love him so much. It was such a fun morning.

Do you spot him? Almost dead in the center, center row. He sang every song and did all of the hand motions. Not much smiling, but I think that is because he was concentrating.


Sweet boy. Aren't their t-shirts precious? They made angels with their handprints. That t-shirt went straight into the keepsake box.


P and his teachers, Ms. Jennifer and Mrs. Kelly. He loves them so much.


Emma Kate had a great time, too. Loving on her daddy.


Loving this time of year.

sweetness.

This little miss is full of sweetness. She is growing up so fast and turning in to quite the little princess. Thank God for sweet little girls.


My favorite time of the day with her is during our little bedtime routine. She kisses and rocks her babies. We read books over and over again. We sing songs and rock together. I stop singing and she complains. Her favorite song is the same song my dad sang to me as a little girl. "I love my Emma. I love my little girl. I love my Emma. I love my little girl. She's so sweet and nice and full of sugar and spice. I love my Emma. I love my little girl." I never want these babies to grow up.

visit with santa.

We made our annual appointment to see the good Santa. The Santa at Phipps. He is so pretty. I think I look forward to our trip all year. This year the Santa schedulers set up appointments to make an appointment with Santa (if that makes any sense) so that part of it went much, much better.

Here's P's simple list. He wouldn't make a list beforehand, so this is what he came up with when we got there. Pretty basic, huh? At least he forgot about the garage and fireworks kit that he told me about last week.


They both did really well with Santa this year. EK was a little hesitant, but sat there a couple of minutes before begging to get down off his lap.



I love this pic because it looks like EK is telling Santa a secret. (Although, I think she was really just chewing on her finger.)



P loves to throw pennies in the fountain so we've kinda made this a post-Santa tradition. This was EK's first fountain experience. She loved it!


My little ham.


Cheeeeeeese!


EK clapping to the Christmas music.


After Phipps, we headed over to Lenox to let the kids ride the Pink Pig. Taylor and I grew up riding the Pink Pig on top of the Rich's building. Another tradition in the making, I guess.

Waiting in line pics.





We even got to see Priscilla. Isn't she so pretty? EK sure did think so!



Their sweet faces on the Pink Pig. Love these two so much!



Here's to a fabulous Christmas season with lots of fun, family memories!