Play Kitchen, Christmas Clothes, and Ward Party

In response to this event and many others like it, we have put Emma back in her crib and Daddy has installed the baby locks on the dresser drawers. Now she can only dump her books when she gets mad at me and doesn't want to sleep.

Ellie loves this music table.

Boyd's sister Bonnie gave us this adorable play kitchen. It has become toy of the year rather quickly. Emma, Ellie, and even Kyle have all had a blast playing with it and the fun dishes, and food items that came with it. Emma just can't get enough of this toy. She plays with it all day long. She loves to use the oven and refrigerator as a storage.

I have to move this in the hallway so Emma will go to sleep. She just has too much fun with this kitchen in her room. Her pjs are on backwards so she doesn't strip down. She loves zippers, snaps and buttons. Anytime she can, she will undo these even if it is her clothes.

Ellie was pushing this into her room. She is getting so big!

Emma loves this kitchen so much. She plays with it everyday. She brings me dinner all the time. She stores everything in her refrigerator. Keys, food, tools, or whatever she wants to put away she tosses in the refrigerator of her play kitchen. Cute jammies from Oma!

Oma and Opa always give the cutest Christmas clothes. I had the girls welcome in the month of December in their holiday splendor.

Friday we went to the ward Christmas Party. It was a fun night filled with yummy food, good music, and lots of chasing children. I have decided that these fun ward parties are a lot of work for a mom and dad. Boyd and I were constantly scanning the area to find Kyle and Emma. Ellie didn't have much choice but to stay in her car seat or be held by one of us. However, Kyle was stealing all the desserts and playing with all the younger kids. Emma was also sneaking the desserts off the table, removing shoes and socks off her feet, and running around. I just wanted to sit down and enjoy my meal, but I couldn't be totally comfortable eating while my kids were taking off everywhere. After dinner and the singing program, all the kids were told to gather around to welcome Santa Claus. Kyle and Emma were excited to sit down and see him.

When Kyle found out Santa was giving out candy, he joined all the kids in line too. He ended up talking Santa out of all the extra candy canes as well. He came home with 8 candy canes. Plus he kept trying to get some of the Dads in our ward to sit on Santa's lap and give him a kiss on the cheek. He told them he would give them 35 cents if they did this. I said, "Kyle, you don't have any money." He responded, " Well then you can have her." (indicating me)

At least Emma is not bawling like last year.

Ellie and Emma with Santa Claus

Here Emma is sampling her first candy cane ever. Since it is sugar, she loves it. Somehow she found another candy cane at the party, and I had to take it away. She was wired as it was.