Christmas Style #2...and a traditional Christmas Craft

We always start December with this tried and true craft- but it's not too late for you to join in the fun!!  Have your child make a card that says Bridgette's (your child's name, of course!) Christmas Countdown - they can decorate it however they wish.  In the past, I have always given my kids red and green paper, but this year I let them pick their own colors. The only (school) requirement was that their chain had to be in a pattern.  Last year, Jake still needed a bit of help - this year, they all did it on their own, in just a few minutes.  They are getting so big!!
Here are our Christmas countdown chains - I didn't get very good shots because I forgot to take photos until after they were  hung up.  For smaller children (like under age five), it's a good idea to hang them where they cannot reach them.  Each day, you can lift them up to help them reach their ring to tear off - if they are easy to reach, they might tear them all down in one day - not that it's happened to us before...   :)

Last night, we had a dress rehearsal for the Christmas show, so I decided to do Bee's hair in an updo style. This one was so simple, and came out really cute!!  I didn't do a step by step, and I kinda made it up as I went along, but it was really easy.  First, I pulled up part of her hair in front in an elastic (see photos). Then I had her lay on her tummy with her head hanging over the end of my bed.  I french braided her hair from the bottom up, and added the end of the braid to the top pony that I had made earlier.

Once the pony was dry, I added curlers, and left them in for about an hour.  I think it is important to add a light spritz of hairspray to each strand before you roll it - this helps the curls stay in "difficult to curl" hair.

I took the curlers out one at a time and bobby pinned them around her head - added a bow, and tada!  Adorable updo!!

This one might just be the winner - or we might do a different style each night. We'll see what she's up for!  The exciting part of doing this was that a few other moms asked if I'd do their girlie's hair for the show.  I'm going to be in hair-doing heaven!!   :)

Both my kiddos before the show last night - little Mister was sooo not into having his photo taken...despite the smile here - don't let him fool you!!  :)

Here are the kids during rehearsal last night:

Today we're doing minimal school, and getting ready for shows this weekend, and our homeschooling co-op Christmas party tomorrow morning. 'Tis the season for crazy, busy, fun, awesome family time!

Remember to have fun ths time of year - Jesus wouldn't want us to be stressed about His birthday!!   Hug your babies, your man, and your friends - and have a blast with all that you do!

Stacy

Just for Fun

Bee and I are auditioning for Oliver in a few weeks at a local theater.  We were playing around with some ideas for our audition songs, and I was taking video of her - because what mother doesn't love listening to her baby sing a song over and over?   This is the song I picked for her. There are still a few sour notes, but it's a work in progress:



This is the song she'd like to sing (well, a small portion of it, she doesn't really have the words down at all, she just loves it).  She doesn't understand what the song is about, and why it isn't appropriate for a nine-year-old:



Then the stinker turned the tables on me.  We were singing together via "youtube karaoke" and I was trying out some songs.  She giggled through this one, and said I just "had" to do it.  She grabbed the camera and said it was only fair to video me, seeing as I video her so often.  This is for you, my dear girl:



I'll post you all on tryouts and how that goes. I just love that my little girl loves theater like I did at her age (and still do now!).  Praying we both get it - what an awesome experience to have together!
Have a great day, and hug your babies!
Stacy

p.s. I did a cool 'do today  on bee - it's been a while.  I'll post it tomorrow.

Triple braid

When your girlie has shorter hair, you can look up "toddler styles" on other moms' hair blogs - or you can look up "down do" or "half up half down".  Usually 'dos with these labels can be adapted for shorter hair...just a tiny tip.  :)
I found this style here: http://cute2tryhairdos.blogspot.com/2010/01/down-do.html  Granted, this little girl has much longer hair than Bridgette, but with simply taking out the last step, the hair style still works, and if I do say so myself, looked adorable!

And here it is, in action, just before (then just after) an outdoor performance promoting an upcoming theatrical perfomance Bee is going to be part of in a few weeks.

Enjoy!

Stacy

Bee's Dance Recital

Her first number, I forgot to zoom my camera before I started to shoot, so it looks a little farther away - but Bee is the one all the way to the right.

In the next one, ballet, she is all the way to the left.

They did a really great job this year!  They are a sweet class, and it was fun to be "room mom" with several of the other moms back stage!