A got a lab coat, chemistry set, and safety goggles for Christmas.  She asked for all of that because she just loves science!  Discovery Science Channel is one of her favorites   We were happy to get these items on her list.  We had the best time doing the experiments.  We made slime, alien blood, a volcano, invisible ink with grape juice, and we still have several more experiments that we haven’t gotten to yet.  Love it!

A has a million figurines and she just loves when I play with her.  I love it too

On Sunday the 27th, we headed down to San Antonio for the day.  We started with lunch at the Magic Time Machine.  We had never been there before but had heard that it was pretty cool.  The wait staff are all dressed up as different characters, everything from Cher to movie characters.  Our waiter was the Joker from Bat Man.  He was very good.  His voice was perfect and his outfit was great.  The food was outstanding.  A’s drink was a bubbling pink potion.  She loved every single second that we were there!  We will definitely be going back again.

After we had that yummy lunch, we headed off to the San Antonio Children’s Museum.  We had been here once before and it is awesome.  A wanted to go downstairs to the mock HEB store first.  She loves to play down there.  She shopped and scanned her items and then had some fun in the kitchen area.  She also really enjoyed the airplane upstairs and the new ball exhibit they had.  We love our children’s museum in Austin, but I personally like the one in San Antonio better.  We had a very fun family day.

The Magic Time Machine…

The museum…

After the very fun day of gift opening and playing on Thursday, we spent Friday in our pajamas — all day!  It was awesome to just relax, play with A, and enjoy being with each other.  We played with some gifts and put all of her puzzles together.  A also finished up her Santa advent beard.  I made Christmas dinner for us and it was very good.  We had ham this year.  A loved it!  Her favorite treat for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners is my chocolate pie.  She never passes up a chance for a slice or to lick the bowl after I make it

This Christmas was fabulous.   Every year I think the previous year’s Christmas can’t be topped, but it always is.  I started shopping in November when my mom was visiting and was finished before the huge crowds started flocking to every store in town.  I also had my Christmas cards out really early and was able to send the packages to family in West Virgina really early too.  Every time A was asked what she wanted or if she wrote a new note to Santa, her top items were a stuffed animal, a lab coat, a science set, and a fingerprinting set.  Well, she got all of that and more.  We hadn’t really stuffed a stocking for her prior to this year, so that was a total surprise too.  We baked Christmas cookies on Wednesday afternoon and she had such a great time doing that too. (see previous post for cookie pictures)  She has enjoyed this holiday immensely from the Trail of Lights to the neighborhood lights to the presents and stocking to the ham dinner that we enjoyed (devoured) on Friday.  We are very blessed to have our family together and to enjoy health and happiness.  And despite some disappointing and hurtful things that we have endured this year, we are looking forward to a bright new year, most notably our upcoming dream trip to California.  I hope everyone had a bright and merry holiday and will have a blessed new year.

After a very cool playdate with a classmate on Wednesday, A and I went and bought cookie dough, sprinkles, and icing so we could go home and make cookies for Santa.  We had a great time using our new cookie cutters.  Daddy came home in the midst of it all and did a few with us.  We had a great time!

On Sunday, we met up with T and her family at California Pizza Kitchen.  We had told A that we had a huge surprise for her and we didn’t disappoint.  The Domain had brought in a snow machine and they were having snow every hour.  A couldn’t believe her eyes.  She had so much fun!  She was throwing snowballs and sliding all around.  Hubby pointed out that it was more like ice pellets than snow, but it was definitely the most that A had ever had the pleasure of seeing or being able to play in.  A, J, and little A played for quite a while and had a great time.  And they were all wet and cold afterwards.  Yep, those Texas kids were playing in the snow

A had to pose with the huge tree outside Macy's. This was before she knew about the snow.

She thinks those huge presents are awesome!

And the fun begins...

She had so much fun.

She is laughing hysterically because she was just throwing snow on J's dad

On Friday morning A, Hubby, and I headed to school together.  It was the much-anticipated Polar Express Parade day and the class Christmas party.  A was so excited to wear her pajamas to school.  They look a little bulky because I put clothes underneath them.  It was chilly and I knew they were doing their parade outside.  We had finished her parade train box some time back, but she worked really hard on it and was very proud of her work.  I was very excited for the whole day.  I couldn’t wait for it to begin.

At the beginning of the year, the parents signed up for the parties they would volunteer to help with.  I had signed up for Christmas so I was heavily involved in everything that we did at the party.  I brought everything that was needed for the Christmas tree craft – completely edible and a huge hit .  I also came up with the idea for the cute little stocking craft the kids did.  Mrs. R was very receptive to my ideas and we had the party planned in no time.  Since we were at school on time and the parade didn’t start until 8:45, I started to help with getting the party set up.

After everyone had arrived, Mrs. R read the Polar Express book to the class.  Then it was time for coats, jackets, scarves, and train cars!  The kids were so cute that I could barely stand it.  We got lots of pictures and video too.  It was the best parade I’ve ever seen!

Immediately following the parade was the party.  I took care of the edible Christmas trees – sugar cones with green icing, M&Ms, and colored licorice for tensil.  The kids just loved it.  Another mom had brought the supplies to make  popcorn balls – another hit with the kids.  In addition to those goodies, the kids made reindeer chow to spread in their yards and then the stocking that I had mentioned earlier.  After all of that (whew!), they had a book exchange.  It was a great day and Hubby and I were both glad that we were there to watch our A enjoy it.  And now,  break until January 4th

Jammies at school (in the library to be exact)

They were so darn cute in those jammies.

Love this book and movie.

The train...

So cute...

On the parade route.

Ready to march by some other classes who came to watch the parade. The route was marked with cones and everyone clapped as the parade went by. Loved it!

J's tree.

The other J's tree.

T's tree.

And A of course loved the tree. M&Ms are her favorite.

B's tree.

Easy does it. She also threatened to lick the icing off the plate

Very cute group picture.

Book exchange.

I think she's pretty happy with the books. What do you think?

On Thursday evening, we met up with Mr. T and his family for the Nagle Research company Christmas dinner out.  We went to Baby A’s and was a bit frustrated with the service.  The food was great though and we got a free dessert from one of our favorite waiters who works there now.  The dessert was awesome and was completely unexpected

After dinner we all headed downtown to the Trail of Lights.  We parked at the Palmer Events Center (for $10) and then rode a shuttle to Zilker Park.  I was not excited about paying for parking and the shuttle, but we did anyway.  I mean, it is just once a year.  A had a great time on the shuttle anyway so it was completely worth it.

The lights were much smaller this year but were still very pretty.  A loved going around in circles under the tree.  We had a great time!

Waiting for the shuttle.

This kid was so excited to ride a bus!

The Zilker Park tree

She loved looking up at the tree. I just love this little face.

FUN!

We were cold, but happy

A posing with the post office.

This says it all.

Where the Wild Things Are...

Angel girl

Pooh...

I LOVE this picture!

A’s classmate, E, had her 6th birthday party at Pump It Up on Saturday afternoon.  We hadn’t been to this particular inflatable playland so it was a treat for A.  She had such a great time with her school friends there.  It was a very sweet party.  Happy Birthday E!!!!

This is another of A's classmates, J.

A loved the slides!

FUN!

Another classmate, J.

And of course, we have T.

A had such a great time.

She wasn't slowing down either.

Till this

But she was soon back in action!

Another classmate, G. He's a character as you can see.

They were pretending that A was a dog and that T was removing a thorn from her paw.

The whole group -- they had a blast!

Time for pizza

The cake was just beautiful and so girl

They were having a very deep conversation about Santa.

Here is the sweet birthday girl

She was opening A's gift

What 6-year-old girl wouldn't want ponies for her birthday anyway? The gift was a hit.