The End is Near...

...of the year of course! I can't believe it's almost 2012. Crazy how time flies. And with the year at its end that means Thanksgiving and Christmas have come and gone in a whirlwind as usual. I took special note of a line for A Christmas Story this year when he says something about how Christmas is the point in which the entire kid year revolves. Isn't that so true? I had exactly that feeling when I was a little kid. Once Christmas was over it was pretty much time to start counting down the days till the next one. I hope my own girls have that same magical feeling about Christmas.

But let's not forget about Thanksgiving. This year we had a quiet dinner with Drew's parents. It was really nice and we appreciated Linda going to so much work just for us. Abbie and Savannah both had pilgrim hats from school and Brooke was decked out in a turkey onesie I made for her so I made them all pose for a photo.

Now onto Christmas! This year we got to visit with Santa not once, but twice! This is an event which we usually sk because it just seemed to scare the girls so we figured why bother. But Santa was at Savannah's preschool party and at a family party this year. And much to my surprise, there were no nears shed!
Amidst all the hustle and bustle, Brooke has been mastering the art of sitting up unassisted as well as crawling. She gets up on her hands and knees and rocks but then kind of gives up and resorts to an army crawl. Still very mobile! I'm afraid she has reached the next-to-impossible-to-change/dress phase, which means any time you lay her on her back she is instantly trying to roll over and crawl away. It's quite a battle around here at times.Christmas morning started at 5:30 at our house. We were planning on getting up at 6 but Drew and I were both too excited to wait any longer. Technically, Carly had woken up at 3:30 when one of the younger two were crying and wanted to get up then, so I guess 5:30 wasn't too bad. The girls were excited about all their gifts except Abbie was almost certain that Santa had gotten confused because he brought a 3D DS to Carly and not her. Hopefully she will learn to be happy with her bike. :)
We spent the rest of the day at church and then visiting family. A day well spent indeed!
And of course there have been a few little crafties in the works. I made a winter carseat cover for Brooke that is out of a little thicker fabric than the other one so as to keep out those nasty winter drafts.And I knit washcloths and crocheted dish scrubbies for my visiting teaching ladies. Complete with a little note (idea courtesy of Marge...thanks Marge!)

I made little felt owl ornaments to tie on the girl's teacher gifts (homemade caramels and Big Hunk candies).
And I made little ruffle tree skirts for all the girls. This one is Savannah's.

And what post is complete without a cake? My nephew's request this year was a zombie head. He wanted it to have a knife stuck in the head too, but we figured that when we cut the cake that knife would do. And so I give you the Christmas Eve Zombie cake...(He's supposed to look like he is emerging from the grave)

Exposed slimy brains? ... check!

Worms crawling in and/or out? ... check!

Eyeball hanging on by the optic nerve? ... check!

Bony fingers and brittle nails clawing through the dirt? ... check!