Baking Sugar Cookies - 356/365

Tonight, we spent some time baking our annual sugar cookies for Santa. Reagan just loves baking her Santa cookies. Her favorite part is stealing pieces of dough to eat, but who doesn't. She is an expert at rolling and loves arranging the cookie cutters on the dough. 

Her next favorite part is the sprinkles. She LOVES pouring the sprinkles. If you let her, she will pour half a bottle on one cookie. What a hoot!

They all came out great and I think Santa will be thrilled!

Baking Beauty!

 Frosting!

 Frosting Face!

 Done!

Browns and Salt Dough - 355/365

Today was going to be a lazy day. We were just going to hang around the house and relax before the busy Christmas week started. 

We watched the Browns game, which was another clunker. They played Carolina and Manziel AND Hoyer got hurt. They lost 17-13,  but at least they got a few points this week. 

Reagan played dress-up most of the day! She just loves wearing all her gowns!

This evening, we spent some time painting our salt dough ornaments we made the other day! Reagan had so much fun decorating them. We used paints and different types of glitter. She was in heaven! 

She loved picking special ones out to give to everyone, too!

Brinkley and "Anna" having a moment.

 Working hard on her salt dough ornaments. 

Breakfast with Santa - 354/365

This morning we were up and out early to the Akron Zoo to have breakfast with Santa and the Animals! 

We have gone the last two years and just love going. The zoo is closed until 11, except to the people who are there for the event. It's so nice! 

The have a huge buffet, visits with Santa, cookie decorating, and a craft. As a bonus, you get to feed the penguins. When you are all done with that, you are free to walk around the zoo. It's so nice!

We started with pictures with Santa. There was no line, so it was nice. Santa really took his time with Reagan. It was so sweet! Each child gets a little gift. There was a little stuffed elf in there, and some candy and pretzels. She was so excited. 

After Santa, we went and had our breakfast. The buffet was great! There were scrambled eggs, vegetable scrambled eggs, pancakes, hash browns, sausage, bacon and muffins. YUM! Reagan was loving the hot chocolate to drink, too. When we were all done, we were cleaning off our table and taking our garbage over to the trash. Their was a man, separating the garbage into three categories. Reagan had her cup of hot chocolate she was finishing and handed it to the man. He didn't quite grab it all the way and it fell right onto his shoe. There was still a bit still in there and it dumped right on his shoe. We felt so bad! He was a really good sport about it though and just said, "accidents happen!"

After that, we decided to take a walk around the zoo, while it was still technically closed.  We went up around Grizzly Ridge to check out the otters and bears. On the way up, there was a little gray cat that started following us everywhere. He was so cute and I thought for a second, we would have to take him home. When we got over to the coyotes, they went nuts trying to get the cat. It was crazy! They were pouncing and banging on the glass! We got a pretty cool video of the whole thing.
By this time, Reagan was crying that she was cold, so we went back down to the aquarium part for a little bit. She loved that and we couldn't get her out of there!
It was a great day!
Reagan and Santa

 The pouncing coyotes.

 Our traditional Akron Zoo picture with the sign.

Feeling ill hanging around house - 353/365

Today, I woke up feeling a bit stuffy and just icky. I was afraid I was getting the flu everyone has been fighting. Jim offered to take Reagan to gymnastics this morning, so I could just stay home and rest a bit. He was excited because he never gets to go, so it was a good excuse for him to go check it out. I took advantage of the time and just lounged on the couch while they were gone. 

This afternoon, Reagan and I just watched movies. She ran a slight temp of 99.8 this afternoon and she kept saying her forehead hurt. Now, I was afraid SHE was getting the dreaded flu. I gave her some Tylenol and laid her down for a nap. She went right to sleep! I left her room and realized I forgot the monitor about 5 minutes later and she was already sound asleep. She and I, both, ended up sleeping for 2 1/2 hours this afternoon. 

We both woke up feeling a bit better. 

Poor Jim just tried to steer clear of us this evening. We all just want to be healthy for the holiday. Fingers crossed!

Here is a picture of our sleeping baby girl. 

Preschool Party, Gervasi Limo - 352/365

It was going to be a busy day today! 

I started the day helping with Reagan's preschool Christmas party! I just love being a homeroom mom! It's wonderful to be able to plan a fun little party for all her little friends. Her teachers are just the best, too, and help tremendously to keep the party moving. 

We had lots of activities planned. We did two crafts, played pin the hat on the polar bear, Santa cookie toss and candy cane fishing! After that we did a little limbo. This was a HIT! They LOVED it! After that, we had a little snack. They ate pizza and cookies! After we got that all cleaned up! 

We had a big bag filled with little presents. We pulled names and they got to pick a gift to open. They loved it!

We ended the party with a little Christmas bingo and M&M's. I think it was a success and they all had a good time. At least I hope so! 

After the party, Reagan and I went home for a little bit, then headed down to ballet. I was so excited because this week was "watch week." We got to go in and watch the last 10 minutes of class. They did a little part of their routine for the recital for us. It was so stinking cute! We can see why they don't normally let us watch though, because they were SO distracted with everyone in the room. It will be a HOOT to see what happens on recital day! LOL!

This evening, we were taking a limo down to Gervasi winery!! It was a little "cruise club" get together. We had such a fun ride down to the winery and it went pretty fast!

The winery itself was just GORGEOUS! Absolutely amazing and decorated perfectly for the holidays! The food was awesome and the bread was to die for! We all could of made a meal out of the bread and appetizers! YUM!

On the way home, we all did a little gift exchange. We each got a $10 boy and a $10 girl gift. I think the best gift was Ron's Weiner Pen from Raymond and Jennifer.  It was an absolute HOOT! We all were howling. Papa ended up stealing it from him, so Ron got to open another gift and got booze which I think he was happy with. LOL! 

When we got back though, everything was frozen, so everyone was a little worried going home. Thankfully everyone made it OK!

What a super fun night!

First up, the little treat bags I made for each kid in her class. 

Reagan's turn to pick a present!

Limbo QUEEN!

Watch week at ballet!

Our table at dinner! Good food and GREAT friends!

 It was just gorgeous there. 

 Our "prom picture" on the stairs. 

Elsa Play Date - 351/365

Today Elsa was making a special appearance at All the Little Birds. We haven't been there in ages! We sure loved it there and it's so sad Reagan out grew it. 

Anyway, we got there at 10:30 and had some time before the Queen made her arrival! Reagan remembered all the old toys, she was having a ball. 

While everyone was waiting, there was a little "Do you want to build a snowman craft." Reagan loved it! She just loves little projects!

When Elsa arrived all the little girls went bananas and swarmed her. It was so cute! She was so sweet to all the little ones and took time with each one. 

Once she talked with each one, they got to get their picture taken with her. Reagan wanted to show her the snowman she made and Elsa just loved it. She was so sweet with her. 

All in all, it was a successful little visit and Reagan was so bummed we had to leave. 

Reagan and her friend, Elsa.

Warm Hugs....

Reagan built a snowman!

Spirit Day, Santa Shopping - 350/365

Reagan was off to school today for spirit day!

We ordered our spirit wear earlier in the year and they finally got to wear it today! She was so excited and looked absolutely adorable in her tie dye!

The teacher also sent us home a gift from Reagan. They worked on a few special projects over the last couple school days, as gifts for the parents. Mrs. Sebastiani took their pictures and they decorated wreaths, to make magnets for the fridge. They were so cute. She also took their hand prints and helped them make them into angel wings. We loved our presents!

Nana picked her up from school today, so I could do a few Christmas chores this afternoon. She was going to stay and eat dinner over there, so Jim and I decided it was a good evening to go play Santa and pick out a few gifts for her. We spent a lot of time wandering around the Toys R Us and found some fun stuff for her. 

After our shopping, we decided to stop and have a quick dinner at Rise Pies. YUM!

Fun day!

Reagan and her friend, Audrina at Spirit Day!

 Reagan's little magnet wreath she made us. 

 Her hand print angel. 

Our Rise Pies dinner.