Spending Our Time

I love that there is no school for three weeks. This little reprieve is making me miss the lazy days of summer.

This is how we have been spending our time. Someone (named Latham) thinks she is ready for a big girl bed. She desperately wants to do everything her sisters do!

Even though it has not been too cold -- we are taking full advantage of cozy fires.

And using Daddy as our indoor playset.

A sneak peek

I know I have promised pictures of the basement and "kids club" for weeks now. It's just that I am still waiting on some finishing touches. In the meantime, here is a sneak peek.

A little pink leopard. After all, we do have three girls!

Some bright colors.

Interesting lighting.

And a homemade chandelier.

Christmas Eve

This is the story of our Christmas Eve.

This is the last shot before we went to bed. But our festivities started with the Christmas Eve Pageant at church.

Ellery was one of the three Magi. It was her first speaking part and she was a little nervous.

Vaughan was the Christmas Star.

While we don't have any pictures to prove it - Latham was the naughty bugger in the pews, scribbling on paper and dashing up the aisle. She rocks a mean mullet, right?

When we got home -- we prepared our traditional Christmas Eve meal (a seafood/vegetarian supper).

A toast was made (using fancy glasses by all -- except Latham, see her little sippy cup?)

After dinner, the girls prepared a snack for Santa. I found this sweet note from Ellery right next to Santa's cookies.

Let me translate "Dear Santa, Please make sure Vaughan gets what she wants. Please."

And this was the scene by the stockings when we awoke on Christmas morning. Not a lump of coal in site -- but no lack of baby dolls to be sure!

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas. Signing off for a few days...enjoy your families and friends!

More Christmas Fun

There has been gingerbread house construction, gingerbread man decoration and cinnamon ornament making! The house smells like Christmas!

I have pictures of the ornament making...somewhere. It is by far our favorite Christmas activity -- one worth trying because:

1) it is easy

2) it is not messy

3) the kids love it

4) it's not something you eat

Recipe:

1/2 white school glue

1/2 applesauce

cinnamon

This recipe takes a lot of cinnamon. You need to add enough so that you create a rather thick dough. After kneading a bit you will get almost a thick play dough consistency. Now you can roll it out and use cookie cutters to create the shapes you want. Don't forget to use a straw to make a hole where you can hang the ornament.

You can let these dry over several days or we just popped them in the oven (250) for about an hour.

Skating

I mentioned a few days ago that we had been doing much during this Christmastime - including skating.

The St. Regis here in town covers their pool with a skating rink in the winter. The pool deck is transformed into a winter wonderland. There is a fire where you can make smores and a little bar area where you can order bubbly champaign or hot chocolate. I was huddled near a heater while Ellery worked her magic on the ice. I giggle every time I watch this.

Enjoy!

Christmas Caroling

Christmas is here and yesterday I mentioned all that we had been doing to prepare for the season. The preparations included caroling.

Welcome folks this is our own little version of Where's Waldo - I like to call it where's Ellery? Do you see her? (second row from the bottom 5th from the right)

Both girls had school Christmas programs this week. I teared up watching them sing - is that normal or am I overly sentimental?

Next week is our church pageant - always a chaotic performance with lost sheep and crying angels. I am sure this year will be no different.

And just so Latham doesn't feel left out -- she has been busy too!

A Christmas Miracle

A while back I shared with you all the devastating news about a sorority sister and her family. Elisa was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer just 9 days after her husband, Nathan, was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. It has been not been an easy journey for them. There have been set-backs (Elisa's cancer spread to her brain). Today, I share with you their Christmas miracle.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

On the 3rd day of Christmas

my true love gave to me - three ear infections, 2 children coughing and pneumonia.

Man this fall has been brutal. Let me say that again, this fall has been brutal. While we haven't (yet) encountered serious illnesses (does pneumonia count?) we have had cold after cold after cold after cold. For the last two and half months someone has been coughing or sniffling around here.

Last week, Latham had a double ear infection and this week Vaughan got the double doozy - ear infection and pneumonia.

Today I am thankful for antibiotics and healthy children who have immune systems strong enough to fight back. In the midst of these doctors visits, we have been busy doing Christmastime things; baking, ice skating, light seeing, present wrapping, carol singing, Christmas show watching.

And I know I promised weeks ago a peek into our "redone" basement - especially "kids club." The truth is I went downstairs to take a picture and could hardly walk into kids club. It has been well used and well loved and well you know that means -- it is a mess. Pictures will be posted shortly -- I promise, really

Stuff

\love these bracelets and this necklace.

Before it was December

Before December shoved its way through the door, before all of the Christmas lights were hung and the Christmas trees were decorated, before the last week of school was upon us we ventured to the farm for a weekend escape.

There was some hiking

Isn't it hard to believe that the forests were filled with color just a few weeks ago?

I love these shots of Vaughan - mostly because she is always a willing model!

I have shot after shot of Vaughan posing for the camera!

There was some unsuccessful fishing, but we really didn't mind. (Do you think our efforts were unsuccessful because we were using venison jerky as bait?)

The littlest one (who is anything but little), trotting along doing her best to keep up.

And this my friends is how the evening ended. We were all curled up by the fire. Is there anything better?

At one point, all three girls and Alan were laid up on the floor like this.

The End

Our First Letter to Raveesha

Today we put together our first letter to Raveesha. I am so thankful that are sponsoring this little girl. She has been a reminder to me and to the girls of so much during this Christmas Season: our priority to serve others, our health, our abundance, our comforts, our excesses.

Yesterday, Vaughan's class had a storytime event at the local Barnes and Noble. Her teachers were there and some classmates. While she settled down to listen to some stories, I quickly ducked behind the aisles and attempted to get in some Christmas shopping. Last year, in the chaos of caring for a newborn, I absent-mindedly overshopped. Suddenly on Christmas Eve I found myself pulling after back of goodies I had purchased here and there. It was TOO MUCH.

This year, I vowed to be more mindful of my purchases. As a family we have instated the "Santa brings each child something to read, something to wear and something to play with" philosphy. And with that in mind, I searched the aisles for a book for each girl.

With my bag of books in one hand and Vaughan holding the other, I exited the store feeling a sense of accomplishment. That is until....it started....it began as a mild whine. "But I wanted to get a book." "Charlie got a book. Why don't I ever get anything?" I gently reminded Vaughan that not every trip to a store results in a purchase. The whining escalated and once buckled into the car it turned into tears. The drama people -- the next 30 minutes in the car were quite unpleasant.

I pulled out all of my tricks (which upon closer examination are quite limited):

1. Ignore and listen to the music



2. Reason - explain why we don't always get "things"



3. Introduce the concept of money - things cost money



4. Threaten - if the crying doesn't stop, Julie (your doll) will be taken away for the rest of the day

All the while, I was wondering how I could inpart the important message to my child here. Life isn't about things - it's about relationships. This season isn't about getting - it's about giving. I know, she's four and these are complex concepts but the poor me pity party was a serious downer and after 30 minutes of whining and crying I was fully frustrated.

We picked up Ellery from school and hustled home. I threw in some distractions and Vaughan eventually regained her composure. While the downward spiral into a complete meltdown was averted, I knew that was only part of my task. I was supposed to teach her something, right?

And here is where Raveesha comes in. After reading Raveesha's story to the girls, they asked a lot of questions. Questions about where she lives, how she lives, what her life is like. Part of her story explained that her diet consists mainly of rice. Vaughan has honed in on this and at nearly every meal she asks me what Raveesha is eating. She wondered why that was what she mostly ate and was saddened by the thought that Raveesha might not get a cake on her birthday. "Maybe she can have a rice cake?"

I am a firm believer in taking advantage of "moments" to teach our children. Every hour of everyday, in what can seem like an exhausting task, I find myself trying to teach my children. Sometimes the lesson is concrete like yesterday at the book store "Vaughan how much does that book cost? You always need to look at the price. See the number? 9.98. That means the book is 9 dollars and 98 cents." Other times the lesson is more abstract. I might have missed that lesson in the car while Vaughan was crying. You know, the abstract lesson about putting others first, about focusing on what is important, about how Christmas is not about what we get. But I think Raveesha is teaching her that one and so far she seems to be doing an excellent job.

Last night, the girls were in their beds and we were saying our prayers. Sweet Vaughan prayed for Raveesha. When we took turns saying what we were thankful for, Vaughan said she was thankful "for poor people." I knew what she meant and I smiled.

We wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there. Over the past few days, I have read countless articles and blog posts about Thanksgiving about gratitude about our many blessings. I read these articles from the comfort of my bed - where I spent most of the last two days.

While I might get sick - you know a cold here or there - I am not very empathetic to those who get sick and complain and moan and groan. I hold this standard to myself as well. At least I did until Wednesday. Wednesday I was knocked off of my feet. Yes, I had a sore throat, a stuffy head, a tight chest, was achy and had chills...but I literally could not perform any parenting duties. I had to call for back-up people - I was unable to get out of bed.

Today, after a few doctor visits and some antibiotics and steroids, I am on the mend. Today I am incredibly grateful that all it took to get me back in action was some rest and some medicine. I am incredibly grateful that I have a husband and parents who can step in when I need to step out. I rested in bed for two days knowing that not only were my children well cared for - they were having fun.

Yesterday, while laying in bed, Alan texted me from my parents' house and our destination for our Thanksgiving meal, "maybe you should just stay home and rest." Ugh, was I really going to miss Thanksgiving dinner?

Even though the day had not played out at all like I had planned, I knew I had to make a showing. I did show up but I didn't really last. I retreated back home back to bed.

This morning I woke up feeling much. much better. The girls all stayed at Gagi and PopPop's and when I reached for my phone, I saw this picture my mom had texted me.

The McKnight girls in bed, eating dessert and watching tv. Like I said, they didn't miss me at all!

Raveesha

A while back I wrote about the Girl Effect. I also mentioned a few ways we can all help. My friend Jocelyn was simultaneously trying to get some children sponsored. The stars aligned and our family sponsored Raveesha, pictured above.

Raveesha lives with her sister and her parents in Sri Lanka. The girls are still processing what exactly this means. They have learned a little about Sri Lanka and have learned a little about the fact that not all children have things like warm beds and full bellies.

In the next week, we will be putting together our first letter to Raveesha. I am sure it will contain some stickers and other little treats. I will keep you all posted on how this experience develops for us.

Up next -- kids club (aka the closet under the stairs) will be revealed. It is so cute and the girls love it.

I forgot to mention

I love this picture. Seriously - every time I look at it (which is quite often), I chuckle. Vaughan is reading book after book after book to anyone who will listen. Of course, it isn't as easy as listening, Vaughan has a number of rules that must be followed. These include but are not limited to:

- no talking

- you must hold your questions until the end

- she properly holds the book, licking her finger before turning each page

the rules really go on and on and vary depending on the day.

I love how Vaughan has one little foot on top of the other and I love how Marissa's feet don't reach the floor.

This is Marissa.

She is visiting from Vienna. Marissa is originally from the Philippines. She has siblings who migrated to the US and she hasn't seen them in over 30 years. After a stop here in Atlanta, Marissa made her way to California to meet up with her brothers and sisters. She will be back in two weeks and I can't wait to hear all about her adventures. It has been so nice having Marissa around. The girls adore her, she is a huge help and exudes love. I will certainly miss her when she returns to Vienna.

Here we have cake #2.

And cake #1 - can you tell which one I made?

There were parties

with games

and obstacle courses

and this all resulted in some tired kids

and some tired parents.

We are recovering from b-day parties and Halloween and I am gearing up for Thanksgiving.

GOBBLE GOBBLE.

Halloween Parades and Parties, in Pictures