Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve began as Christmas Eve never should, which was with Kristin waking up with 101 fever. Luckily I had the day off, so we just hung around the house in our PJ's, making cookies and doing breathing treatments. Kristin really was trying to pretend that she felt fine and was worried that she wouldn't get any presents if she was sick. I assured her that no matter what, she would get her presents. One of the girls at school gave all the teachers a set of cookie dough mix. Mine was sugar cookie, so that's what Kristin and I used for Santa's cookies. We made snowmen this year and they turned out pretty cute. I am happy to say that the night before I got the last bag of powdered sugar at Wal-Mart to make icing!




Kristin also had to put out the reindeer food that she made at school.




After we baked cookies we watched A Christmas Story then checked the Santa Tracker on the NORAD site. That really is neat. You can see all the places Santa has been and see "news reports" of Santa sightings around the world. Each year Kristin gets more and more excited about the tracker and as he gets closer to the US, she knows it's almost time for bed. Kristin asked me if I still believe in Santa and I said, "Of course!" I cannot imagine Christmas without the magic of Santa. We did let Kristin open one present from us...clay. She was so excited and has since made several coil pots and is getting them ready to paint.


Before bed we read the Christmas story from Kristin's children's Bible and then it was off to bed...so we thought. Kristin laid with Chris while he watched tv and would NOT go to sleep. So I laid down with her and she finally calmed down enough to fall asleep. Kristin left specific instructions for Santa to use the Hannah Montanna paper she picked to wrap her presents, so that's just what he did ;) and he left a present under the tree in her room as she requested as well. Kristin also decorated a box with pictures and drawings for Santa. On the box she wrote "It is 4 u, Santa and Ms. Klos. Luv, Kristin Arft" Of course I kept the box and drawings!

Kristin woke up at 7:30 Christmas morning informing me that Santa had left presents and that her head felt better (she still had a little fever).

For breakfast Chris had his first experience with biscuits and chocolate gravy. Being from Missouri, he'd never heard of it and wanted to try it (Kristin had never had it either). And as I figured, they both liked it. Chris had to work overnight, so we just stayed at home, which I love. I like seeing family, but I love Christmas when we can open presents, hang out at home and not have to worry about going anywhere.

This weekend we are going to Cabot for Christmas with Mom, Lynn, and her family. I'll post lots of Christmas pictures when we get back.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Tour

Merry Christmas and welcome to the Christmas Tour of Homes. Grab a mug of coffee or hot chocolate and enjoy the tour!

Santa greets you as you make your way to our house. Kristin was so excited about this addition to our house and yard decorations.



Once inside, you'll find my table with some of my many snowmen. Also I have my Christmas Card Tree. I found this last year at Khol's and have really enjoyed it. Hoepfully it will have more cards on it in the days to come!

Hanging on the wall next to the table are our stockings. My grandmother made my stocking and my mom made Chris and Kristin's. I considered learning how to make them myself, but they involve a lot of cross-stitch and beadwork and I do not have the attention span or patience to do it!




This is my wreath that is too delicate to put on an outside door, so I hang it on the wall above the couch. It was made by the mother of a friend of mine from Japan.

Here is our tree. I usually do ribbon, but Kristin wanted the cranberry and gumdrop garland, so that's what we went with. We considered getting a live tree this year, but with all the allergy and asthma issues we've been having, we decided against it.



To the right of the tree are more snowmen. I love my snowman who counts down the days till Christmas.



To the left of the tree you'll find a good place to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee (or hot chocolate).


On top of the entertainment center is our nativity...


Here is our door going to the garage...


and as you make your way to the kitchen....on top of my pantry you'll find more Chrismas odds and ends. Some I have had since I was little. I love the little Christmas cottage. When you blow out the tealight candle inside, smoke comes out of the chimney.


And in the kitchen window...more snowmen, of course! I also put out my Coca-Cola Polar Bear glass...I always loved those commercials and am so sad they no longer show them.



Down the hall is Kristin's advent calendar. This was mine when I was little, a family friend made it for me. Now Kristin looks forward to moving the bear each day until he finds Christmas. She is especially excited about it this year since she is beginning to be able to read some of it herself.


Here is Kristin's tree and her ornament she got last year at the Precious Moments Chapel. She is hoping that Santa will leave a present under her tree.

Well, that about does it. Thanks for visiting and have a merry Christmas!!!!!

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things.....

Ok, I don't look or sound anything like Julie Andrews, but since I've been tagged to do it, here's my list of top 10 favorite things:

1. Kodak--I LOVE Kodak products...I have a Kodak M1033 camera that I take pictures with on almost a daily basis and Chris got me a Kodak printer for an early Christmas present. With the Kodak software you can do anything..order and edit pictures, print pictures, make all kinds of cards, albums, etc. LOVE IT!

2. GreenWorks Cleaner--this stuff is great...it's all natural cleaner that you can use on anything, and I do! I buy a bottle of concentrate (which is only a little over 2 bucks) and it lasts forever. Best of all, since it's all natural, Kristin can use it to help me clean! :)

3. Purell Hand Sanitizer--I'm becoming more OCD in my old-age and since I am around germy kids all day and wash my hands constantly, I, of course, also love hand sanitizer and am somewhat addicted. I have no clue how many times I use it throughout the day, after helping kids wipe their noses, etc. I always carry a travel size bottle in my purse and use it before and after grocery shopping.

4. Udder Cream--between all the hand washing and sanitizing, needless to say, I have very dry hands. They are especially bad this time of year. Udder cream lotion is something I always have around, usually right next to the hand sanitizer! It's great stuff and a little goes a long way.

5. Hallam's Peanut Butter---this is a local peanut butter made in Ozark, Missouri and it's WONDERFUL! Between Kristin and myself, we go through tons of it. It is natural, organic peanut butter and it's yummy! There are several things that I always but organic, and this is one of them.

6. Burt's Bees or Carmex--I always have one of these on hand...usually one at school, one in my car or purse, and one by the bed.

7. Jan Brett--ok, she's not a thing, she's a person, but her books are things! Jan Brett is a children's author and her books are wonderful..The Mitten, The Hat, Annie and the Wild Animals...just to name a few. Kristin loves her books and I have lots of The Mitten and The Hat activities to do with my kids during our winter unit.

8. Folgers Coffee, classic blend---yes there is Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and many other "better" brands and flavors, but Folgers original will always be my favorite. With lots of cream and sugar, of course! Maybe it's because that's what Dad always drank and it makes me think of him, but I have to have some every morning. I love when I wake up at 5:15 and smell my coffee brewing!

9. A Christmas Story--it's Christmas and I love this movie. Last year Chris got it for me on DVD and I think Kristin and I watched it almost every night! It just makes me laugh.

10. Crayola--anything made by Crayola! Kristin will spend hours drawing, gluing, cutting, painting, so we have a lot of Crayola "stuff" and it's all worth every penny. This past summer while at the Crown Center in Kansas City we discovered a huge Crayola store...I don't know who liked it more, me or Kristin! She told me this morning that she is ready to go back!

Well, those are some of may favorites, now what are yours?

I tag...Mandy, Cassie and Allison Lynn, I would tag you too, but you don't have a blog :(

Playing Catch-Up

Wow, seems like a lot has been going on lately and I haven't posted in weeks. I'm at home sick. Kristin was sick the past couple of days and I think I have whatever it was that she had. Chris has a cold, but doens't have a fever or anything. Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Kristin and I went to Cabot, then went with Mom to my aunt's house in Truman for Thanksgiving. Kristin had so much fun playing with Luke and riding with Uncle Dutch on the 4-wheeler. She was so upset when we had to leave. Lynn, Brandon and Lindsay went back to Cabot with us and spent the weekend. We all got up at 4:30 Friday morning and headed to Wal-Mart. I was on a mission to find Kristin a coat and a fleece-lined jacket. They had great deals on them and Kristin is SO picky about her coats (all clothes, actually)...they have to feel just right and not be too "puffy" (she has a wonderful Gap down filled coat that she refuses to wear). We found a couple of coats and some other things. I think everyone but Lindsay took a nap later that day. We came back home Saturday to a nice, clean house (thanks, Chris). Chris had gone to Joplin and ended up staying the night since the weather was getting bad. Kristin slept in the bed with me and at 4am, threw up all in the bed. So, I did a load of sheets at 4 in the morning! We awoke Sunday to snow! It snowed all day and night and we got a nice dusting...it was so pretty.

Here are some more birthday pictures...some from Kristin's birthday with Grandma and Grandpa. I'll post pictures from Cabot soon...Blogger is giving me trouble!

Within the next couple of weeks we will be having a referral conference with Kristin's teacher and school to request that she be evaluated for an IEP or 504 plan. What that would do is require the teacher and school to make accomidations for her such as a quiet place to do work, daily reports about her day that are more in-depth than what I usually get, more one on one teaching, etc. And if she qualifies, she would get to work with an occupational therapist on her many sensory issues (refer to her clothing issues above). Anyway, hopefully this will get things going in the right direction. I never hear from her teacher, but Kristin seems to be having fun at school and is beginning to read...all I did in Kindergarten was play! Oh well. I will update again after the conference.