You're 5!!

Chinese Noodle you are 5 today!  We can't believe it!  You have been sooo excited for your birthday and the opportunity to say that you really are, truly, 5 (even if you're not in Kindergarten yet, which is the other thing you're desperate to say).  The past few days you've been chattering away non-stop, swinging from every piece of furniture/handle/railing you can find and bouncing around until you crash.  Quite honestly you've been exhausting both me and Daddy with your activity level, but we love to see you so full of life!

As a 5 year old, you can tie your shoes, ride a two-wheeled bike, zip up your coat, and state your phone number and address.  You continue to love Thomas and Ka-Chow/CARS.  You claim that "Barbies are scary"--ha ha!  Your favorite food is still rice, with Chinese food being a close second, but you're also really into soup lately.  You still fall asleep in the afternoon anytime we are driving in the car for more than 10-15 minutes ("My carseat makes me fall asleep") and by 7:30 if you're not heading into bed, watch out!! 

Your little personality continues to develop and you're becoming more willing to talk to other adults and are taking less time to "warm up", as you like to say.  You also are becoming more vocal in what you want to wear and how we do your hair--braids and piggie-tails.  Good thing we instituted that one 'day a dress/one day pants'--that saves us all (usually) in the mornings :)

You have such a sweet heart and love to help out either Daddy or myself.  Your silly nature and antics keep us laughing but your serious side is never far away either.  Both Daddy and I are so proud of how you are growing and learning about how to be the best little girl that God intends for you to be.  We know that you put a smile on his face, just like you do ours.  We love you to the China moon and back and still stand in awe that God has given us the privilege of being your parents.  Enjoy your special day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Advent Chain Day 20

Sometimes I manage to think things through so that life will be easier and not more complicated.  Today was one of those days.  The activity?  Re-read all of the Christmas favorites.  Since we do that multiple times in one day, it was a no-brainer.  Ahhhhhh, nothing like curling up with a good book and the Noodle!

Advent Chain Day 19

Since I'm off of school now, I have to kick the birthday and Christmas preparations into high gear.  I was able to do a little last minute shopping this a.m., we made the birthday treat for school this afternoon and in between took time out for a haircut.  Tomorrow I'm hoping to do a little wrapping, sewing and baking before picking the Noodle up from school.

Today's activity was to take a walk down memory lane and look at past Christmas holidays in our scrapbook.  My S-I-L is an avid (when time allows) scrapbooker.  She got me into it while we were waiting for the Noodle.  I haven't done nearly what I should do, but somehow doing 3-4 pages for a Christmas book is do-able for me.  That's been the extent of it these past few years.  I still have a "waiting" scrapbook that I started when we were in the holding pattern for the Noodle.  Perhaps that should be a new year's resolution--to finish it?!

Advent Chain Day 18

Our activity for today was to bake Christmas cutout cookies.  I made the dough yesterday and while the Noodle and J were out playing in the snow, I did the cutting out and baking.  Somethings are easier without help.  Besides, the real fun is always in the decorating.

Speaking of playing out in the snow, during J's folks move, lots of toys from childhood were unearthed.  One being a snow-block-fort-maker (for lack of a better term).  Doesn't really matter that it is from circa 1978...it still works great!

The Noodle, 2011

J and his older bro, 1978 

"Only 1 structural member was used in the making of this fort"...a direct quote from the resident architect.

Once they came in from outside, we were ready to hit the icing, sprinkles and colored sugar.  Interestingly enough, last year the Noodle was all about the sprinkles and colored sugar.  She definitely had the "more is always better" theory to her cookie decorating.  This year, she was way more into the icing.  She mixed, swirled, dabbed and spread to her little heart's content.  Again, probably not going to win an Ace-of-Cake award, but mmmm, they sure taste delish :)

A tradition all our own

One of the traditions that our little family started when we grew from 2 to 3, was to make jiaozi as one of our Christmas goodies.  I should correct myself and say that J is the one who actually  makes them, but we like to hang in the kitchen and lend our support.  Some years I'll pitch in, other years I'm more of an observer and conversationalist.  A few years back Uncle and Aunt C were in town and we had a jiaozi making party after the Noodle went to bed.

Yesterday afternoon seemed like the best time to set aside the 2-3 hours that it takes to make these little pockets of goodness.  So while it was doing this outside,

 inside it looked more like this--

When everything was said and done, J made 140 dumplings.  They certainly are a labor of love, but are soo worth it.  I also love how it is a way to weave in the Noodle's history into our traditions.  Do you have any fun family traditions?
 

Advent Chain Day 17

Here's another day that is always a fun one.  We went to hear the orchestra put on a Christmas concert for kiddos featuring the brass instruments.  It is part holiday concert, part "let's learn about the various instruments in the brass family"--all compressed into a 30 minute program.  Since you've got kid-lets that span the ages from newborn up through the early/mid elementary years, you've got to have a program that is fast, fun and full of energy.  This one didn't disappoint.

As always, the orchestra hall was beautifully decorated for Christmas.  That, coupled with all the children dressed up in their finery, made for a special morning.  We did end up seeing a few folks that we knew--one little girl in the Noodle's preschool class, so that made it even more memorable.  The brass ensemble played all the favorites like Jingle Bells (accompanied by everyone's keys making a nice jingle-jangle sound), a jazzy version of Rudolf-the-Red-Nosed-Reindeer, the 12 Days of Christmas, Deck the Halls and The March of the Toy Soldiers.  Clapping, singing, snapping and knee-tapping were all encouraged, which we did with gusto!

Advent Chain Day 16

This is always one of my favorite activities of Advent.  Going to visit a live Nativity, or going on a "Journey to Bethlehem".  We heard about this one a couple of years ago from a friend at church and I was hooked.  With all the bombardment from the secular world, I feel it is even more important than ever to make Christmas about Christ (the real reason, afterall). 

This year, the Noodle wasn't as afraid of King Herod, but she still thought the Roman Centurions were scary and she covered her eyes the entire time they were talking.  She was happy to look at the sheep/lambs, but didn't want to pet them or feed them.  The donkey was, as always, cantankerous.  Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus were serene.  Most importantly?  It brings the age-old story to life and it becomes meaningful and revelant.