Christmas 2013

We hope you had a very Merry Christmas!! I had great plans to post this before the first of the year, but alas, it didn't happen ;) We enjoyed a quiet Christmas with just J and the girls, but a few days after had lots of company for New Year's (more posts coming!). Here is Christmas 2013 in photos... Enjoy! 

Christmas Eve Dinner: Roast Beef in Madeira Wine Sauce, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Green Beans and Croissants.

Reading our favorite Christmas books on Christmas Eve...

Lindsay ran down the stairs and jumping up and down when she saw that Santa came...

Whoa! A Minnie Mouse plate for me!! 

Maddie thought she would sample the half-eaten carrot left by a reindeer... she was not a fan. 

Hooray! Doc McStuffins water bottle!! 

Opening stockings

Thanks Mom and Dad for the boots and sweater dresses!!

A special gift from Grammie... Sleeping Bag!! 

Loving her sleeping bag! Madison got a purple one too! Sleepover time ;)

Madison's presents were all about baby dolls... her favorite thing to play.

Little tater tot took FOREVER to open a gift. She would have to read/play with it for 15 minutes before she was ready for the next one. Don't rush me Mama & Daddy!!

Sweet Girl with her baby bed. Hasn't tried to climb in it yet (as of now).

Helping Daddy open his gifts.. he got a cozy robe and fleece pants to wear around the house. He put them to good use with the below freezing weather we've had lately!!

I had two little helpers to open my gifts, a cute monogrammed purse filled with gift cards!

Madison testing out some chapstick...lol.

After opening presents we ate  Gluten Free Strata  (FANTASTIC!) for breakfast and snuggled. Then we Skyped with Papa, Grammie, Gigi, Auntie, Uncle Matt and Nonna to open even more presents!  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love, The Fishers xo

Christmas Vacation & Living Nativity

Jarrett's Christmas vacation started on December 23rd (but to us it began on Friday night the 20th...LOL) and we had a few things on our bucket list to do this year...

SANTA!! Every year  the Lawrence Fire Department drives the firetrucks and a trailer with Santa in our neighborhood!  We wait to hear the sirens and run outside to wave!

Santa threw lollipops for the kids, and the girls enjoyed the lights on the engines, but didn't like the sirens. 

 

Mama and a cold Maddie. She told me, "Too loud. Too scary. Eat candy?" LOL. 

Next on our list was to go to Palmer Square in Princeton to see the giant Christmas tree and drink some hot cocoa from Bent Spoon...

Daddy and Lindsay

 We strolled around and looked at the lights and took some photos until we heard singing... there were real carolers singing!! It was just like a movie ;) The girls love, love, loved watching the high schools sing, and I caught Lindsay singing right along to "Fa La La La".

Maddie (Snowman) Lulu (Elf) 

Daddy and Lindsay had an afternoon Daddy-Daughter date to see movie "Frozen". Lindsay loved the movie, and Jarrett said he had fun afterwards doing the Dance Revolution game in the lobby with her!

Cheese!!

One of the things I was dying to do this Christmas Season was visit the Living Nativity in Mount Laurel. This was the first time I have visited a living nativity, and it was awesome!! The church was so organized, and put a lot of time and detail in the sets, performances and message. Jarrett and I kept thinking about the actors in the cold every weekend in December telling the Christmas story...What an incredibly special gift and ministry for the community! 

So cool!! Fantastic "market" with Roman soldiers. They looked pretty intimidating!

There was 13+ scenes, and they told the story of Jesus's birth, but continued through to Jesus life, death and Resurrection. I wondered if the girls would make the connection between the story we read every year and seeing it told live. Lindsay was so excited, and watched intently. She told me "Hey Mama, that is a story I've heard before!" She asked me lots of questions later, and they were wonderful teachable moments.

Rolling the stone away to an empty tomb..

Jesus calming the storm. The boat really moved!

Madison was cracking me (and everyone around us) up at the scenes by pointing and saying, "Mama Jesus! Jesus!" at every man wearing a robe.

Madison loved the animals, and kept telling me, "Mama, pet horse? Pet sheep?"
The people were suspended in air singing Hallelujah Chorus.

I was a little curious how they were going to portray the Crucifixion, especially with such a young audience. They showed the three crosses, (after Jesus had died) and a man narrated the events and salvation Jesus made possible by his death.

Jesus ascending into heaven. 

The living nativity was such a precious way to prepare our hearts for Christmas. I loved seeing the girls make the connection between the stories they hear in the Bible, and realizing these truths and promises are real.  For the word of God is alive and active. Hebrews 4:12

Lindsay's Nutcracker Performance

On Saturday we watched Lindsay perform in the Y's version of the classic Christmas ballet, the Nutcracker! Although the show was super informal, you can tell the students had a blast and really got into their parts. There were several pieces chosen from the ballet, Lindsay was in the Snowflake group, and there were Gingerbread Dolls as well as the Spanish and Arabian dances. The best part was all the kids were pre-school age... talk about adorable!!  

 

Daddy and Madison waiting for it to begin...

We got to the gym 25 minutes early, thinking we would find a seat... boy were we wrong! It was sweet seeing all the parents and family supporting their little ballerinas. We did find a nice place on the floor in front.

 Making her entrance...

Her little class made their "snowflakes" they used as props with popsicle sticks and cute snowflake stickers. She was so proud! The white tutus and headbands were from the Y's show a few years back.

Making a snow angel.

Concentrating hard on her dance.

At the end, Daddy and Madison got Lindsay red and white flowers. Maddie was so cute handing her big sis the flowers...

Precious girl

Here you go, Sissy!

Daddy and Lindsay

Here's the video... *Warning* It is super long.. I apologize for the shaky camera, Maddie was climbing on my lap when I was trying to video it! The first video is of her entrance (1 minute), the second is of her actual dance (4 minutes) ... Enjoy!

A few video highlights:
*Lindsay had some moments where she was really feeling the music and doing what she has done since she could walk...dance!!
*There was a little girl to the right that was frozen in fear, bless her heart. I didn't catch it, but I think the teacher had to pick her up at one point after she took off her tutu, and the crowd giggled.
*Lindsay cracked me up when she laid on the floor with her legs in the air.. so lady-like..lol.
*My favorite part is the ending... she was so proud. Love the curtsy and huge smile!
*You can hear Maddie through the video jabbering away... love that sweet talker!

Great job Lulu!! We are so proud of you!!

Holiday Fun with Friends

The girls and I have been busy this month having fun with our friends celebrating Christmas! Here are a few highlights...

 

 We decorated gingerbread houses with our friends from Lindsay's ballet class...

Friends Ellen, Charlotte and Lulu

The girls had so much fun decorating their graham cracker houses.

Sneaky taste taster...

 

So proud of her creation!!

Madison's house is to the left: Boy that girl is fast... she ate just about everything I put on there!! Lindsay's house is to the right, and her candy of choice to decorate with were the spice drops! 

Last week we went to a PJ's and Pajama Christmas brunch at our friends' Allison, Teagan and Peyton's house along with all our CBS gang of girlfriends. Can't beat coffee on a snowy day with good friends :)

Teagan and Lulu are bestie's in their tutus...

All the littles watching the movie.. they all had so much fun! Maddie I on the left in her pink tutu!

This morning the girls and I made our annual Christmas Sugar Cookies, and I had two helpers this year! Madison helped pour some sugar into the mixing bowl and Lindsay had fun cutting out shapes and decorating with frosting and sprinkles. Our friends Kristy and Lila were suppose to come over and join us like last year, but sweet Lila was sick with a cold.

Lulu was so careful and followed directions really well!

Rug Bug... Madison took a little break from cookie making.

Lindsay had fun working the mixer all by herself.

MMmmm. Madison took a bite before I could get the first picture!

Decorating her masterpiece...

A ton of cookies later...

Thankfully, most of the cookies we will bring to Lindsay's Nutcracker performance at the YWCA tomorrow... those babies are just too yummy with a cup of coffee to be laying around! ;)

Lindsay & Mommy Date

On Saturday Lindsay and I had our very first Mother-Daughter Date! I am not sure who was more excited, me or her :) We got all dolled up and went to see the Nutcracker Ballet at Rider University, put on by a local dance studio. It was not too long, and the dancers were young kids. Lindsay said, "Hey! That girl might be really big, like 7 or something!"

My beautiful date... She wanted me to curl her hair like Mommy's. 

Lindsay helped me pick out my sweater and said, "Mama, let's be matching and wear polka dots!"

Us ladies dined at the WildFlour Café, a gluten-free restaurant I have been dying to try. It is in a really cute old home on main street in Lawrenceville. Lindsay ordered us buttermilk pancakes and fruit! Yum!

Here's a picture from summertime. Imagine it covered in snow...so cozy!

It was so precious to just be near my eldest and hear her talk all about her little world. We talked about her best friends, Lila and Teagan, and how she was excited to go to preschool. I discovered her favorite colors are pink AND purple.

Felt sassy drinking her lemon water!

Here we are at the theatre, and I let her go to the box office and pick up our tickets. She proudly gave the ticket lady the money and took the tickets to give to the doorman.

"I have the golden tickets!"

(Sorry the photos are so dark, I took them with my cell phone camera that doesn't have a flash )

Inside the theatre we waited for the show to begin and she wanted to sit on my lap ;) I love my big girl, but it was just heaven that she let me snuggle while we watched the show. Her favorite dance was Waltz of the Flowers, and she even recognized the music to her own dance she will be doing on Saturday.

During intermission, we went into the lobby to get a treat and the Dew Drop Fairy was walking around. Lindsay was thrilled to get to take a picture and hug her!! Lindsay was so excited when she saw her new friend dancing on stage.

 



I love my big girl, and the beautiful little person she is becoming on the inside and outside. What a blessing it is to be her Mama and walk beside her in this sweet life!