Iris: Holiday Fashion 2008

Over the course of the last few days while back in Nebraska spending time with family and celebrating Christmas, Iris had many lovely opportunities to try out several new ensembles.

Here's a small sampling of some of her favorite looks:

"The Dancer"

"The Artist"

"The Ski Bunny"

"The Bride"

Aren't they great? One of the things I'm loving most about Iris right now is her wildly creative and rather diverse sense of style. It's so very awesome!

Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

We bought this interactive nativity scene long, long ago for Iris' first Christmas. Todd and I thought it would be the perfect way to give her (and any future children we might have) the opportunity to actively participate in the story of Jesus' birth. Of course, back then at the ripe old age of seven months, Iris wasn't that in to it. This year, however, at the very grown up age of three and a half, she's been super excited about doing the calendar.

It really is pretty cool (although a bit primitive looking, I know). The story is broken down into twenty-five parts, one for each of the days leading up to Christmas starting December 1st, and there is a little piece of the nativity scene to put up on a burlap "calendar" that corresponds with each day/portion that is read. Iris does a great job helping daddy "tell" the story.

Lydia has been excited to get in on the action too. The minute we pull out the stuff, she starts dancing with joy...although, I think she's probably mostly just dancing with joy because she can't wait to chew on the baby Jesus. I can't tell you how many times we've discovered Him missing when we're picking up at the end only to discover Lydia trying to eat Him!

We have a lot of fun together as a family, and the girls really do love doing it. I have to say that it's probably one of our most favorite traditions of the season.

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Climb Every Mountain

Another momentous event has occurred at the Bumgarner house. Lydia, much to our great surprise, has figured out how to climb up and down the stairs all by herself! And while we are so very, very proud of our brave girlie, we must admit that this amazing feat she's managed to accomplish does make our hearts quake a little with apprehension. She is just so small...and it's a long way down...and...yikes!

Here's some video of her going up the stairs:

And going down the stairs:

You know, I actually felt a little sad as I was putting the baby gate away tonight. It's such a milestone, and it means she's moved yet another step further ahead on the road to independence. A step further away from needing me so much which is something I never thought I'd miss. *Sigh* Our baby is growing up way too fast!

Recycling At Its Most....Interesting

Just when we thought we had discovered all the possible uses for those plastic shopping bags we always have lying around...

Iris goes and takes it to the next level:

Here's our creative lady modeling her new line of swimwear.

Hey, you know, she's down with saving the environment!

Jammies Are The New Blankie

At our house, we store the girls' jammies in the cupboard underneath the bathroom sink. Lydia, the most brilliant of tiny tots, has caught on to this. Without fail, every single day, no sooner do I put the jammies away and begin going about my business, do I hear the cupboard door slam open and lo and behold, Lydia triumphantly appears in the living room, arms laden with blanket sleepers.

I'm sure her fascination with her jammies..and pants..and shirts..and jackets..is mostly rooted in the fact that she is a tactile girl and loves anything soft, but we get such a kick out of our silly weirdo who would prefer to drag around clothes as opposed to anything else.

Happy, Happy Birthday Baby!

25 Days of Christmas..I've Been Tagged!

I've been tagged by my lovely friend Hope for a Christmas meme. I love all things Christmas, so it should be interesting. Are you ready? Good! Here we go...

1.Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate. With marshmallows!

2.Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
No Santa at our house either - and the majority of presents are wrapped by me - it's something I really enjoy doing. I look forward to it!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
We do white on the tree, and Hope, I completely relate to your issues with the random disorder of colored lights - I feel the same way. However, over the last few years, I've decided to swallow what feelings I have about them for the sake of my husband/daughter's lights-on-the-house decorating happiness. They LOVE them, they really, really do (crazy!). So we have colored lights on the house. Yikes!

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Nah. What's mistletoe? Just kidding...

5. When do you put your decorations up?
Our tradition is to go and get a real tree the Friday after Thanksgiving and once it's home, decorate the house and the tree. Then we watch Christmas movies and drink hot chocolate before bed. Fun!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
I guess I would have to say ham. I don't know...I've never really given the actual meal much thought before. I'm a dessert girl all the way!

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
I think for me it would have to be reading books underneath the Christmas tree in the dark with only the lights on the tree to illuminate the pages. I loved doing that!

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I can't remember. I'm sure it was from a cousin or sister or someone like that. It must not have been a big deal because thinking back from adulthood I don't feel traumatized by the situation. That's good, right?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
We haven't in years past, but now that Iris (and eventually Lydia) is getting bigger we're going to start the tradition. We're going to steal the idea of opening a gift containing Christmas jammies (I just bought some adorable ones for the girlies at Target) on Christmas Eve.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
We do red and gold balls with a few homemade and random ornaments, white lights, red, green and gold ribbon, and a red tree skirt.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
I love it through the month of January, and then it needs to go away!

12. Can you ice skate?
On a pond in snow boots. Does that count?

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I would have to say the pair of red cowboy boots I deperately wanted back when I was probably ten or eleven. I can't really remember how old I was, I just know I wanted them sooo badly. It was during my horse phase. What can I say? They were totally awesome!

14. What is the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
For me, it's also celebrating Jesus' birth and hanging out as a family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Pumpkin Pie!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Picking out our Christmas tree at the Christmas tree farm! The whole day is great!

17. What tops your tree?
A red and white striped ornament

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
I like both. It's fun to watch people open gifts they've received.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
O Holy Night...or O Come, O Come Emannuel..so beautiful!

20. Candy​ Canes​!​ Yuck or Yum?
Yum. In moderation.

21. What do you want for Christmas?
Books, books, and more books! And maybe some CDs...but really just books!

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas Party?
Yes. Our small group hosts one every year. I love Christmas parties!

23. Do you dress up on Christmas or wear PJs?
Jammies in the morning while opening presents and eating breakfast - regular clothes later on in the day.

24. Do you own a santa hat?

Yes. A sequined sparkly pink one. Can you guess who it belongs to?

25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with?

We've started the tradition of spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day here in Missouri with just us. Then we drive to Nebraska to spend the rest of the week with our extended families.

So that was kind of fun! In lieu of tagging anyone, I'm just going to leave it open. Any readers of this blog interested in participating, consider yourself tagged!

The rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Fill out the questions below
3. Tag 5-7 people at the end of your post.
4. Pass on the tag.
Have FUN!!

First Snow

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

This past Friday, we loaded up the girls and, in keeping with our long-standing tradition, headed west to the local Christmas tree farm to find the perfect Bumgarner Fa-a-mily Christmas Tree.

The search begins

Iris and Beary

(yes, that is tape, I mean a bandage, covering Beary's eyes...he apparently had a little mishap involving a concrete parking lot)

Lydia spots "The One"

Preparing to chop

Winner of the "Manliest Husband" award

"That's right. This baby ain't goin' nowhere!"

We finished up our outing by buying an ornament (Lydia was joyfully overwhelmed by the selection offered, squealing with delight over every choice) in the gift shop and attempting a photo shoot with Santa - an idea both girls vehemently protested.

The day was perfect. It's something we look forward to all year, and we had a great time together as a family.