The dress Agnes is wearing is one that I made for her mother when she was a little younger than Agnes. I also made one for Agnes' aunt way back when. Laura thought that it was a little short on Agnes (we should have put it on her last Christmas) so she asked me to add another ruffle. It was very nostalgic to see the dress being worn again.
I have a story to share with you today. It was written by someone named Sharon Palmer, but I don't know who that is. However, I liked the story. It's about a little girl (but not this one...I just think this one is especially cute).
And it's also about a little boy (but not this one. I just think he's super duper cute- and look how awesome that tie is...Laura made it).
The True Spirit of Christmas- The Toothless Grin
I was doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in a toy store and decided to look at Barbie dolls for my nieces. A nicely dressed little girl was excitedly looking through the Barbie dolls as well, with a roll of money clamped tightly in her little hand.
When she came upon a Barbie she liked, she would turn and ask her father if she had enough money to buy it. He usually said "yes," but she would keep looking and keep going through their ritual of "do I have enough?"
As she was looking, a little boy wandered in across the aisle and started sorting through the Pokemon toys. He was dressed neatly, but in clothes that were obviously rather worn, and wearing a jacket that was probably a couple of sizes too small. He too had money in his hand, but it looked to be no more than five dollars or so at the most. He was with his father as well, and kept picking up the Pokemon video toys. Each time he picked one up and looked at his father, his father shook his head, "No."
The little girl had apparently chosen her Barbie, a beautifully dressed glamorous doll that would have been the envy of every little girl on the block. However, she had stopped and was watching the interchange between the little boy and his father. Rather dejectedly, the boy had given up on the video games and had chosen what looked like a book of stickers instead. He and his father then started walking through another aisle of the store.
The little girl put her Barbie back on the shelf and ran over to the Pokemon games. She excitedly picked up one that was lying on top of the other toys, and raced toward the check-out, after speaking with her father.
I picked up my purchases and got in line behind them. Then, much to the little girl's obvious delight, the little boy and his father got in line behind me. After the toy was paid for and bagged, the little girl handed it back to the cashier and whispered something in her ear. The cashier smiled and put the package under the counter.
I paid for my purchases and was rearranging things in my purse when the little boy came up to the cashier. The cashier rang up his purchase and then said, "Congratulations, you are my hundredth customer today, and you win a prize!" With that, she handed the little boy the Pokemon game, and he could only stare in disbelief. It was, he said, exactly what he had wanted!
The little girl and her father had been standing at the doorway during all of this, and I saw the biggest, prettiest, toothless grin on that little girl that I have ever seen in my life. Then they walked out the door, and I followed close behind them.
As I walked back to my car in amazement over what I had just witnessed, I heard the father ask his daughter why she had done that. I'll never forget what she said to him. "Daddy, didn't Nana and PawPaw want me to buy something that would make me happy?"
He said, "Of course the did, Honey."
To which the little girl replied, "Well, I just did!"
With that, she giggled and started skipping toward their car. Apparently, she had decided on the answer to her own question of, "do I have enough?"
I feel very privileged to have witnessed the true spirit of Christmas in that toy store in the form a of a little girl who understands more about the reason for the season than most adults I know!
May God bless her and her parents, just as she blessed that little boy and me that day.
-Sharon Palmer
Santa's beard is coconut and candy canes are beneath the snowflakes. I was supposed to use a mini-marshmallow for the pom-pom on Santa's hat, but didn't have any.
We took a break from the baking madness to visit this guy.
After we finished here, we went sledding, but that's another post.
And his big sister angel...
Isn't that the most fabulous picture? I just love it. 
Our seats were on the very front row which was nice because Agnes enjoyed looking at the orchestra from time to time.
During intermission I let her choose something from concessions.
We had a great time!
We had another girls night out last night and learned how to make homemade chocolates. This could become habitual if we're not careful!
I have a story to share with you today. It was written by someone named Sharon Palmer, but I don't know who that is. However, I liked the story. It's about a little girl (but not this one...I just think this one is especially cute).
And it's also about a little boy (but not this one. I just think he's super duper cute- and look how awesome that tie is...Laura made it).
How cute are these kids?
Flour from head to toe!
After I came home, we had some friends over and made candy trains.
Of course I had to get my paws in there to "help."
They had a fun time with all the choices of what to put on their trains.
I probably should have let Agnes do more her own self. Carrie allowed Lincoln to make his extra cars mostly unassisted. Here's his finished train.
Agnes seemed more content to sit back and let my OCD kick in. So this is how her's ended up.
It'll probably only stay like this for a little while anyway. After all, it's made out of candy.
And I cut the banana ears in half, trying to make it look less monkeyish. Then she said she wanted a banana for the mouth.
Still looks like a monkey to me. 
