The holidays are here

Here are Skylar's Santa pictures as promised. We have been having fun preparing for the holidays. Thanksgiving was nice despite the loss of our Ma. I have to say that I am pretty proud to be a Markwith. When a divorced family comes together to have Thanksgiving together, to pull together as whole...as a family, in hard times...well I just think that is really big of them all. Skylar really enjoyed spending time with her cousin Colt. She is really good with him too. She also got to spend a little time with her cousin Izaiah.

It has been difficult, Skylar still asks for her Ma. It is becoming less often, but nonetheless hard to explain to her. She just doesn't understand the abstract right now, no matter how many times we try to tell her about it. I made her a photo album of all of the pictures that I have of the two of them together and made a story to go along with it, hoping it will help her being able to see Ma whenever she wants.

Skylar has thoroughly enjoyed the holiday season. This year was so fun decorating the tree. She was so funny. She went to the same place every time she put something on, and then she started trying to put her cars on the tree. She enjoys looking at the ornaments everyday and she even knows which ones she is not supposed to touch. She has discovered "The Wizard of Oz" so those ornaments are very tempting for her. It is her new favorite and I can't tell you how many times we have watched it in the recent days. It was both mine and Phil's favorite too so we are happy to pass the torch.

We started a new tradition this year called the Elf on the Shelf. It is a really old fashioned toy elf that comes with a story book. Skylar named him Olie and he comes to our house every Thanksgiving now. Every night he leaves to report to Santa and tell him about Skylar's day. Every morning he is in a new spot and she runs out to find him. Olie leaves with Santa Christmas Eve and will return next Thanksgiving. Skylar isn't allowed to touch him because his magic might go away and then he wouldn't be able to get to Santa, and we wouldn't want Santa to think she forgot about him. He can't talk to her, but he can listen so she can give him messages to Santa. I think Christmas is just as exciting for us as it is her. She lets us be a kid again too.

Two weeks ago we went to my Grandparent's cabin in Bryce. The weekend went too quickly, but it was the epitome of Christmas and really got us in the spirit. It is in the mountains, it was cold and we had a blazing fire. It was a great time with family and Sammie filled the house with the smell of cookies....Mmmm! Skylar really enjoyed herself. She made cookies with Sammie, played on the computer with Creepaw, read the newspaper with Sammie and watched Gabba with Troy and had her first candy cane, which she loved. We watched plenty of Christmas movies and just relaxed.

This weekend I watched Bella while her mommy worked and we had soooo much fun. Phil and I took two toddlers grocery shopping which was surprisingly easier than with one. The girls kept each other entertained while we got the shopping done. They were so good they got to pick out their own holiday blankets. When we got home we made snowman ornaments and cookies. It was a total blast and we can't wait to do it again. We also got family pictures done and Skylar's two year pictures. She was a little difficult at first, but one photographer came in and she was wonderful with Skylar. The photoshoot turned completely around and we got great pictures. Well, I think the next time I will update is after Christmas so Happy Holidays everyone!