Christmas

This is the first Christmas that we have ever been in Milwaukee on Christmas Eve & Christmas day. We weren't quite sure what to even do with just our little family of 4.  Last night we went to the Christmas Eve candlelight service at church.

This morning Maya was up at 5:30am ready to celebrate. We were able to hold her off til about 7am when Cora woke up but it certainly wasn't easy.

 She was pumped that her stocking was filled.

Cora wasn't quite sure what was going on with the stockings. She just wanted to eat hers.

Maya and Cora gave each other a book

Maya made us a very nice angel banner that she was very proud of. It was made out of her hand prints and foot print. Very cute!

The girls each got a few other gifts to open and Joel and I did little stocking gifts for each other. They also surprised me with a new set of beautiful pearls! Am I spoiled or what?

We've had a low key day at home celebrating! We will head out in the morning to visit the Ohio crew. The Christmas celebrating will continue...

Recipe InSeitz - Easy Christmas Candy

For some reason I haven't done as much Christmas baking this year. I am planning to make spritz cookies this weekend because we can't celebrate Christmas without spritz cookies. And I'll probably make some snickerdoodles because those are Joel's favorite and really the only time I make them is at Christmas. (I think I posted both of those recipes last year at this time.)  And we can't celebrate Christmas without chex mix around here either. I am also planning to make this Christmas candy which is super easy and so yummy! It's a great treat to make and give out as little teacher gifts, party favors, or a hostess gift. Well after listing all this out maybe I'm planning to make more than I thought I was.

Easy Christmas Candy

1 sleeve saltine crackers
1 stick of butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups chocolate chips

On a baking sheet, spread out the saltine crackers. Melt butter and brown sugar in a sauce pan over medium heat until gooey. Pour over crackers and bake at 350 for about 5 minutes or until bubbly.  Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Let sit for a few minutes until chocolate chips begin to melt. Then spread over crackers evenly with a spatula. If you wanted to be fancy you could chop/crush up some pecans and put those on top of the chocolate.

Stick in the freezer for an hour or until the chocolate hardens. Break into small pieces and put into gift containers or your storage container. Store in the freezer or fridge until you are ready to eat or give away.

School Christmas Program

Today Maya had a little Christmas program at school with her 3K class. For some reason she was way more shy today than she was on Sunday at her church program. Here she is with her 7 classmates.

She did do some of the actions on one of her songs and she rang her jingle bells to the song "Come On Ring Those Bells." But other than that she wasn't as into it as she was on Sunday. Maybe she was too focused on the birthday party (cupcakes) they were going to have to celebrate the birth of Jesus after the program.

Gum

It's no secret that Maya has a little oral fixation issue. Well one of the things she has taken a liking to is gum. It helps her with her desire to always have something in her mouth to chew on. I was reluctant because I thought she was way too young to be able to chew gum. But it has helped a little with the oral issues and she's been having it for awhile and we haven't had any problems besides the occasional swallowing of it. Well after today I've decided she will no longer be having gum for awhile. The pictures below will be pretty clear as to why. Let me just say that if you are ever in the market for getting gum out of your hair OLIVE OIL did the trick. I looked online because I knew that you could use peanut butter but I wanted to see what other options there were out there. Olive oil was one of the suggestions and it worked amazingly well.

Maya handled it pretty well as I combed it out and the last little bit just came out in one big chunk. 

I'm just glad we didn't have to cut it out leaving a big bald spot on the top of her head.

Christmas Program

It's hard to believe that Maya is old enough to be in the Christmas program at church! I feel like I was just singing in Christmas programs. She did a good job although as a parent it's always a bit nerving. Maya was very into it and animated as ever!

Her favorite songs were Father Abraham & King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Her and her friend Madelyn were looking out in the crowd to make sure we were out there watching them.

 And what's a Christmas program without cookies at the end? 

Recipe InSeitz - Brickle Drop Cookies

I went to a "ladies night" dinner and cookie exchange at church last week and I decided to make some cookies that I hadn't made before. To be honest I wanted something relatively easy and wasn't in the Christmas cookie making mood. I want to make a few different kinds of Christmas cookies this year but haven't been too motivated yet. I realize I better get going because Christmas is going to be here soon! I better get going on my gifts too. I think I have 3 bought so far and none for my own family. Anyway below are the cookies I brought to the cookie exchange. I would say they were a "B" if I had to grade them. I think adding some mini chocolate chips would perhaps move them up to an "A."

Brickle Drop Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cream of tartar
8 oz. health - toffee bits

Mix butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in a large bowl until well blended. Add eggs; beat well. Stir in slowly the flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Mix until well blended. Then stir in the toffee bits. Drop by heaping teaspoons onto lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Cool slightly and then move to wire rack to cool completely.

4 months

Cora is 4 months old! She is doing well and growing great. Although she has had a cough and cold for about the last 6 weeks. That is a long time! I've brought her into the Dr. twice - one time even to urgent care in Michigan but everything seemed to be viral. Well yesterday we had her 4 month check up and sure enough as the Dr. was checking her out she said that Cora's ears were infected. So she is on her first antibiotics and medicine of her life. I'm praying she isn't allergic but time will tell. Maya had a reaction to her first penicillin and hasn't had it since. She was 10 months old when she had her first ear infection. But besides the ear infection Cora is doing just fine. She weighs 14.5 lbs and is 24.5 inches which both are right at 50%. At 4 months Maya weighed 15 lbs and was 23 1/4 inches.

Cora is such a content baby. I continue to be amazed at how good of a baby she is! But she doesn't nap very well - usually about 20 minute cat naps is all she'll do. Sometimes if she is in her car seat or if someone is holding her she will stay asleep longer. However, she is happy when she is awake and continues to be a pretty good sleeper most nights. Lately she's been waking up around 2 or 3 but maybe once she starts to feel better she will hopefully sleep longer stretches at night again. She's definitely becoming more vocal and likes to hear herself talk and she likes it when you talk to her too. She is loving her hands these days and has rolled onto her side once or twice. I'm so not ready for her to be rolling over yet!

Practicing for a Christmas photo - 4 months old

Maya's Baptism - August 29, 2010

Maya is 3 1/2 today! Where have the last 3 1/2 years gone? After posting about Cora's baptism last week I thought I should find some pics to share about Maya's baptism day. Maya's baptism was on August 29, 2010 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. This is the church that we were married in and attended for about 5 years. It was a very special day celebrating with my side of the family, Gigi and Snazzy, and Joel's cousin Andy and his family from Madison.

Grandpa Sikkema was able to baptize Maya at our church. He also was able to share about her name and introduce her to the congregation. He shared that the Latin meaning of the name Maya means "Great"and the Arabic meaning is "Princess." I like them both but like that her name means princess because my name means "God's Princess." I think that connection between our two names is pretty neat. The scripture verse claimed for Maya is Isaiah 43:1 - "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine."

Aunt Leah and Uncle Kurt stood with us as sponsors and prayed for us as parents. They agreed to help us on the journey of raising Maya to know the love of Jesus.

Maya Renae, child of God, on this day you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked
by the cross of Christ forever.

We had a great day celebrating the gift of Maya Renae!

Reading

Maya loves "reading" - more like showing books to her little sister! She also loves to wear her summer clothes (tank top & shorts) on the coldest days of the year. She got into the swimsuit bag yesterday and was wearing her swimsuit around the house. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of that. She kept saying it's going to be summertime soon. Wishful thinking my dear wishful thinking!

Maya kept asking Cora "do you understand what I'm reading to you, don't you like this story?" 

Recipe InSeitz - Butterfinger Blondies

While we were at my parents last week I tried out a new bar recipe. I was looking in my mom's pantry and saw a bag of fun size butterfinger candy bars leftover from Halloween and remembered I had a butterfinger bar recipe that I wanted to try out. And because we didn't have enough desserts around (cookies, 3 kinds of Thanksgiving pie, ice cream birthday cake, pumpkin crunch cake) I thought I'd make a pan of bars to add to the mix too!

They turned out yummy but wow are they sweet! I think if I make them again I might leave off the frosting. I think they'd be just as tasty and not so over the top rich.

Butterfinger Blondies

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups crushed butterfingers

Cream butter and sugars and add the vanilla and eggs; mix well. Add your dry ingredients while your mixer is on low. Mix until just combined. Stir in 2 cups crushed butterfingers. Spread into a 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for 25 minutes until center is just set. Remove from oven and cool completely.

Butterfinger Frosting
1/2 cup butter
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Milk (just a splash)
1/2 cup crushed butterfingers

Cream the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and milk together until smooth. You may need to add more powdered sugar or milk to thicken up the frosting. Then stir in your crushed butterfingers. I actually just sprinkled mine on top once I frosted the bars. Or you can leave off the frosting and they'd be just as tasty.

Cora's Baptism

Sunday we celebrated the baptism of Cora Jane. We were so honored to have Grandpa Sikkema baptize Cora! He has baptized all the granddaughters and each time it's been so special! We were able to do it this weekend when we were in Holland, MI at the church where my parents and sister and her family attend; Pillar Church. Gigi and Snazzy were with us to celebrate as well!

Cora did great and didn't cry! What Grandpa shared before he baptized Cora was so meaningful! I can't even tell you how wonderful it was. It was emotional and hard to keep a dry eye. And Cora just looked up at Grandpa and was all smiles and acted like she knew exactly what he was saying to her. The words shared before the actual baptism were: "Cora Jane Seitz, it was for you that Jesus was born, lived his life of ministry and service, for you he suffered and died on the cross, was raised to life, ascended into heaven and reigns at the right hand of God. Yes, for you little one who knows nothing of it as yet. We are saved by God's grace and we love because God first loved us." Cora Jane I baptize you in the name of the Father, in the name of the Son, and in the name of the Holy Spirit. Cora Jane you belong to Jesus. He will never let you down and he will never let you go. May the Lord God bless you and keep you, cause God's favor to shine upon you and give you peace always!

Then Grandpa shared the meaning of Cora as he introduced her to the congregation. Here is what he said about her name. Cora at its root means "heart" according to one name study. Another web site 'random names' says "Cora is an outstandingly majestic name for cool people." The verse claimed for Cora is Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge the Lord and the Lord will direct your steps."

Here are a few pics taken after the service. Aunt Leah and Uncle Kurt are the sponsors for both Maya and Cora. I'll have to find some pics to share about Maya's baptism too in the next few days. I wasn't doing the blog yet when she was baptized.

What a wonderful day we had celebrating Cora and this child God has entrusted to us.

Birthday lunch with Aunt Leah

Yesterday we were able to celebrate with Aunt Leah! She had to work but we were able to meet for a girl's lunch at 8th Street Grill. Emma was able to get out of school for the lunch hour and join us too. But Juliana was working hard at school taking an algebra and history test. (Yuck!) 

So glad we could be here to celebrate with Aunt Leah on her special day! 

Maya asked where the birthday cake was and we told her she had to wait until Friday when we celebrate yet another birthday. :) We are used to sharing a cake and celebrating together. Especially since our birthdays are just a few days apart and we are together every other year for Thanksgiving with the Sikkema side.

Bath time

One task I'm not a big fan of is bath time. Luckily we are in Michigan for the week and grandma volunteered to give Cora her bath last night. 

Bath time with Grandma!

And this morning Emma gave Maya a bath! No pictures of that however. It's so nice to be with family this week. Joel will join us on Wednesday for the rest of the Thanksgiving holiday. And Gigi and Snazzy are coming too! We can't wait to celebrate Thanksgiving with everyone. 

Emma's Birthday

We drove to Michigan yesterday with grandma & grandpa. We arrived just in time to be able to celebrate at the end of the day with Emma. She turned 12! Her last year as a tween. :)

Maya wanted to wear a special dress to help celebrate. This is her favorite dress up outfit these days. 

We enjoyed the ice cream cake! So glad we could celebrate with Emma! 

First Snow

While Shealy was visiting we experienced our first snow of the season! What a treat for Shealy because in Texas they don't get much snow. Maya was all excited too because it's just so fun to play in! I love this pic because they are so enthralled by the snow.

They are just so excited! Snow!

Uncle Eric was throwing snowballs at the girls and they were running away

And running back toward him trying to get hit

I'm so not ready for snow and happy to say it's already melted.
But I'm glad that Shealy got to play in it with Maya! So fun!

Playing in the leaves

Maya had a great time playing with her cousin Shealy! Saturday they were outside helping to clean up the yard and rake some leaves. Well mostly they were wanting to jump in the pile of leaves! So fun!

Special Visit From Texas

We had a great weekend with Uncle Eric, Aunt Susanne, and Shealy! They came to visit us from Texas. We hadn't seen them in almost a year so it was so good to see them. And it was fun to introduce them to Cora!

Shealy did a great job holding Cora!

She even put her to sleep one night!

  Uncle Eric and Cora

 Aunt Susanne and Cora