Bolinger baking day!

Yesterday, we got together for our annual Christmas cookie baking day!

Lots of eating, playing, chatting, cookie decorating, eating, laughing, and did I mention eating?! :-)

I really don't know who has more fun at this event...the adults or kiddos!? I look forward to a house full of cheer (and yummy smells) every year!

Enjoy a few snapshots of the day:

Time for pizza!

Lily is 7!

It's hard to believe yet another year has passed and we now have a 1st grader who is 7 years old!  Lily is quite the student- she loves math and reading, and always has endless stories to tell me about her day at school.  She is still in ballet and added jazz this year.  We continue to give her the option to try something different, but she is very happy to stay in dance and continue learning new positions and routines.  Although she and Jackson are at each other's throats quite a bit (yes, sibling rivalry is present and thriving!), there are some sweet moments where she is helping him learn something new or initiating a new play activity.  As I have said before, we see a bright future for Lily.  She loves to learn new skills and take charge!

NAME: Lily Mae

HEIGHT: 46"

BEST FRIENDS: Autumn, Elizabeth, Sydney, Mattie, Aeja

AGE: 7

SCHOOL: Blackburn Elementary

PETS: Kelsey

HOBBIES: going to California, drawing, playing with Molly (American Girl Doll) and her dog- Bennett, weaving bracelets, reading "The Story" version of the Bible, ballet & jazz

FAV THING TO DO IN SUMMER: go to the beach

FAV THING TO DO IN FALL: play in the leaves

FAV THING TO DO IN WINTER: make snowmen

SPECIAL SKILLS: cartwheel and hand stands, reading chapter books, learning subtraction

WHAT I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP: Artist

FAV SINGER: Taylor Swift

FAV SONG: Kidz Bop (on Pandora)

FAV COLOR: Purple

FAV FOOD: Hashbrown Casserole

FAV DRINK: Sprite

FAV SUBJECT: Art

LEAST FAV SUBJECT: P.E.

FAV TOY: American Girl Doll

FAV BOOK: Jessie, New Nanny

FAV MOVIE: Little Mermaid

FAV ANIMAL: Horse

FAV HOLIDAY: Christmas

FAV WEATHER: Sunny

FAV CANDY: Tootsie Rolls

FAV T.V. SHOW: Jessie

FAV SPORTS: Soccer, Basketball

FAV PHRASE: "Really?" (in a sarcastic Valley-Girl tone)

SEVEN WORDS TO DESCRIBE LILY: Funny, Kindhearted, Leader, Conscientious, Artistic, Loving, and Follower of Christ

Lunch conversation with Jackson

Yesterday, as we were eating our lunch, Jackson was bouncing from one topic to the next (which is usually the case with him).  When we are one-on-one, he will usually bring up the subject of spanking.  I'll be honest, he's our push-it-to-the-limit-of-spanking child.  So, unfortunately at this stage of development, spankings are a frequent occurrence in his life.

Jackson: "Mama, it's OK that you spanked me at Grandma's".

Mom: "Jackson, why do Mom and Dad give you spankings?"

Jackson: "Because I am not listening."

Mom: "So what do you need to do so that you don't get a spanking?"

Jackson: "Say 'No Thank You!' "

I couldn't stop laughing at his response!  I guess that would be a polite way of using his manners to get out of a spanking! Hahaha!