Christmas Day

This is the first Christmas that the kids asked Santa for a particular present. And, surprisingly, they kept their same request all month long. Payson asked for balloons, Hayden asked for a rabbit and Madison asked for a doggie. Sure enough, there was a balloon man, stuffed rabbit and stuffed dog with accessories awaiting them downstairs on Christmas morning. The kids were thrilled to see that while Santa had sampled their cookies, he left three behind for them to enjoy just as they had said he would. They each enjoyed finding all of the surprise goodies in their stockings including character socks, craft supplies, musical recorders and, of course, a little bit of chocolate! We gave the kids several classic board games this year including Hi Ho Cherry-O which they wanted to play immediately upon opening.

The suitcases were big hits and actually provided us with a great way to organize the Christmas chaos. After the kids would open a present they would run and put it in their suitcase!

Footwear was a theme this year as each child got new tennis shoes, rain boots and slippers! They loved having Grandma there so they could show off all of their new things.

Payson loved his new OU football gear, especially the helmet. Here he is sporting his new helmet, tool belt and rain boots!

After a few hours of presents and playing we enjoyed a big brunch at home before heading over to my brother's house for naps and Christmas with the Cooper family.

Christmas afternoon was filled with lots of playing, food and presents. Hayden and Daddy bowled together on Xbox Kinect. It's amazing that you can now play video games without a controller. Getting ready for the annual dirty Santa adult Christmas exchange. The kids instantly loved their new Pillow pets and now sleep with them evey night! Payson recently got a new Hot Wheel ramp from a friend and then received this garage from his cousins for Christmas. He was getting a little bored with his cars but now he can't get enough of them again!

Thanks to everyone in our family for your love and gifts this Christmas. What an exciting one it was!

Christmas Performances

*If you are reading this in Facebook, visit http://keithandjessica.blogspot.com to view the videos.

The kids were in their first Christmas program at school the week before Christmas and they all did such a great job! I was a little unsure about how our three toddlers would handle sitting nicely on the stage for 20+ minutes but they were great at following directions and they really gave their all throughout the program!

The kids were so excited when they spotted us proud parents and grandparents, and we got lots of smiles and giggles when they looked at us throughout the program.

The jingle bells were certainly a big hit. Payson and Hayden both had them in their mouths at one point and Payson bonked Madison on the head once, but, thankfully, she didn't seem to mind!

They were each very animated at different times of the program, sometimes really enunciating their words and performing with big motions and dances.

Madison had just gotten over a stomach bug so she was still a little worn out as we saw from her half a dozen yawns on stage!

See the kids in action in these two videos!

More singing and performing...

The day prior the kids got to bring cupcakes to celebrate their birthday so I made these clown cupcakes to stick with their "Three Ring Circus" birthday theme.

The kids are getting more into role playing now that they are big three-year-olds. A few weeks ago Madison was riding her horse and Payson was pulling her. She decided that she was Mary and Payson said he was Joseph. It was really cute so I helped them develop a Christmas Story play around that. Hayden took on the roll of the angel, Mommy the narrator and Daddy the Innkeeper and, before we knew it, we had a little play on our hands!

The kids had lines to repeat and motions to go along with it. We performed the play several times for our families and while it never quite went as smoothly as it did when we practiced, it was still impressive to see their excitement and hard work pay off! And, of course, the grandparents loved it!

Merry Christmas...

And "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" - Hayden, Payson & Madison

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

For most, December is a fun and busy time of year. It is certainly no different for the Melker family. We have many annual Christmas traditions that we have started as a family, including a visit to the North Park train exhibit.



This year, the kids were tall enough to see through the glass on their own. Funny how they wanted to be held anyway!



My favorite display was the Fair Park replica. They even had the Cotton Bowl set up as an OU/TX game!

Despite the chilly temperatures, we participated in the Journey to the Manger at a local church with Keith's family. The kids loved the various scenes and nativity displays so much that they hardly even mentioned the cold and wind. Here Payson, Mikayla, Hayden and Chloe observe one of the many tents set up in the "Bethlehem marketplace."

Nunie made an "Elf Yourself" video of the kids and their cousins, Avery and Addison. They LOVED the video and I had the pleasure of witnessing all five of them watch the video together. They were giggling and pointing to themselves and each other as they watched it over and over and over!

The kids and I did a little last minute shopping for Dad. I somehow pulled together enough courage to take the kids to the department store by myself without a stroller or wagon as back-up. They did great and even picked out a gift for each other to gift on Christmas day (princess, Tinkerbell and Thomas jammies!)

A few nights before Christmas, we had movie night and watched the Polar Express while eating popcorn (of course!).

Making cookies for Santa was, again, a big hit. These activities are getting a bit easier for us as the kids grow older and learn a little bit more each day about patience, sharing and taking turns. All tough concepts for kids and adults alike!

And, finally, for the grand Christmas Eve finale, the kids set out milk and homemade cookies for Santa! Madison insisted that Santa should "share the cookies." As it turns out, he did, indeed, leave three cookies, untouched, for Hayden, Payson and Madison to enjoy on Christmas morning!

Three Ring Circus!

Yesterday Hayden, Payson and Madison turned three-years-old and last week we celebrated with a Three Ring Circus birthday party!

Hayden was dressed and ready to party (but only after she downed a few juice boxes)!

Each child at the party received a sticker chart and earned stickers each time they completed one of the six following stations...

Pin the Nose on the Clown...

Craft Corner (glue the mane on the lion, color circus pictures, make a paper circus with foam stickers)...

Ring of Fire (toss the tiger through the hoop). Other activities included Bucket Bonanza, Circus Fishing and Temporary Tattoos.

We had circus food galore: hot dogs, candied apples, popcorn, pretzels and shelled peanuts.

The bounce house added bonus fun to the party!

Cake time! We sang Happy Birthday to Hayden, Payson and Madison individually to help distinguish them as the individuals they most certainly are!

Family photo op!

Hayden and Payson bonding over leftover cake!

Me with proud grandmothers, Grammy and Grandma!

Cousin Ryan admiring the Ring of Fire with mom Allison.

Cousins Avery and Brooklyn clowning around with Kristen!

The party was a success! The fun continued even on the way home with a car full of balloons!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAYDEN, PAYSON AND MADISON!

'Tis the Season!

Yay for three brave toddlers who happily sat in Santa's lap! They told Santa that they want a rabbit (Hayden), balloons (Payson) and a reindeer (Madison). Love the simplicity of their wishes!

Enjoying breakfast with Santa at our country club.

 Madison helped me put the lights on our Christmas tree. We were both excited to find a small pine cone nestled far inside.

The kids decorated their first gingerbread houses! I did the icing and they did the rest. It was very difficult to convince Hayden that the candy wasn't for eating and after she sampling several pieces she corrected me and told me it was for eating!

Hayden, Payson and Madison's masterpieces sealed with their first initials.

With all of the parties, there is a lot of baking going on around here. Hayden savored her first beater-licking experience. An initiation into childhood!

I helped plan our neighborhood playgroup holiday party and it was night and day from last year. This year the kids all sat and watched until it was their turn to pick a present from under the tree. Amazing! They really enjoyed all of the fun crafts and games too.

We also went to our multiples group holiday party where the kids had a picture with Santa, participated in a book walk, played in a bounce house and got their hands painted.

Madison, Payson and Hayden watched eagerly as the Christmas clown made their balloon characters.

We also had a fun Christmas playdate with our multiples playgroup. Playtime, brunch, cookie decorating and a gift exchange kept the kids full of Christmas joy!

And, with no pictures to prove it, we hosted a MOPS Christmas playdate and attended a holiday party at Grandma's nursing home. What a busy, party-filled month it is already!