Lighting the Hope Advent Candle

Mary Catherine lit the first Candle of Advent today at Effingham Presbyterian Church. This was the Hope candle (the right, back purple candle). While we were lighting the candle Daddy read about the candle and this is what he said "We light this candle as a symbol of Expectation. May the light sent from God shine in the darkness to show us the Way to salvation. O Come, O Come, Emmauuel!" Mommy assisted Mary Catherine with the candle lighting. Mary Catherine is enjoying learning about advent this year. She has a little book called "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" that she got at All Saints school. We will read about one part of Advent each day and attach a new Advent sticker each day until Christmas.

Hello Santa!

Today Mary Catherine sat on Santa's lap for the very first time. We were Christmas shopping down at Coastal Grand Mall when Mary Catherine decided it was time for her to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what she wanted for christmas. She took Mommy and Ella with her. When we got up to Santa, Mommy walked up to Santa with Mary Catherine and said "Santa this is Mary Catherine." Santa said " Oh I know Mary Catherine she has been a good little girl this year." MAry Catherine said "Well, Santa I have been really trying hard!" Then she said "This is Ella my baby sister." Santa said, "I heard Ella had arrived." Mary Catherine was a little scard so Santa held out his hands for her and told her there was nothing to be afraid of. She held his hands and told him what she wanted for Christmas. She told him that she wanted a Baby Alive, a Jumpy Castle, a Barbie Dancing Princess Doll & Dress and a V Smile TV game. She then told him she wasn't really sure what Ella wanted. Santa said "Oh don't you worry, I know what Ella needs. Don't you think she needs a passifier and some baby toys?" They agreed!Mary Catherine then crawled up on Santas lap and Mommy put Ella on his other knee and we got a photo. Santa gave Mary Catherine a candy cane and told her to be a good girl. We were very proud of Mary Catherine.

As we were driving today, we also found out that Mary Catherine can spell SANTA! She sings a song called S-A-N-T-A to the tune of BINGO! Just a slight word of caution for those spellers we know!

Sly Fox

November has been a busy month for Mary Catherine!

Mary Catherine and her class performed their first chapel program at All Saints on November 16th. The rainly weather didn't slow down these perky puppies and busy bees. They sang 4 songs. Three songs were about Thanksgiving and one was in Spanish. It was a very impressive program for about 25 three year olds. They were all dressed in their indian vest and head dresses. Mary Catherine's teacher gave all of the Perky Puppies indian names. Mary Catherine's name was SLY FOX! How fitting!?!?! Mary Catherine made her indian vest, it was very interesting. It had lots of glitter (which is her favorite art medium right now). Mommy helped cut out the indian shapes that Mary Catherine picked out. Mary Catherine glued them on the vest and then decorated them with glitter and pens. She was a very sharp dressed indian. The class also made a cornucopia, and a book about the first thanksgiving. Mary Catherine enjoyed learning about the pilgrams and indians. She told us that the pilgrams came to Austrailia on the mayflower boat and they invited the indians to lunch and that was Thanksgiving. We did have to clarify that the pilgrams came to Amercia not Austrailia but other than that, we got that story down pretty good.

Mary Catherine was the star Student in her class the during the week of November 13th-17th. This ment she got to be the line leader, sit on the puppy at circle time, tell the class some special things about herself, take some of her special things to school to show and tell, take a photo of herself to go on the board, and take a special treat to share with her friends at school on Friday. Mary Catherine made and took Oreo Cookie Turkeys. They were so cute and the class loved them. Mary Catherine liked helping make them because she and Mommy ate all of the broken pieces. Candy Corn used for the tail feathers were our favorites. Thought we would share the answers Mary Catherine gave on her star student questionaire with you all. The answers were just too cute! The special things Mary Catherine took to school included: Flo Bunny, Pink Blankie and Boop Boop.

My Name is- Mary Catherine Rawlinson
My Birthday is- December 31, 2002
My Special Things Are- Flo Bunny, Pink Blankie, Boop Boop(my pillow)
I am Special because- my Mommy and Daddy love me very much
My favorite TV show- Mickey Mouse Club House & Dora the Explorer
My favorite Movie- Snow White
My favorite Food- Fettucini Alfredo (white noodles)
My favorite Color- Pink
My favorite Book- The Little Mermaid
My favorite thing to do- play with baby dolls
My favorite pet- fluffy (the bunny) and Babbs (the puppy)
My favorite thing about me- is that I like to sing, dance and play
When I grow up I want to be- A Mommy
I live in- a house in the Tansbay Community
I have 1 sister- Ella who will be here on Friday.

Mary Catherine found a bird nest in the yard this month. She put it in a special box and took it to school for show and tell.

Mary Catherine had her first "date" this month. Her best buddie RJ Lee had an extra ticket to see the Wiggles in Florence. He invited Mary Catherine to join he, his mom (Cathy Lee) and his sister Margaret. Cathy said they were so precious. She said they danced and wiggled all afternoon. RJ got a wiggles shirt like Mary Catherine's so they would match. Mary Catherine took roses for Dorothy. Mary Catherine had a wonderful time. Special thank you to Cathy Lee and Margaret for volunteering to take the kids on such a wonderful outing!

Mary Catherine also became a big sister on Nomember 17th. She is such a big help with baby Ella. She has been enjoying holding her and assisting.

Tea for Two . . . .

Today my friend, Gracie Howard, and her Mother, Mrs. Lindsey, hosted a mother-daughter tea party at her house in Darlington. It was a lovely event. The party started at 4pm and lasted until a little after 6pm. Most of my girl friends from school at All Saints attended the tea. We all dressed in our finest attire. However, our shoes did not stay on the whole two hours. Some of the Mom's dressed for the event too. We looked so cute! Mrs. Lindsey made some wonderful treats and snacks to go with our tea. We had peanut butter and jelly finger sandwiches, gold fish, cookies, and these wonderful white chocolate oreos with strawberries on top and then they were drizzled with dark chocolate. We loved the snacks. She had peppermint tea, orange tea, regular tea and apple juice to drink. We enjoyed sitting at the big table and using her beautiful christmas china for the tea. We also enjoyed playing in Gracie's room. What a wonderful day and party!

Trick Or Treat

Trick or Treat! Today I went over to Gaga's and helped her carve a pumpkin. I was very experienced at pumpkin carving. The perky puppies carved a pumpkin at school on Monday. Gaga said I was a lot of help. She said it was very cute when she cut into the top of the pumpkin I reached my hand right in there and got some of the insides. Gaga did have a moment of memory from the first time she carved a pumpkin with my Mommy. She said I gagged when I got the pumpkin guts in my hand. She said Mommy did the same thing the first time she helped carve a pumpkin. Mommy and Daddy took me Trick or Treating. I wore my Snowwhite costume. We visited with Gaga, Jen Jen, the Daniels, Sissy's, Aunt Flo & Uncle Jay's and Mary Claussen's House. Wills and Sissy were at Mary Claussen's. He was a cute Lobster! I got a pumpkin full of treats. This year I went up to the doors, rang the bells and said "Trick or Treat". Mommy was most proud when I said "Thank you very much" after they gave me a treat!