Dear Scarlet,

Mama says it is only eleven days until Christmas and she still has so much to do. There are lots of presents under the tree, but there will be even more by Christmas! The best part of Christmas isn't the presents, it is being with our family! We will get to see lots of people this year. Yaya and Grandpa are coming here all the way from China. I can't wait. Last time they came, it snowed, but Daddy said that was unusual weather for our area. We will be going to the beach for Christmas Day, but it will be too cold to swim. I asked Mama if we could play in the sand, but she said even the sand will be very cold.

I really like playing with our Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus toys. The Christmas toys are special just for this time of year, but Mama says that Christmas is important all year long because it is when our Savior first came to earth. Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

XOXOXO,
Sophia

PS Please don't ask me what your Christmas present is. It is very hard to surprise your twin sister, so don't tempt me. And don't tell Leesia and Lilly about their gifts, it took a long time to wrap those!

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Dear God,

We are so thankful for all the things you have given us. We are blessed every day by your mercy and kindness. You allow us to have an abundance of things that we need and so much more. Not only have you given us the gift of salvation, but every day you offer us your wonderful grace. We never want to take these things for granted. We know that every good and perfect gift comes right from your hands. Thank you for the sacrifice that brings us life each day.

Love,

All of us

 

 

 

Dear Sophia,

What a busy week! I loved going to the kids' museum (and Lilly loved riding in the wheelbarrow!). I can't believe that they have a tiny grocery store with tiny carts and a tiny cash register. It was so cute! Mama says we were very efficient shoppers and she would like to see us to act that grown up when we are at the real grocery store. But grocery shopping is when I usually like to sing really loudly or pretend to be a kitty and can't decide whether I want to ride in the cart or walk.

It was fun shopping for Project Christmas Child. Mama says we will be able to find out where our shoeboxes went with all of our gifts. Leesia and Lilly are all ready for Christmas with their reindeer headbands! Lilly told me that she would like a ballet outfit for Christmas, but I told her to wait and see and that it is better to give gifts than to get them. That's what I've heard, anyway.

XOXOXO,

Scarlet

PS Next week is Thanksgiving! I can't wait!!!!

 

 

 

 

Dear Leesia,

Poor Scarlet and Sophia were sick this week. I'm glad that you and I were able to cheer them up. Playing teaparty train was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. I didn't realize that there was so much singing on train trips, not to mention tea! I love the necklace that Sophia made for me. She said that now everyone can tell as apart because my necklace is a purple heart and yours is a pink heart. And Scarlet and Sophia match us! Look at this picture of all four of us in our new outfits. Sophia says next week we can have a fashion show and take pictures of all our new clothes! After all, our wardrobe has to be ready for the busy holiday season.

XOXOXO,

Lilly

 

 

Dear Lilly,

Can you believe that Scarlet and Sophia had a surprise party just for US? They said they wanted to celebrate our "homecoming" and let us "meet" the family. It was the best party I've ever been to! Our new party dresses are pretty and so perfectly pink. And I've never had red cupcakes before have you? They were YUMMY. There were even presents to open! I love my new little teeny beanie baby. I'm naming her Henrietta. Sophia told me that Thanksgiving is coming up soon and it is an even BIGGER party with even more delicious food. Can you imagine?
I love our new home.

XOXOXO,
Leesia

 

Dear Scarlet,

I had so much fun on Halloween. Dressed up like Fancy Nancy, I think we had the fanciest costumes in our neighborhood, but carrying all those accessories made me sleepy! Good thing we had lots of candy to perk us up. Leesia was a little afraid because she heard Halloween can be SCARY, but it was really fun, and not spooky at all. We saw lots of costumes, like the Wizard of Oz and Charlotte's Web, and someone dressed up like Belle from Beauty and the Beast! My favorites were Jesse and Buzz LightYear from ToyStory. We even got to see a pony and slide down a big slide. I loved that slide and even though I know you were kind of nervous, I'm so glad you tried it too! Mama says that we can only have one piece of candy a day. She says that will still last us until Christmas, and then, guess what? We'll get MORE candy! I love holidays.....


XOXOXO,

Sophia

PS Daddy said that going to the polls would be a good experience. But standing in line didn't seem like anything very special. Lilly was excited to have vote in her first election, though. She is proud to be a made-in-America Waldorf doll.

Happy Howl-o-ween!

Like our Pup-o-lantern?

 Dear Sophia,

It's almost Halloween! Tomorrow we get to go to the Fall Festival and I'm going to dress up like Fancy Nancy. My costume will be EXQUISITE. I'm really glad since Lilly and Leesia really wanted to go to the Pumpkin Patch, that Mama let us go this morning. I wish it hadn't been so rainy though. Lilly told me she has never seen so many pumpkins, but I told her that is only because this is her very first Autumn. There are more pumpkins than you can count. I wish we could go again and again but I guess the pumpkin patch closes after October is over.

Last night Lilly said she was chilly so I gave her an extra blanket. But Mama says she will make some cozy pajamas for Leesia and Lilly pretty soon that will keep them warm all winter. I told her that I think they need coats too, but she said hold your horses, because she isn't that good of a seamstress.

XOXOXO,

Scarlet

Dear Scarlet,

Last night, right before we fell asleep, Leesia asked me if we could have cake for breakfast. I wasn't so sure that Mama and Daddy would let us have cake first thing in the morning! But surprisingly, Mama made us Berry Oatmeal Cake for breakfast with apple cider and it was soooo yummy. Leesia loved it and asked for seconds. Mama said to be very careful because blueberry stains are hard to get out, but she ate very neatly. Don't worry, it's ok that you spilled a little juice and it didn't even get on your outfit. Later we are going to the park to play, and Daddy said we should have perfect sliding and swinging weather.

XOXOXO,
Sophia

Dear Sophia,

I can't believe that our dolls came today! I have named my bee-u-ti-ful baby Lilly, like the flower. She is going to be so much fun to play with. I can't wait to take her on adventures and play lots of games. She reminds me so much of Fancy Nancy with her twisty pink hair with highlights! I am going to wear my Pumpkin dress every day because it matches Lilly's dress. Mama said we might need to wash it. But it is sooooo comfy...

Soon we will have a Welcome Home party with special treats for Lilly and Leesia.

XOXOXO,
Scarlet

Dear Scarlet,

Today was the day we have been waiting for! I couldn't believe it when I saw the mailman stop in front of our house. And then he brought in a big box all wrapped up like a present. Inside were our two perfect dolls, just like I hoped. I am naming my doll Leesia. She has purple eyes and pink hair. Her hair is almost as fuzzy and crazy as mine! I love her already. Mama let me take her with me for my nap today. Tomorrow we can go visit Ahmama and Papa. We love visiting our grandparents and I bet our dolls will too.

Love,
Sophia

Special Delivery

Look what came in the mail today!!!

Dear Scarlet and Sophia,

Today we went to a doll show at a neighborhood church. It was really interesting looking at the many antique and handmade dolls. Your Mama was in doll heaven and the two of you were speechless to be in a room with hundreds of dolls all at the same time. But we had already discussed that today wasn't a day for buying any new dolls!
However, at the very last booth, the two of you were delighted by a basket of tiny porcelain dolls. The owner, a lovely delicate older lady, with beautiful snowy white hair saw you and insisted that you each pick your favorite as a gift from her. Your smiles lit up the room and I could see that she was just as happy as you were from her spontaneous generosity.
I am writing you this note because I hope that you will never forget how meaningful and special a stranger's kindness can be. I know you are only four years old now, and don't truly understand the power of such a gift. But one day, I hope you can look back and remember the special present from someone whose name we'll never know. We'll always keep these two little dolls to remind ourselves of the joy such a gift can bring! And I will think about her often and thank God for a stranger's kindness.

Love,
Mama

Dear Sophia,

Don't you just love dressing up like Fancy Nancy? I'm sure we will be have the fanciest costumes for Halloween! We can paint our nails too. It will be fabulous!
Mama says our dolls will be coming very soon. I've been thinking and thinking about a name for my doll. I like the names: Chloe, Lily, Daisy, Lola, Lisa, and Sadie. I also like the name Strawberry. I already have a doll named Strawberry, though, so that would be confusing! Until we pick names our little babies will be called Fluffy and Creamy! I bet they will loooove ice cream for a special treat. I hope they come soon. I asked Mama if we could have a party when they arrive and she said YES. I can't wait.

Love,

Scarlet