Christmas happenings

I am really happy to say we had so much Christmas fun this year, more than I thought we'd be able to manage with a newborn baby. 

First, we got our new ornaments from Auntie Liss. She made each of my girls their own ornament, including Simone. It means so much that Simone is included in our holidays. Our baby girl will always be a part of our family. 

We certainly watched our share of Christmas movies. Sometimes, it's more fun to watch your kids enjoying the movie, than to watch the actual movie. Gabriela introduced us to Christmas With The Kranks this year, and we will be adding that to our annual list of December movies. 

One day we made snicker doodles. Easton was so excited to help every step of the way. And then came the moment of enjoying his hard baking work. He took one bite and declared that he didn't like snicker doodles.  Poor baby. He wanted to make the cookies with the shapes, he said. So sugar cookies it was! Lane helped the kids bake their sugar cookies. 

Gabriela with her artwork. 

We promised Easton some Star Wars snowflakes. Princess Leia has been up since last Christmas. She is now joined by Chewbacca, Yoda, a storm trooper, and Obi wan Kenobi. Easton chose the patterns, I did the initial cutting, and Lane finished them off with the exacto-knife. Teamwork! 

One morning Willow and I got out of bed to find this - little elves polishing and hammering toys they were preparing in their workshop. They played all month with their wooden Santa toy set, their play mobile Christmas toys, and tons of Christmas pretend play including countless games of "Santa's children" and play dough Christmas cookie making. 

I was determined to make Willow a Christmas stocking this year. I sat down one Saturday and just did it! Willow seems pleased with the result. 

We also attended a Solstice party hosted by some homeschool friends of ours who are now our neighbors. We all enjoyed hot cider, delicious stew, setting off candlelit wishes and making beeswax candles. 

Easton can sing tons of Christmas carols after listening to Christmas tunes all month. There were things that we didn't do this year like we normally do, such as walking down Christmas Tree Lane in Alameda. Our house has been a total mess this whole holiday season, but we've managed to create some fun memories, nevertheless.