Christmas Morning

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:  the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.  ~Burton Hillis

There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries.  ~W.J. Cameron

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day.  Don't clean it up too quickly.  ~Andy Rooney

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!  ~Charles Dickens

Christmas Traditions: Christmas Eve

Isn't Christmas Eve the best part about the holidays? This year was especially fun- our children have never been filled with as much anticipation and excitement as they were this year. It was really cute and very contagious.

For the past 3 years we have done our "Bethlehem dinner." (see here and here.) It is a middle eastern feastern. We have Israeli couscous, Roasted vegetables, hummus and pita bread, cheeses and fruits, and this year, baklava. It was very delicious and we got to share it with my parents and brothers and Aunt Cherie.
After dinner, we have a nativity play which is always interesting. This year the best part was having Brett be the angel, see for yourself:

We then exchanged gifts, the kids got their Christmas eve jammies. I really liked the ones we got this year.

Then off to bed, leaving Santa a note. I thought they would have a hard time falling asleep, but Jared just read to them from their book (it is Black Beauty for now) and they were out.

Ella was singing out in the backyard, hoping Santa would hear. He must have. . .

Christmas Traditions day 3

This is a fairly new tradition, (see last years here) and is only possible because of help from my dear friend, but I love it because it is a fun way to remember the year.

Christmas Traditions day 2

Each year we make a treat for all our neighbors. (I love our street- we have the best neighbors!) Last year we made cinnamon rolls. This year it was sugar cookies. They are my personal favorite cookie. I just LOVE them.

Whoever gets this cookie better like frosting. :)

How much frosting can one kid eat before they go into a sugar coma? That is the best part about making Christmas cookies is snitching the frosting!

 We drove around and saw the Christmas lights tonight. Violet screamed the whole time- Hudson asked me desperately if I could put a paci in her mouth. Alas, I had left it at home, so it was a short drive! But we got to see our favorite house at least. It has its lights set to music- it is pretty neat and completely mesmerizing. I am looking forward to Christmas shopping tomorrow with friends and our Bethlehem dinner on Christmas Eve. This week has been awesome.

cute baby

Here is a cute baby:

But that is not the whole picture. Here is a cute baby sitting next to a big hill of laundry.

The laundry is not cute. Good thing the baby is.

Christmas Traditions

 Every year since I was about 12 we made gingerbread houses as a family- it was one of my favorite family traditions. We would make them out of graham crackers and frosting with so many different kinds of candy. I remember my mom would have to make up another batch of frosting for us half way through because we ate used so much.

 Now it is one of my own little family's favorite traditions. Yesterday we spent most of the afternoon decorating our little village. 

Someday we will make them out of graham crackers- but for now we buy the kit of already shaped and baked gingerbread.

It was very fun and very messy but not much that is worth doing isn't messy, right?

I love these kids. They make my heart sing.

Le petit ballerinas

You will never ever ever ever,

 never ever ever ever,

never never ever

find sisters as cute as these little ballerinas.

ps. notice Rory's face. I was cracking up at the seriousness of it.

 

 Ella and Rory take ballet here. It is really great- they do an excellent job and the girls love it.

simple portraits

I've been working on these for the kids for Christmas this year. I thought they were fun-

gingerbread is tasty

Homemade Gingerbread

Stir a bowl of gingerbread,
Smooth and spicy brown.
Roll it with a rolling pin,
Up and up and down.
With a cookie cutter,
Make some little men.
Put them in the oven,
Till half past ten. 

daddy and the kids hike

While Violet and I hosted a baby shower, Daddy took the kids out to climb a mountain. Here are some of the pictures:

 

They hiked the whole way, well, Hudson had a little help, but I am so proud of them! They came back a little bruised and tired, but that is a good sign that an adventure was had.

 They got to see some 2000 year old hieroglyphs, which is pretty amazing, I think.

nice view. . .

Some of my best memories of my dad include hiking, so I am glad my kids were able to have a special day with Jared.

The naughty list?

Is the verdict in? Has Santa decided who is officially on the Nice list and who is unfortunately on the Naughty one?
I will help him out- just in case there are any doubts. I think that the following children have been exceptionally good this year. Yes, they're has been fighting and fits and lying and hitting. . . but it has been minimal and corrected quite quickly. I think that overall these are some pretty darn good kids:

So Santa, bring them something good. I kinda like them a lot.