Feliz Navidad!

Was your Christmas weekend special? We sure had some fun days. But, we are still anticipating the best yet to come!! =) Chuck & Katie, Jim & Rachel, and Pete & Audrey are all due to arrive this week, and then the fun really begins. I think I have been more keenly aware this year than any before, how important, special, irreplaceable, and comfortable it is to have siblings, family, & loved ones to share life with. And the more my siblings & I grow up, the more amazing it is to relate to other adults, on adult terms, who think & act alot like I do! =) It is SO much fun.

Back to this holiday weekend ... it was kind of a challenge to come up with fun, creative ways to celebrate the day, when our main celebrations are still a week ahead. We had a big snow storm on Christmas Eve, so Daddy & the boys were out for 3 days straight getting all the snow removal customers taken care of.  I feel bad that Jason didn't get a single day off just to relax, but again, that is still coming. Thankfully, the cabin we are headed to is far enough away that he won't be able to come back for work if it does snow again. =)

On Christmas Eve we had a fun snack-supper & family night. Squirt cheese, summer sausage, crackers, cookies, Bugles (!), nuts, drink, etc. The children thought it was pretty fun to eat as many snacks as they wanted. Plus, they were allowed to eat them in the living room while we watched Touched By an Angel. Double fun.

After the movie, we tucked the little tots into bed, and brought out all the fun items for making gingerbread houses! I mixed up small batches of frosting-glue, made with 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and 2 t. of water. I put it into ziplock bags with a tiny corner snipped off, and it worked wonderfully for gluing all the little houses together. I had thought we would just make one large house, but each person wanted to make their own, so we ended up with a whole village.

Josiah & Micah creating their masterpieces.

Christi was delighted with the whole cady idea. She plastered as many pieces on as possible.

The whole town on top on the piano.

By the time all the houses were done, it was way past bedtime and Mama got to clean up a very messy kitchen. It's good that some things happen only once a year.

Christmas Day dawned beautiful, with fresh cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate for breakfast. Jason & the boys were gone for the morning shoveling snow, so the rest of us had a relaxed morning with bubble baths and games. Then mid-afternoon, my family came over for a genuine Guyanese supper.

I made Bhunjal Beef.

And curried chicken & potatoes.

And roti.

It was very delicious, very authentic, and received rave reviews.

Not your normal Christmas fare, but special just the same.

What was the highlight of your weekend?

 

Homespun Christmas

Christmas seems to be getting less & less complicated the more babies I have. In fact, last year I did not put up one candle or wreath. Why bother when little people yank them down, destoy garlands, eat candles, and and smash Mary & the wise man? Is it worth my frustration to try to preserve the 'look' of Christmas?

But this year I decided I had to do something. I want my little people to love Christmas, to catch the excitement in the air AND in their Mommy. I want them to look forward to the special events and extra-fun splurges that are just for once-a-year.

Soooo ... we dug out the nativity set. Bought a few cheap-o replacement pieces at Wal-Mart. And oh, it's been fun watching the little ones learn who's who. And we went to the live animal Christmas Play. Yes, it was torture making 2 tots sit for 2+ hours, but it was also so rewarding to see how much the older ones understood and grasped. Christi was in awe of the angel. "Mom!", she whispered! "It is my first time ever seeing a real, live angel!" Next on my list is making a gingerbread house. I have never tried it before, but judging by the excitement factor of the other participants, it cannot fail. I also want to do some cut-out cookies {big hit!}.

Another simple idea that I am loving is something I saw at a MOPS meeting a few weeks ago. You hang clusters of Christmas tree ornaments on longs ribbons. I recently found all Christmas decor at 50% off at a local thrift shop, so I scored a large bagful for just a few dollars. This morning Christi helped string them onto ribbons, and we all love the results!!

I did 3 clusters like this, and the best part is, the little ones can't even touch them!

What do you do with your little ones to make Christmas special?