Christmas

So many wonderful things going on before Christmas. It's hard to keep up with all of them.

We are lucky to live near the Washington DC Temple, so we got to go see the Christmas lights (twice a week really). Anthony and I actually made it into one of the music performances. His orchestra teacher was playing in a saxophone quartet. Everyone else just wanted to look at lights and sit on the giant camel.


Prettiness. (...with a little leftover thanksgiving...)


Sofia made this reindeer in her art class. Initially I thought she just painted and decorated it. Nope. It's made out of toilet paper rolls, paper mache, and pieces of linen soaked in plaster.


I got this lovely beeswax nativity from my parents. My favorite part is smelling honey every time I walk past it. Organic air freshener.


...and finally....
Christmas morning fun! Everyone in their new jammie pants!



It's good preparation for the lovely week of laziness that follows Christmas.



After opening presents, we drove up to PA, so that we could hang out with Tony's family. Playing games, over-eating, and playing with cousins. Good times.

Laundry Baskets

It's the new drive-in movie....for toddlers.


They're such sweet little buddies.

Non-Christmas Presents

These are actually NOT Christmas presents, so I can share them NOW.

My Mom and my niece, Rachel, are heading to China in a couple of months. Rachel's mother took her last year and they worked in a private orphanage (started and run by an amazing individual) for special needs babies. Rachel loved it and is funding her own trip this time.

I wanted to make something for her to bring. (I hear my sister is cranking out burp pads and blankets. She tends to do projects en mass.) I managed two blankets.

One for boys.



One for girls.


Flannel on one side and I'm loving the quilting cottons on the backs! Joanns comes through for me sometimes.

Anthony wanted to make something for the lady friend's Christmas/Hanuka present. He's actually been nagging me to help him sew something. Funny.



He made Lily a pillowcase out of the paisley, with gray polka dot for the trim. Really cute! ...but he wrapped it before I got a picture. So...just imagine....

Made to Order

Sofia just got a new addition to her room. Handmade by my ubertalented Grandma Cozette. (She spoils us all with her goodies.)


Isn't it perfect!


I wanted something that added color, but didn't block a lot of light. Our old house with it's slanted ceilings made me think an old-fashioned lace valance would be nice...and the color makes it feel modern.

Love it, love it.

So, little Boo lost his first tooth...and I use the word "lost" loosely. I pulled it. Honestly, that's the first tooth I've ever pulled...it was just wiggling around and cutting him....so I had to.


Cozy had to show you her lost tooth too.


No, she didn't actually lose one.

I thought James would like a "Monster tooth pillow". He did.


So did Coze.


The monster "eats" your tooth and then spits out money in the morning.


But NOT the early morning. Lucky for me, when James came and crawled into my bed at the crack of dawn, he brought his monster pillow with him.

He fell back asleep. I snatched pillow. Exchanged tooth for money. Stuck it back under his unsuspecting little noggin. I am an extremely unreliable tooth fairy.

James was rather disappointed with the worthless-looking paper that came out of his monster pillow (He must have been hoping for legos or candy.) until Jonny convinced him that he could trade that worthless-looking paper for a toy at a store.
And now he's got himself 2 rubber ducks. :)

Messy, Traditiony Stuff

Yes, it has been a while.

We've been fairly busy doing Christmasy stuff...like swimming lessons...(ok, so that one isn't so Christmasy)....and using my washing machine to cause minor flooding in the basement (note to self: if your washing machine drains into a century-old cement sink, make sure that workmen don't throw their old gloves into that sink, causing it to clog and overflow the first time you do any serious laundry.)...and sewing flannel pj pants (four down!).

Really, I am having a bit of a holiday panic. I need to stop sewing for my kids (which I can do on Christmas Eve, right?) and start mailing packages (which I can't do on Christmas Eve!)

We made gingerbread houses. It was demanded by children.

James (completely blocked by Cozy) was my most intent builder...I guess 'cause it's like legos you can eat...


Jon, trying to look like something scary that's about to eat the inhabitants of his house.


Anthony horded all of the gumdrop trees, so that he could have a forest on his roof.


Sofi had a house built of magic and candy sprinkles.


Annika, dressed as a Kioshi Warrior...or a Korean princesss (by Sofi?), building her little cottage.


A good time was had by all - especially Coze, who thinks houses are delicious. I was finding gumdrops, nerds and sprinkles for days.

What I do at 2AM

Sometimes Cozette does this...


...at 6PM. I always say I'll never let her do it again....but once she's screaming, I just want it to stop.

Then, when she wakes up nice and refreshed at 9PM, I know I'm in for a long night.


Sadly, I'm not as rested and ready to be productive. At best, I have enough energy to watch tv and fold laundry.

More likely, I impulsively start some crazy project, which I inevitably mess up, since I'm doing it during my peak tired hours. The other night, my late-night inspiration was to redo this slightly-crushed lamp I bought at Target for $4. I liked the little pull chain and the shape of the (albeit dinted) shade.


Smart thing I did: used a hairdryer to heat and straighten out the shade. Worked pretty slick.

Dumb thing I did: spray glue the shade, while holding it in my hand, and then quickly trying to wrap the new fabric around it with my other hand (on the back porch...in the middle of the night). It may have a couple tiny bumps here or there. (I turned them to the wall.)

...then I hot glued bias tape around the top and bottom.


Doesn't it look great?...from a distance!

Tree-o-caching

We've been trying to get out of the house and "hike" before it gets too dang cold. There's a nature center nearby. I signed Annika and Jon up for a "tree id" class, so we would have to go. ...and I was thinking they could learn some stuff too.

Cozy, James, and I had fun exploring the nature center during the "big kid" class. Cozy loved pulling out the drawers of this display desk. Each of them have a different theme. I think my Dad needs to find an old desk and make it a "bee desk" for the fair. Wouldn't it be cute!?!


James was more interested in the animals/reptiles/amphibians. Various turtles, snakes, frogs, toads, lizards....an owl! He and the terrapins became fast friends.


I think he spent half an hour doing this:



...and then, armed with GPSs, we were ready to leave the classroom.


Each "cache" was a particular kind of tree, where they got a sticker for their tree id booklets. I learned all kinds of things....most of which I've already forgotten.. I'm sure Annika can remind me!


The kids (even the littles) did great on a decently long hike. Natural beauty looks a lot different here. Less green, but still nice.


James said, " I love this tree! It's my favorite!"


So, Cozy said, "NO! It's my favorite first!"