Christmas 2016

I like Christmas Eve more than Christmas. I think it's just the anticipation. I had just a couple of things to make that day but James was in eating mode, not sleeping mode so I felt more rushed that day than I wanted. 

We finally made sugar cookies. I made the dough before the baby was born and had it on hand in the freezer just for this day.

My kids did such a good job frosting the cookies without licking the knives or their fingers that I dared eat the ones they did instead of just my own. 

Taste over style. Always.

We went to my mom's house for dinner. We had turkey steaks. Turkey steaks were in the regular dinner rotation growing up but they are harder to find now. So hard, in fact, that they get saved for the most special of all dinners: Christmas Eve.

I directed the nativity again this year. And by directed I mean I handed out towels, ties, white tablecloths to unwilling participants and then shushed them in the hallway while they waited their cue. At one point we had 4 angels and no wisemen nor a Joseph but finally the boys realized how much they love participating. 

Hayden is wearing a placemat on his head.

Nothing says Christmas like the fishing pole game. This is fun no matter what time of year. 

I can't wait for these kids to sit around as adults and reminisce about Christmas and it will finally dawn on them how random it actually is that we did this on Christmas Eve. It's so normal to them now.

After that we played Guesstures because sometimes you just want a game that makes you laugh, not think.

Then it was time to go home for Christmas jammies.  I found matching ones for the girls (which I love. So glad Erica gets to wear them again when she's 8) but the boys had to settle for coordinating firetruck ones.

Then the kids went to bed late, Justin and I went to bed even later and then Santa came.

Christmas morning! Henry woke us up at 7:45 which is a record for any day, forget Christmas. 

Henry's new car garage and Justin got some sweet hunting gloves.

Henry got a ukulele and Erica got a big Anna doll.

Since James slept the day away, he didn't get his presents until dinner time. Each child got to open one of his presents and show him. He got a stuffed moose, a book, and some toy rings.

He's so little and incredibly adorable.

Monday Nate and Cassandra and Braden and Molly came over for games and lunch. We played Loopin' Louie--4 square style which means we dubbed a spot the king that you had to survive to reach.

No one loves this game more than Henry.

And I just want to end with this. James will fall asleep on the couch, just like that. So weird. Nice but weird.

Other December Things

Henry loves to hold James. It will be fun to see James grow and play with his big brother.

Sarah has been working on this Christmas cross stitch for a few years now. Maybe this year she'll finish??

We got out the table tunnel which is great to do when it's too cold to play outside. It also motivates Henry to clear off the table. This day they were eating apples and singing while they rocked back and forth.

James turned 5 weeks old on December 15. Here's the photo to mark the occasion.

Henry in the same shirt at 2 months.

I wonder if James will always look at Henry like this. He's so stinkin cute. Henry was reading to James as part of his homework. Sometimes he doesn't want to do his reading but if I suggest he read to James, he'll do it.

On the 22nd, the kids' school had their Christmas program. I do not like this program since each grade performs the same songs every year (kindergarten always does Rudolph, etc). And they find the most obnoxious versions of secular songs to sing along to. Bleh. But Sarah sure loved rockin' around the Christmas tree. We were too late for Henry to sing with his class but he didn't want to go up anyway so oh well.

Yes, Henry is looking at the star through a wrapping paper tube.

I love these Christmastime nights under the tree.

We dip chocolates every year at my mom's house but I can't think of a single photo from years past. Well here we go. A photo of chocolate dipping. Mmm caramel.

I started a new tradition this year called Christmas Eve Eve. Well, my sisters and I have been marking Christmas Eve Eve on our calendars since we were kids but this is the first year I've actually done something to celebrate. Since we are always with extended family on Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day dinner, I decided Christmas Eve Eve would be a special dinner for just the 6 of us. Placemats, candles, felt tree-shaped silverware holders that I made, fancy glasses. This year we had french dip and pretzel jello. Not sure if we'll always have french dip.

The girls set the table and were ready to eat.

Henry kept James company under the tree.

Then it was time to eat. I love my little family. And getting to blow out a candle was a good incentive for eating one's dinner.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

The Christmas season is in full swing at our house. It's only the 11th I've already made a batch of caramel, three different kinds of fudge and a batch of cookies and two pies.

Plus all the snow and decorations and music and stuff.

First of all, James has the longest arms. His shirts fit him everywhere but the sleeves.

When we finally got a good amount of snow, these two were outside before it was fully light. It took 30 minutes to get the snow clothes out and on them and they stayed outside for about 15 minutes. Sigh.

I guess our weed covered hill is good for sledding even without a sled.

She's my only child that has never put up a fight getting her snow gear on. 

After school they played outside again until it got too dark. The baby and I watched from the warm kitchen.

I don't think there are many things cuter than kids in snow clothes.

Henry failed his kindergarten hearing screening back in September so I took him to see a district audiologist in October. Since then he's seen another district audiologist, an ear/nose/throat specialist, had a CT scan, and met with another audiologist. We discovered Henry only has about 30% hearing in his left ear. On November 30 he was fitted with a temporary hearing aid. I'll never forget the smile on his face when it was turned on and he heard through it for the first time.
I've mostly gotten over my mom guilt of having no idea that he was dealing with this his whole life. Henry has been so great during all the appointments--even at first when he didn't understand what all the fuss was about. He's been great about wearing it and never complains and is so responsible. His teacher even let him do a show and tell for his class to explain to them why he needs it and how it works. Justin asked him what he likes best about it and he said "My voice is louder." What a sweetie. 

On December 1 we busted out the Christmas songs and decorations.

For some reason which is still unclear to me, Sarah and Erica felt they needed to wear their matching polka dot dresses during decorating.

Erica doesn't see me....

Erica sees me.....

Erica acts like Erica

Ooooh fancy camera trick.

Justin and the baby spent decorating night chilling on the couch.

Erica had the honors of putting on the star.

James hangs out here a lot.

Macey's and Reams were all sold out of the chocolate Christmas countdowns this year. The sadness! To compensate we made our own countdowns with taffy.

Erica was really good at squishing her taffies into the globs of glue. She's not so good at eating just one per day.

I taught the kids how to make these candy canes out of pipe cleaners and beads. This is Sarah's which looks exactly like mine.

Here is Erica's interpretation. Looks like some sort of rainbow??

And Henry's. He told me it is green apple flavored.

James likes to chill under the tree and look at the lights. He also likes this shiny bell.

Yesterday he turned one month old. 

Sheesh he's a cutie. His hair looks reddish in this picture but it really isn't. It's falling out on top but what's left is pretty brown.

Here's how big (and bored) he looks in his car seat. He is growing so fast! He's been trying to smile but I think it will be a couple more weeks before we get a real good grin. I can tell his eyesight is improving by how he looks around and stares at stuff. He has a slept a 5 hour stretch (eats and then another 3 hour stretch) the last 3 nights which I appreciate. Thus, he doesn't always take good naps during the day which I do not appreciate but I understand. He can stay awake for a hour at a time, max. He gets restless around 7 pm each night but doesn't go down for good until 10ish. I'm his favorite person. He eats a lot and often and so must I. Mostly fudge.

December's pie of the month was Pioneer Woman's chocolate pie. This was a no frills, straightforward chocolate pie. Justin took one bite and nodded and smiled.

I even made the crust from scratch. I don't think the crust was great but pretty good for someone who has little practice with pastry and doesn't like pie crust.

And thus this pie concludes the Pie of the Month Club. Here are the pies.

Our favorites were the Luscious Lemon (but we already knew that because I'd made it a few times before) Raspberry Chiffon (I'd made that once before) Sweet Potato Pie (I made 3 in 2 weeks) and Justin would put this last pie in the "win" column.

Although it was my gift for Justin, it was a fun culinary challenge for me. I still don't think I'm a pie person because I don't like pie crust or cooked fruit but I discovered I really like sweet potato pie (on a graham cracker crust) and the meringue on the grapefruit pie was delicious and fun to make.

So what's next? I'm thinking 2017 could be "Year of the Cookie" and force myself to expand beyond the 4 tried and true cookie recipes in my rotation. Or maybe find random desserts I've never even heard of or tasted before. Stay tuned.