Gingerbread houses

Today we did one of my favorite Christmas traditions - gingerbread houses! Thanks to those especially convenient kits you can buy in any grocery store, we've done a gingerbread house every year. We always put it together, go read Christmas stories (starting with The Gingerbread Baby) while we wait the 15 minutes for the icing to set, and then go back and decorate. Today we lit the fire, turned on the Christmas music, and went to it. In order to avoid any squwaks and squaffles over decoration placement, I got three kits and surprised the girls by having them each do their own. 

12 Chances to Regain Sanity

'Twas two weeks before Christmas and mother was busy,

Christmas shopping and cards had her all in a tizzy.

Despite planning and simplifying and cutting things back,

Her list seemed to grow longer with each day that passed.

Bogged down with the parties, events, and gift-wrap,

What she wanted most was a long winter's nap!

She was tired and grouchy from sunrise to nightfall;

And she felt she was missing the point of it all.

Where was the feeling, the joy and the bliss,

The bubbly excitement unique to Christmas?

"Something needs to be done," she decided, "right now!"

"We should start a 12 Days of Christmas countdown.

We'll give small gifts of kindness to each family member,

And my gift to them all will be keeping my temper. 

I'll try hard to be sweeter, more gentle, and calm,

Instead of a frazzled, mean, stressed-out mom.

I'll thank Him for the blessings He sends from above,

by showing my family more patience and love.

Then my preparations won't feel like a chore

but be a lifting reminder of the birth of our Lord. 

With love in my heart and His spirit within, 

Christmas will bring me nearer to Him. 

It's been 8 days since I wrote that, and since we started doing 12 Days of Christmas just among our family members. I assigned each day to one person in our family, and we all do or say something extra special for that person that day. It doesn't cost anything and it doesn't take any time, but it is helping. I really think it is, at least for me. Besides, only four days to go, and then I will be taking that nap!

Spencer Playing Wii Boxing

I've been trying since Thanksgiving to get this video to load. This is my nephew Spencer playing boxing at our Thanksgiving Wii party. He has kind of a 'box dancing" thing going on . . .

Christmas Wish List

For Family Home Evening on Monday night we had a Christmas lesson and then we lit a fire in the fireplace, turned on the Christmas music, and put out our Christmas decorations, but I forgot to have the girls write their letters to Santa. I like to do that right after Thanksgiving so Santa's elves have more time to work away in their magic workshop. I had a few hours set aside today so I could write the letters for the girls and mail them, just to help Santa get going on his work, but I had no wish list. So, I brought it up in conversation this morning. Here's what I got:

Madeleine: I know what I want but I don't want to ask for it because I think it's expensive. 

(Beth interjects) "Santa's going to MAKE it so it won't cost anything."

Madeleine: I know, but I don't want to ask for anything that's too much, so I'll have to think of something else but I don't know what. Maybe a stuffed rhinoceros since I don't have one of those.

Fortunately, I once overheard Madeleine confessing her secret desire for a rock-polisher and I will be sure and notify the elves if she does not come forward in the immediate future. (Catherine and Emma, if you're reading this please don't tell Madeleine that I am going to tell Santa that's what she wants so that he can surprise her, OK?) Moving on to Beth:

Beth: I think I want a teddy bear.

Mom: Really? You have lots of teddy bears. Is this a special kind of teddy bear?

Beth: Well, not really special, but I see it in my mind and I really like it.

Mom: Oh. Uh, what does it look like in your mind?

Beth: Well, it's kind of a lightish dark brown and it's not too big or too small or too medium.

Mom: Hmm, do you have anything already that is the same color and about the same size?

Beth: Yes, it's like my Build-A-Bear bear color, except it's different, and it's about an inch from the size of that bear, but I don't know if it's bigger or smaller.

Mom: Oh. That sounds like a really nice bear. (Mom begins mentally plotting subtle propaganda strategies to persuade Beth to choose a less "visualized" and more widely marketed Christmas present. Those elves may be magic, but they're no mind readers.)

And then of course there's Mary. I asked for her input just as I was about to leave to run my errands.

Mom: Mary, what do want Santa to bring you for Christmas?

Mary: A changing room

Mom: A what???

Mary: A changing room.

Mom: Um, what do you mean, a changing room? Can you tell me what it is?

Mary: ( with tone and expression slightly implying a "DUHH!") It's a room with two doors and it has clothes inside and you go in the doors and put the clothes on. 

Mom: Oh. That does sound like fun, but is there anything else you'd like for Christmas (pleeeaasse?!)

Mary: (matter-of-factly) You only get one present mom.

Mom:  Well, I know, but I don't think Santa can bring a room. I think he only brings toys. So, is there something else you can think of you would like him to bring you?

Mary: Yes

Mom: Really?? What?

Mary: A lipstick room.

Mom (sighing with resignation): Oh. Well, anyway, what do you think Grandpa Dave would like for his birthday?

Mary: A chicken. 

 I think the changing room fascination stems from something in an episode of Dora the Explorer when she changes into a fairy Princess.  If anyone out there is up on their Dora trivia and could elaborate, the elves would appreciate some further detail so as to better prepare them to work out a compromise.

I think Santa has his work cut out for him with this crew this year. I'm looking forward to seeing what he comes up with to make these little girl dreams come true. I wish him the best of luck.