My beanie babies

These are some of the pics I used on our Christmas letter. I wanted to get the kids in beanies so they looked more festive. They call beanies "toques" here. Anyway, the kids all got some new toques for Christmas and I wish I would've taken their pictures in those, but I didn't want to ruin the surprise for them. I don't know much about photography (in fact I'm excited to start a photo class in a few weeks) but what has consistently worked the best is to position the kids in total shade and then play around with the full or partial flash.

And please notice Gavin's cute, little teeth showing up.

The 12 Days of Christmas

We got a fun idea from the Deseret News to do the "12 Days of Service" instead of the "12 Days of Christmas". We were looking for ways to make Christmas less about worldly stuff and more about the spirit of Christmas. Overall I think it was a good experience and I think the kids enjoyed it but it was more work than the simple idea of doing treats each day. We didn't always get each day's task done on the actual day. Still, I think it is something we'll try again next year and just adjust the ideas of what to do each day.

Here's what we did this year:
1. Do your chores without whining.
We should make this something for us to strive for everyday.

2. Do something nice for somebody.

3. Do something nice for somebody in the city.
For this one we did this fun project called, "Suffies for Puppies" where you can donate old stuffed animals to the animals at the humane society.


It was a big thrill to touch all the cats and dogs and watch them bite and play with the stuffies. I say it was a big thrill until a dog jumped Chloe and scratched her and then she panicked and then the girls crowded the door and we couldn't get out of the kennel and by then they were all crying and yelling and we had to leave. I made us try to end on a positive note and visit this little dog on the way out. I think it was special. Tati kept picking up kibble and feeding it to the dog one by one.

4. Write a letter or draw a picture for a missionary.
My nephew, Kyle, is in Russia on his mission right now. It was a nice chance to focus on having the girls draw him a picture and write a short letter.

5. Give somebody a book.
This one we didn't actually do because we sort of chickened out. We were going to give a book to our white trash neighbors' child because we feel sorry for him. Then the girls picked out this old Christmas book and then his parents were yelling and rude so we just didn't do it. "Here's an old book that we don't want but we wanted to give to you." Yeah, the kid probably would've liked it but technically he's still too young to really "read" a book but just destroy it. I'm a little disappointed that we couldn't make this one work.

6. Ask for a special blessing for somebody in our prayers.
Our friend got shingles on his noggin so it was nice to hear the girls pray for him and for his head. It was super cute. And he got better which is obviously thanks to us praying for him.

7. Christmas caroling on video chat.
This one was great. I think we will totally do this every year now. We didn't get the idea to take a picture of it until we sang to my parents so sorry Pop. I think for next time maybe we'll prepare a little more for this one. There's only so many "Jingle Bells" a person can take.


8. Visit some old people in your ward.
Some of our friends invited us to go caroling to a retirement center so we did that instead. Well really only Chloe and Greg went because it was a little late and the little kids were tired but I say it still counts.

9. Write a thank you card to the Bishop.
He puts in a lot of time so we wanted the girls to start to realize what sacrificing time and effort for others means. They drew him some pictures.

10. Compliment Day.
This one was fun to hear. The girls said stuff like, "You have really strong teeth for biting." and "You are really good at smiling." It was really cute.

11. Share your feelings of Jesus and Christmas with your family.

12. Show gratitude. Say lots of "thank-yous" to people you love and who help you.

I would definitely recommend trying this with your family too.

Strangely Addictive

My brother told me about these one day when we were doing video chat. He kept chomping on these and they were making the weirdest popping noise. I decided after being so enticed, that I'd try to make them. Here's what you'll need:

1 12 oz. pkg. of fresh cranberries
1 c. sugar
1 c. water

1 more c. sugar

Make a simple syrup of the sugar and water melting the sugar on the stovetop. Cool to room temp and add to the washed cranberries. Store in the fridge over night. The next day, drain the berries, put in a bowl and then toss with the other cup more of sugar. If that doesn't seem to cover them enough, add some more sugar. Lay them out on a baking sheet and let dry for several hours. You'll know they're ready when they are all crusty. That's it. Some recipes have this using egg whites to coat the berries. I'm personally opposed to the raw egg white idea but I'm sure it works great too.

I was afraid of the notion of eating raw, fresh cranberries but I was wrong to feel that way. They are delicious--somewhat sour and sweet. They actually reminded me a lot of how pomegranates tastes but without all the work. Very refreshing and they even make you feel like you're eating something healthy.

Yum, this will be a new Christmas time tradition.

Gingerbreading

The girls and I made a gingerbread house together one morning. I let Chloe stay home from school just to do it. It was a mental health day. School didn't get out until the day before Christmas Eve and I just knew that if we didn't have her skip a day early in the week, she'd be too excited about the class party and school celebrations that she'd miss out on making the gingerbread house all together. I know this is a crazy notion to some people but I like having her miss a day here and there for no real reason. I wish my parents would've done that when I was little.

It turned out great but it is always more work than I ever think it will be. I try to be so easy going and relaxed about it all and at the same time battle with trying to make it look good. This one looked too good. That means the kids probably didn't have as much fun as I should have let them have.

Tati and I sprinkled the foil all over with sugar so it would look more snowy. The frosted mini wheats idea we got from a gingerbread display that we saw. They didn't quite fit the dimensions of the roof perfectly but we loved it.


Chloe sprinkled everything with powdered sugar. We didn't get any good close ups, but it looked very snowish. Even after eating candies all along the way, we ended up with a bunch of leftovers so the girls decided to make a fire pit in the back yard of the house.

Now they just keep asking when they can eat it. Am I the only one who thinks that is weird? Why would you want to eat this?

Greg made some gingerbread cookies with the girls one night too. Chloe got a gingerbread cookie cutter from the city after her concert at City Hall.

Christmas Chocolates

I had a date with Chloe recently to a chocolate making class.

It was a thrill because we went alone and it was at a fun place. It is called Fort Edmonton and it is set to look like an olden day town. The parents could leave but Chloe really wanted me to stay. It was a bit torturous for me because there were lots of sanitary issues for my mental health (lots of touching, rolling, picking noses, long nails, etc.) but she had a great time and in the end it was fun for me to watch her have so much fun and interact with other kids her age. There are always bound to be some kids who just are loud and obnoxious too but thankfully it didn't seem to phase Chloe which made me happy because she is learning how to deal with situations and people that aren't always ideal. Anyway, she left with a tin full of mints, truffles and gross hand shaped cookies but she loved it.

There were a couple other parents who stayed so it was fun to bond with them over the gross-ness of it all and how these young teachers didn't have a clue how to work with kids. It was funny to me how different our perspective and awareness of things were of things over these two young adults in charge.
They baked on a real wood burning stove and it was so cozy and warm in the kitchen, I could've stayed there all winter--minus all the smoke. I was talking to the girl about how it probably wouldn't have been too bad to live back then when she tells me the whole house is also piped with a furnace. Ha, ha. Boy did they fool me!

Here's one of Chloe rolling her mints. She was so meticulous about it. She loves taking her time on things. It is something that drives me crazy when it involves putting on all her winter clothes but at a time like this, it was nice to be able to appreciate that about her.

The best part for me was half-way through the class when we took a little winter walk around the town square and looked at all the "old" shop windows with their Christmas displays out. It was just fun to spend time with her and talk to her and give her that one and one attention that she doesn't get too often anymore. It was so freezing outside though. There was this intense wind chill that we weren't expecting. Chloe was going crazy taking pictures of cual quier cosa. It was fun.

I loved this one of a nativity made out of sticks.

And this one is my fave:

When we got home and happily and excitedly shared her goods with her little sister. It just made me feel so happy that she is my daughter and I love her so much. I need to try and do more Mommy/Daughter dates.

CLEAN Laundry

This will be great to show to Gavin's future wife. This kid was so funny helping with laundry. We love him.

Chloe's first choir performance

Nothing puts you in the Christmas spirit like a children's choir. Especially if one of your own is in it. Chloe is part of a junior choir at school and loves it. They had their first performance of the year at City Hall and did a great job. Their songs were all about Christmas (and yes, they even sang about Jesus!) and it was really fun. All of the kids were super professional, except for the poor boy who had to run off stage to throw up (but the show must go on). They even did this number to "Mr. Sandman" but instead it was "Mr. Santa". They had all these little hand gestures and actions that went along with it. I was especially proud of Chloe because she was so focused. A lot of kids were distracted by the building (it is kind of cool), but she took her eyes off the conductor once - to shoot me a quick smile. I am really glad I got to see it. Here are a few pics and a movie of them singing a familiar tune in French and German, little did I know the English verse was on its way, so I stopped the movie prematurely. Oops. (Chloe is right above the poor girl whose head is cut off by the microphone.)