Gingerbread Houses

We've a tradition of putting on a gingerbread house decorating party every year in the weeks leading up to Christmas. When I announced it would soon be time,Heidi excitedly wanted to know when her cousins would be arriving. You see, we were in California last year and the cousins got to experience the fun together. I had to explain things wouldn't be able to work that way this year, but we did have some friends over and had a grand time!

Hannah concentrated very hard on getting things just right.

Yes, Karl actually grabbed the camera for a change!

I think my favorite part was watching how much personality dictated decorating style!

Christmas Candy

I had help making my annual caramels for the first time this year.

Everyone learned about stove safety and that it's Momma 's turn when things get too hot.

We had great fun cooking, stirring and wrapping,

but the best part was the eating!

Included

I love that my girls make sure to include Baby in their play. The game of choice lately has been "Tent".

Have you met our calves?

They're destined for the freezer, but for now they live a cushy life in the greenhouse.

The girls love going with Daddy for their twice a day feedings.

When asked how old they are, Heidi will always volunteer that one was born on Sunday - leaving out the fact that the Sunday in question was at the beginning of November.

"Icicle Stew"

"I'm making icicle stew, Momma, it's really yummy!"If I let her have her way, it's all she'd eat all winter.

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours,

We hope you have a joyful day of celebrating God become man.

It Doesn't WorkThat Way

Hannah, on her way to bed, notices she still has rubber bands in her hair.
"I take them out Momma." she says,and proceeds to do so before I have a chance to.
"Stop Hannah," I say, "you're ripping hair out too!"
"Oh," she says as she looks at the mass in her hands, then starts to place it strand by strand on top of her head, "It otay, I put it back"

Alphabet

Heidi's been interested in all things reading and writing lately, so for the past couple of months we've been working on an alphabet for the wall. We finished last week and I can now just direct attention upwards when she has questions about the formation of a letter. I love that she is constantly wanting me to spell things out for her so she can write them, and that often her writing is for others. She loves to write letters to her cousins!

What makes me laugh is the words she deems necessary to record:

"Momma, how do you spell document?"

"How 'bout eternal?"

"Grandpa and Grandma Wagenhoffer and Grandpa and Grandma Root?"

What a world these 26 little letters will open for her!

Levi: 4 Months

My little man graduated to his big boy crib and big boy chair this week.

He's loving the new view, but as you can see, he's still a bit on the short side for it.

Why, oh why, do they have to grow so fast?

Heidi's Sewing Again

Heidi's been asking for a top sheet for her bed for a while now, but as she still sleeps in a toddler bed, they aren't readily available. I finally got around to cutting down an old sheet of Karl's and mine that I had saved for the purpose and she helped me sew them up for she and Hannah. Great job Heidi!

Advent

As a family, we made 25 little stockings to mark the days from December 1-25. I stocked them with slips of paper containing verses about Christ coming to earth. Every night I plan to put a small treat for the girls in each stocking.On day 1 this seems to be a loved tradition already with Heidi asking me every couple of hours if it was the next day yet so we could look in the next stocking and learn what the paper says. My hope is to spread the wonder of celebrating God becoming man out over the entirety of December rather than save it all for a single day that is over much too quickly. I want Christmas to be about Christ for my children and want to build traditions which bring Him and what He has done for us to the forefront of our minds every day. I also want it to be fun and exciting for my children (and me) and so far this seems to include each of those elements. Hoorah!

Playing In The Blizzard

I just sent my children out to play in a blizzard.
Was it wise? I don't know.
But I do know that I needed some quiet and they needed to run and get rid of some energy.
So I did it, and you know what? They haven't come back yet. They seem to be enjoying it in fact.
It's really not so bad here in the woods, surrounded by trees so the wind doesn't blow as hard. The snow is coming down sideways,however, and I'm thinking Heidi will sufficiently release cabin-fever-itis by trying to shovel a path to the door. The one that's covered by a large overhang yet had snow come rushing in when I opened it.
Yes,I just sent my children out to play in a blizzard, something my California self thought I'd never say.

I Love This Age

The best reward for picking up toys is... mopping the floor!

Playing With Food

Occasionally I break out of the rut of boring snacks and suppers and have a little more fun with food. This is the girls current favorite snack, Mr Crab: Cut the top off an apple,then cut the rest into eighths. One marshmallow broken in half plus two chocolate chips or raisins for the eyes.

Then just sit back and listen to exclamations of delight!

Pretty Princesses

Colored Rice

It's a marvelous crafting medium. Requires some fine motor skills, but doesn't fly all about with the slightest puff of air like glitter. I had the girls tell me what they wanted to make, I outlined that shape with glue, then let them apply rice as desired.

Heidi's picture:

Hannah's picture:

To color the rice I just mixed it with a few drops of food coloring. If you wish to try this yourself, I would suggest wearing gloves or mixing it in a plastic bag. Either that or put up with many questions about designer fingers like I did for the next couple of days.

Family Fun

We are all loving that Daddy gets to be home in the evenings this year. 'Though I suspect myself to be happiest of all.

Heidi Amongst the Grasses

Little Man

Hannah Paints