Leaving dinosaur gingerbread for Santa and "hanging" stockings where ever we can.

24 December 2012

Christmas eve evening in the middle of the crowds of the city.

 The crèche in St. Patricks Cathedral.

December 23, 2012

Cheshire and Chris hosted a gingerbread house party for some of Chris' family and our family.

 Morning sisters.

 Chris and his grandmother building together.

 And we are all busy at work.

 Chris' youngest cousin and goddaughter, Katelyn, who was a very cute Santa Baby.

 Grandma and Chris' house.

 Chris' mom and uncle.

 Cheshire hard at work.

Finished products.

Dinosaur Christmas Tree

Last Saturday, Julia and I spent a long time making salt dough white sparkled dinosaurs to hang on our tiny tree.  Julia had a great time.  For me it was the work I needed for the day.

Let it Snow!

A picture of Julia looking straight on at me
 used to be so hard to capture.  It is still not easy
 but it happens.

Making Cookies

On Saturday, two families, friends of Lisa and Nick, joined us for an afternoon cookie bake.  Cheshire brought a new recipe for a salted nutella cookie that I am still dreaming about.  After those were finished, sugar cookie dough was rolled out, cut, and decorated.  Everyone painted and adorned.

Mixing cookie paint

Breaking from cookie decorating, Julia and a grownup friend
 worked on the weekend puzzle.  1000 pieces, I think.  Everyone
 worked on it from at some point during the weekend, and
  before we left on Sunday, it was finished!

The artist, her silly sister and her equally silly Lisa

A very quick series ~~~

Julia showing off a little dinosaur who just hatched.

Cheshire notices a chance to be silly.

And takes advantage . . . 

But Cheshire is not the only one with a silly streak. . . 

Enter Lisa the silly . . . 

Cheshire finds another expression . . . 

And the moment has passed.

This week's photos

The daisy dinosaur at church last weekend.  Julia improved on the costume on Halloween by putting on a lovely crown, thereby becoming a princess daisy dinosaur.

My offering to the gods of the holiday -- relishing my week long snack mom status to create some fun for Julia's class.  Those are pumpkin cupcakes with crunchy pumpkin seeds topped with cream cheese frosting and candy.  Minus the candy they are pretty divine if I say so myself.

Julia being quiet after a long day of school.  Muta being quiet after an energetic teasing of Latkah.

The perfect hostess ready to hand out halloween treats to her class.

And then ready to eat her share.

This is a picture of Julia's time line project.  She took this picture.  I'll try to get a better one when the project comes back home.  She worked so hard on it for more than a week.

Front window decorations that really need to come down today!