I pulled out of the driveway this morning and noticed a package on our front steps. I made a mental note to remember it when I got back home. A few minutes later when I did get back home a mischievous squirrel had chewed a hole in the box and was about to gobble up the contents! Our naughty squirrels think anything on our front porch is for them – pumpkins and any packages containing food get gobbled up. I jumped out of the car just in time to scare the squirrel off and save our package of Peeps galore from Aunt Sandy. I had to throw out one package of Peeps that the squirrel got his teeth on but all the other varieties of marshmallow goodness were saved.
We’re ready for Christmas around here. I’ve gotten all my trinkets out and I’ve carefully placed them around the house.
Every year I get these cardboard trees out. I made them a few years ago – one for Claire, one for Bea. They fit together like a paper doll and the girls each have a small collection of cheap toys and mini lights. I keep thinking they well get tired of them but they don’t. I usually let them decorate their little trees while I set up the big tree – it’s the very first thing they get to decorate and they are so excited! We put the trees in their bedrooms and I turn the lights on every night while they fall asleep.
Here they are decorating our big tree. Bea and I tried to make a garland of marshmallows but we only ended up with a short string because it was a sticky mess. I hate sticky… but I like the look of marshmallows strung on bakers twine. Maybe if I freeze them or let them get stale before we string them.
I set up my collection of little houses and Christmas trinkets in my newish cabinet. I tell the girls they can play with mom’s toys but the have to leave them on the cabinet.
This year I added the little santa (below) and the house shaped mini shelves that I’ve been collecting from Goodwill. I’d like to make some more cardboard houses with the girls.
So the stocking are hung and all these sparkling jolly objects have put me in a mood that should last a good long time.
A few more Thanksgivings in Midland like the one we just had and we will be forced to rename it All The Fun You Can Have With Your Grandmas Weekend. My girls are lucky in the grandma department. Whenever they are in Midland they go from one grandma’s house to the other and they get showered with hugs, spoiled with undivided attention and loved up with a good amount of sweet treats thrown in. Grandma J., Grandma C., and Great Grandma Dice – they take their grandma duties seriously.
The grandmas brought out their toys – the bucket stilt things came out of Grandma C.’s basement and that funny red scooter thingy below was mine when I was little – it came down from mom’s attic.
Claire danced around the neighborhood.
The girls were engaged in some intense gingerbread house decorating for a long time. Grandma bought tiny gingerbread men decorations that were a hit. You can see one riding a candy sled on the roof below.
It’s become our tradition to help Grandma J. decorate her Christmas tree at Thanksgiving time. Jenna couldn’t join us, but her doggies did.
Again the girls were really into this project. Claire was especially persistent. She put almost all of the red and green balls on the tree – you can tell because they are all placed close together about two and a half feet up the tree.
So the girls had a fantastic time and I had my two minutes of bliss on Thanksgiving morning. I think I’ve successfully brainwashed my girls into loving the Rockettes. I love to imagine all their moms glued to the TV and bursting with pride. Even the mom of that poor Rockette who had a big bobble front and center this year.
Claire has been taking ballet class again this Fall. This week was parent observation day. Oh golly I do love watching my little doll dance. She spends a lot of time dancing around the house with her ponies lately. She’s got the funniest moves and she’s so free. At ballet class she does a good job and looks quite serious.
See if you can pick her out – it’s hard because all the girls wear the same thing. Just look for the cutest one.
They get a stamp on their hand at the end of each class – a little reward. Good job my love!
The first snow of the season came on Friday and the girls were so excited. Bea has been dreaming of snow all Fall – she says winter is her favorite season. It started snowing at about 7:30 and we went for a walk around our block after dinner. The girls yelled and giggled and threw snowballs at Brian the whole time. They ended up playing outside in the snow until after 10:00 p.m.
Now it’s the season of rosy cheeks and my mudroom filled with soggy snow pants and mittens.
On Sunday it was sunny and cold. We took a walk at the botanic garden. I’ll never get tired of the complete transformation that happens when the snow clings to every branch.
It doesn’t feel much like November – we’re having such a warm Fall – but I’ve had my turkey and gravy and cranberries and so I feel crafty. Get me a milky cup of coffee and let the season of making begin.
Oh what a fun early Thanksgiving weekend we had. I just love hanging out in the kitchen with Mom and Jennifer. What could be better – a busy day filled with good smells and chatting and laughing. All mixed up with the anticipation of a big beautiful meal and the start of the holiday season. Jennifer made a delicious apple pie that we later enjoyed while watching White Christmas.
We took a break from cooking to play at the beach for a bit. It was a blustery day and we had big waves (for our side of the lake).
Bea made place cards:
On Saturday we went to a Northwestern vs Purdue football game.
The first football game my girls have ever seen.
Mom reminisced about the great Purdue marching band and its baton twirlers: the Golden Girl, the Girl in Black and the Silver Twins. The Purdue band definitely outshined the Northwestern band. The big drum was especially fun – the drum guys did flips and tricks on the drum cart and ran circles around the band at top speed.
Here’s dad smiling after Purdue scored.
I’m so glad I got to host a fun Thanksgiving weekend!
Laowai 