Christmas Preparations

BAKING

I always have a baking day with the kids a few days before Christmas where we make LOTS of cookies to share with friends & neighbors. This year Hannah thought it would be fun to add in some homemade chocolates, so we made some pretty stars using simple melting chocolate and molds. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. We used the rest of the chocolate and dipped pretzels. We also made 9 dozen ginger crinkles and about 7 dozen sugar cookies that were frosted the next day.

I wanted to get them delivered all in one trip, so I loaded up the kids, tuned into the Christmas music channel, and began our trek - which ended up taking about 2 hours! In the middle of it, Ian asked if we were going to "sell some cookies to Adam, too?" I told him that we were delivering them, not selling them, to our friends for Christmas. He just melts my heart.

The next day, Jeff delivered a plate of cookies and a ham to the families that he home teaches. He called down the basement stairs to the boys to put their boots and coats on and come with him to deliver the goodies. Ian was not happy about that and said, "I don't want to sell the meat with Dad!!!!" So. darn. cute.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Hannah ended up doing most of the gingerbread house alone this year, which was just fine with her. She had total creative control of the project and it turned out beautiful. Alec helped with the door, Ian helped with the roof because Hershey's chocolate bars are his favorite, and Jeff helped with the initial construction of the walls - but in the end Hannah was the one who stuck it out from start to finish.

"HOLIDAY NIGHTS"

On Tuesday night we went to Greenfield Village's "Holiday Nights" with the Davies, Ellis, and Allen families. I really can't believe we've never gone to this event before! The village was beautifully decorated, complete with candelit paths, bon fires on every corner, and carolers dressed in costume strolling around. It was such a great night, spent with good friends and it totally got me in the holiday mood. We all met at Buddy's Pizza for dinner in Dearborn and then we headed over to the village. Highlights were: ice skating, hot chocolate, caroling, hearing Santa call out the kid's names from the top of the Robert Frost house, seeing Santa's real reindeer, fireworks, carousel ride, and bon fires. Pictures are forthcoming...