Another magical time from 2017: Christmas. We were again blessed with a visit from family - the Harrelds flew out from UT, and we spent Christmas Eve with Don's mother and siblings and their families. I didn't take any pictures, but there were lively games and delicious food and Christmas movies and all the laughter and bustle entailed by large family gatherings. It was wonderful. Then we got the kids in their Christmas pajamas and headed home in the snow. Don did a dramatic reading of the Night Before Christmas and the kids were eager to get to bed so Santa could do his thing.
Of course it was a late night, and the kids actually slept long enough for me to get cinnamon rolls in the oven. Per my families tradition, they got to open their Santa gifts first, and then we read the Christmas story before opening the rest.
Everyone made out like bandits. We got the kids scooters and nerf guns, Henry got a bedtime board book with family pictures in it. And about a million other gifts, each one so thoughtful and very well received. When Riley came in and saw her gifts from Santa she said, "Oh, I thought I was good, and I was!!"
Christmas meals: Cinnamon rolls for breakfast, chicken and wild rice soup with rosemary grilled cheese for lunch (I'm thinking a new Christmas tradition there) and ham and cheesey potatoes with rolls, green beans and chocolate cake for dinner. It was all pretty simple and mostly prepared ahead of time because I didn't want to be a stressed maniac on Christmas, and it was lovely.
Aaaand Christmas bowling: it was a little tricky to keep Henry from taking a dive down a lane, but we all made it out in one piece. I think Dave and Suzette were mostly in the lead, and I was definitely in the caboose. I blame it on the bowling ball I was carrying on my middle.
Not pictured: Crazy cold temperatures and a roaring fire in the wood-burning stove.
It was pretty perfect! We were sad to say goodbye the next day. Luckily, the kids were easily distracted by all their great gifts. Thanks to everyone who helped make our Christmas so special.
Other Christmas activities: attending the Nutcracker highlights performance at the Landmark center by the St. Paul ballet troupe (and the kids getting to dance with them this year!)
Lots of Christmas baking - Dad got us the Polar Express in gingerbread house kit form, and of course we did sugar cookies.
Church. Here is Joe and his adorable teacher, Sis. Garbow, and a very special Christmas gift she brought him. Then in church on Christmas Eve (saved by the emergency dum-dums when the service - excellent that it was - went long.
The Primary Christmas performance at the ward party
Sledding.
Ice skating! This is at the park right by our house. Riley and Joe are always itching to go skating. Me, not so much. But Dave is game - ever since the first time we moved to MN he's enjoyed hockey and skating, and likes to share that with the kids (and me, when I'm not pregnant). Last time they went out, a couple weeks ago, he took Henry out on the ice in a stroller. Much fun was had by all.
As I finish this post, the decorations are stowed back under the stairs, the days are getting noticeably lighter longer, and we are starting to dream of spring and summer (nevermind the snowstorms we are currently in the middle of). But how I love all these Christmas memories. It truly is a magical time of year.
I'll just mention: I made a new years goal to blog more - it's such a wonderful way of recording these priceless baby years we will only have once. I love reading old posts. So while I lack motivation to do it, these couple weeks before the baby comes, and dealing with sickness and injury rather a lot lately, seems like the time to make good on that goal.
THANKSGIVING
We were so blessed to have Dad come out this year for Thanksgiving, our first in our own home! It wasn't perfect. Sickness! Dang you! Dad had a bug himself his last day with us and for weeks after he got home. So sad! But still...it was a very homey, tasty Thanksgiving, and he brought the party and a lot of joy for us all. Made it feel Thanksgiving-y.
We did our traditional meal - turkey, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce shaped like a can...I also discovered too late that I didn't have a pre-made pie crust so did an easy one I found through google and it turned out great! Nice when that happens.
It was a cold Thanksgiving day, but we made it to the church Turkey Bowl, and got out to the parks a couple times while Dad was here.
Day after Thanksgiving we went to a farm and cut our own Christmas tree, after much debate. It was a Frasier Fir, and it lasted through Christmas and beyond, fresh and fragrant.
With Grandpa here to babysit, Dave and I went to see A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie and it was EXCELLENT. If I could marry a story, I'd marry that one. Seeing it on a stage so wonderfully performed was, well, like a kid at Christmas.
What a great Dad/Granpa. Thanks for making our Thanksgiving so special!
So far behind...lets dive in shall we? (And I feel compelled to say I just had to check the year to make sure it was correct. That is my brain these days.)
Halloween...and other fall festivities
We went to the Fall Harvest apple orchard this year and it was a success. Apples: good. Petting zoo: good. Corn pit: yes. There were a ton of free activities for the children. We picked and paid for 15 pounds of apples (the 5 pounds we ate while picking were free :) and made apple sauce and pie. What's more, the hour drive it takes to get there is gorgeous - much of it follows a river and there are quaint farm houses and churches and fall foliage everywhere. A very satisfactory trip from start to finish. BUT: I still like the apple cider donuts from Apple Jacks orchard. I don't remember even seeing them here. So.
Fun with friends at the Allyons Halloween bash:
Neighborhood trick-or-treating: the neighbors get really into it and there are all kinds of spooky decor, bonfires, and music along with treats (and adult beverages) up and down the block. The kids (Spiderman and Supergirl) had a blast - ended up joining forces with a gang of kids, which was handy when Joe fell in the bushes and scattered his candy everywhere and everyone helped him pick it up. So I heard - Henry and I went home early because 1)it was freezing. Like 10 degrees. and 2)gotta hand out candy. Henry wouldn't fool with a costume this year. He went as a confused, cold baby.
Our three-faced punkin.
Church trunk-or-treat. The youth put this together and did a great job! Lots of games and hotdogs before heading out to the parking lot for trunk-or-treat, and it was over in an hour! My kind of party!
And that in a nutshell...I tried to pare down the Halloween festivities this time around. It seems like I usually burn out on all the activities long before the actual day so this year was a nice change. Plus, I was still quite sick from pregnancy and this changes your priorities, doesn't it? But the kids got their fill, of candy and fun. I told them if they picked out 10 pieces of candy, I'd buy the rest from them for five bucks and they were immediately on board. Kids get so sugared out this holiday, I don't think they even had to consider it. And Dave and I only recently finished off the spoils (3 months later). Win, win!
