Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Christmas Eve Traditions

Our Christmas Eve is full of traditions.
First off the kids always get new P.J.'s when they wake up in the morning.
This year we did robes instead.
The search for "The Pickle" is a favorite for the kids. Abe hides the pickle ornament somewhere on the tree and the kids search for it. Whoever finds it gets to open the special Pickle present. This year it was a decided tie as the ornament fell to the ground when Zach moved a bell on the tree and the three oldest all saw it at the same time. Sadie picked it up and claimed victory while Zach protested that he had won. Then we make yummy CREPES for breakfast.
Lucy loves to help Dad get out all the ingredients and blend them up.
Then in the afternoon we head up to my mom's house for our
Christmas dinner
. My brother, Rolf reads a Christmas story to Lucy, Elsa and Liesel.Then we play Christmas carols on the bells and have a talent show where each child chooses a talent to show off.
This year we had a dance, a drawing, a recitation of "The Night Before Christmas", a homemade gun made from PVC pipe and a typing demonstration...some interesting choices:)Acting out the NATIVITY gets more chaotic each year as we add new little actors.
This year we had no baby so the role of baby Jesus had to be played by a doll.
Sadie was Mary as she has been since birth and Olle was Joseph as usual. Leif and McKay carried the roles of Shepard and wisemen and the little girls were angels.
Zach carried three roles, Shepard, wiseman and Donkey.At the end of the evening we head to our nephew Finn's spot at the cemetary and sing Christmas Carols and light luminaries.
Then we head home for hot chocolate and sweet dreams!

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Tis' The Season


I love CHRISTMAS 
I love the music, the smells the feeling of excitement and the memories.  
I've enjoyed re-discovering my love for photography lately 
& spent a morning last week capturing some of my
  Favorite Christmas Things 

I love the way the mantel looks 
with the stockings hanging from it 
and the way my kids tell everyone who comes over
 which one is theirs.
I love the wreaths on all the doors.  
I don't know why...it is just something I love.I love our tradition of 
"THE PICKLE"
We hide the pickle ornament on the tree & on Christmas Eve 
the kids search for it.  
Whoever finds it get to open a special "Pickle gift" a day early.
I love the RED and GREEN.  
The cranberries and lights on trees and on the houses 
and ribbons and wrapped gifts...
I love that at the center of all the celebration
 is the memory of 
a little baby boy who changed everything!

Monday, December 1, 2008

TIme for a new post?