Christmas Morning

My mom and dad joined us for Christmas this year. How nice. My dad shoveled a lot of snow while he was here. My mom did a lot of dishes while we tended to a vomiting Margo on Christmas night. We ate rosettes and lefse and rocha and stollen. We exchanged gifts like Turtles and tape measure bags and lamps made from silk worm cocoons. We napped and walked around the neighborhood and watched movies about penguins and Wall Street (when we should have watched Wild Hogs instead). We hugged and said good bye. And we didn't take a single picture of any of those things. But here are some of the moments that did get captured.

Margo finishing off the bits and parts of the cookies we left for Santa. Also pictured, the doll house and cradles Marc made for H&M.

Harper asked Santa for a bed for her stuffed toy "Chickie."

When December started and we didn't have an advent calendar I was glad I could pull out this candle I have been saving for 20 years and finally use it.

This was the first year that Harper made lists for what she would buy everyone. We went shopping together and found something for each person on her list. She wanted to give Margo a purse with jewels on it since she had noticed Margo admiring her jeweled purse. We decided to get a purse and glue the jewels on to it. Dad asked for colorful socks which we found easily at Target. I asked for earrings. I showed her three pairs that I liked and she bought one of them by herself. On Christmas morning I waited to open the box from Harper. When I did I was not surprised to see the earrings she had chosen. I was surprised to find the sweetest little card to go along with the earrings. It said "Dear Sunny, this is something that will look beautiful on you. I hope you have a very merry merry Christmas." There was a picture she had drawn of Mary, Jesus and Joseph at the bottom. I thought it was so nice that I couldn't help crying happy tears.

Marc was very busy making things for everyone this Christmas. A doll house and cradles for the girls and a surprise for me. I knew it involved a piece of wood and white spray painted bottle caps. I admit I was nervous. I thought it could be an advent calendar or a chore chart. But honestly I had no idea. And that was hard for me to handle. On Christmas morning I waited until the very end to open this one. And I laughed hysterically when I saw it. Marc says this is our family motto. I say that is embarrassing. But probably true.

Marc the Party Planner Strikes Again

I love it when Marc sets the table. It reminds me of when he picks out something for our girls to wear. He puts things together that I wouldn't have thought to put together. And it always looks good.

Shepherds

Eating like shepherds on Christmas Eve.

Making Cookies for Santa

On Christmas Eve morning we discovered we had no cookies for Santa. We got to work quickly.

Annual Rolling of the Stollen

Marc had helpers this year. I was not one of them.

Neon Pink

This was the actual color of Harper's cheeks after she came in from playing outside.

A Dog

We have enjoyed watching our friends' dog a couple times. The first time we had her over I was sure I would hate every minute of it. But it turns out I liked it. I did not like all the hair that she left behind. If we can find a dog that does not shed, is potty-trained and listens, I will welcome her into our home tomorrow. 

Bwaffles

If Margo had her druthers we would eat waffles every day. She still calls them bwaffles. I still think it's cute.

Saving The Best For Last Is Hard When Everything Tastes So Good

I liked watching Harper eat these cookies. She nibbled a bite of each one and then started over until she decided it was time to save them for later. I admire her restraint.

Unicorn Horns

Ormanents

Oh Christmas Tree

How verdant is thy beauty.

We put our tree up on a Sunday and woke up on Monday and found it lying on the floor. Marc saw it first and came and told me that everything was going to be okay before he told me what had happened.

Blueberry Muffins

Margo's Recipe for Blueberry Muffins
2 blueberries

1/2 of oranges

1/2 of some dough

1/2 of some milk

1/2 of some chocolate ornaments

1/2 of some butter

Then get 1/2 of a chocolate bowl. Then put it in the oven. That's the recipe.

Harper's Recipe for Blueberry Muffins

2T milk

1T sugar

2 eggs

Then you add 3T of cornstarch. Then you add 4T flour, a drop of water. Put it in the oven for 30 minutes at 20 degrees.

f-f-f-f-fly

Margo is figuring out the letters. One day she found some strips of paper and made some letters. I will have to settle for this kind of Montessori moment in my home since we will never be going to Montessori school. My favorite part of watching her figuring out the letters is listening to her sound out each word by pronouncing the first letter at least five times before saying the word and finally discovering what the first letter is.

I Heart Margo

The Nativity

Margo loves playing with this nativity set. I love finding it all over the house.

Climbing

 Marc and the girls took a climbing class. 

Will Do

Harper made a little banner for Thanksgiving.

When I Had a Fauxhawk for a Day

A Ratio of Pancakes to Daughters

Once I served the little drops of cooked pancake batter to Harper and she thought they were pretty great. Now I never make pancakes without saving a few of the little drops for H&M. This morning I made a batch of miniature miniature pancakes.

Three pictures of pancakes. One picture of Margo. Probably not a correct ratio.

We Finally Got A Tree

Making Crackers