"Insta"-replay #61, Christmas is coming!!!

This week we have been getting into the Christmas spirit. Festivities have been happening all around.

Jon and I went to an ugly sweater party (a first for me.)

The girls had their first piano recital.

It was at my mom's, so a smallish gathering full of family.

We finally made it out to hear Grandpa Bill sing with the old fastion carolers.

 And our week finished with a trip to see Santa on the polar express (thank you Aunt Katie.) It was our first time on a train so I was super excited!

Merry Christmas to all! Hoping this week is full of fun holiday memory making!

12 day's of Christmas Barbie

A few years ago I started hearing about this crazy Christmas tradition, "Elf on a Shelf."  It is sort of just one more way to lie to your kids and manipulate them into behaving during Christmas break.  Or a chance to bring magic and fun into kids lives.  Either way when I found out how much the mischievous elf cost I decided to skip the tradition.   Still a part of me liked the idea of something special during Christmas time for the girls to look forward too.

So this year I decided to start a new tradition, one that is very much me, "Christmas Barbie."  I already had the doll, she use to be part of my decorations.  I just had to come up with ways to use her.  I didn't want silly pranks, instead I wanted her to show the girls what they would do that day.  We are just finishing day twelve which seemed like a good time to share because there are twelve days until Christmas if anyone want to use any ideas.

Day 1:

Barbie made herself wings and a halo.

The girls made clothespin angels.

Day 2:

Barbie set out art supplies.

The girls drew some of their favorite Christmas traditions.

Day 3:

Barbie made bells and got out Wii Music.

The girls also made bells and then played on the Wii.

Day 4:

Barbie had everything ready for a starry night crayon resist painting.

The girls colored hard with the crayons then painted lightly with the water paints.

Day 5:

Barbie set up my nativity.

The girls then got to make paper nativities of their own.

Day 6:

Movie time!  We watched "What's in the Bible? Volume 10" it talks about the gospels which is what Christmas is all about.

Day 7:

Barbie started to decorate the tree, with a few new ornaments as a bonus surprise.

The entire family took part in this activity.

Day 8:

Instead of an activity Barbie delivered early presents.  

Day 9:

Just because we are on Christmas break doesn't mean we can't learn, right?  Barbie takes a closer look at wool.

The girls had fun playing with the microscope. Merry especially wanted to look at everything and anything that fit on a slide.

Day 10:

Barbie encouraged us to get cleaning, now that decorations were out their boxes didn't need to stay in.

Day 11:

Barbie made a card for the girls.

They were able to make cards for their friends.

Day 12:

Barbie made a snowflake chain.

The girls made flakes of all sizes, they had fun trying different designs.

So there are the first 12 days with Christmas Barbie, a fun tradition.  I'm glad I came up with it.  It also helps me to plan at least the night before so I have something to keep the kids busy during our break.

Christmas Cheer

We are working hard to make "happy childhood memories" this year.  And boy is it fun!

 We went to the mall to see all the decorations (my mom was with us so I get to be in the picture).

 We took a picture in front of the "coffee tree" at Starbucks with Grandma and Aunt Coral.

 Them on St Lucia day we had our traditional Scandinavian celebration (sadly no cookies).  This year my youngest was very excited that she is the one who fits the dress.  Merry found out balancing a wreath on your head is hard.  Charry was happy to have a star head band.

 This year we decided to include a few cousins, since we were at their house.  I learned the boys get to wear cool pointed hats with stars on them, ours were more party hat size instead of wizard hat size but they didn't mind too much and a bit of tape kept the hats from falling off while we took pictures and sang a few Christmas tunes.

 It is becoming a family tradition to be a bit late getting our tree up, all the other decorations have been out since we moved (right after Thanksgiving) but the tree has been missing.  So there was lots of excitement as the tree finally made its appearance (although it will probably be replaced be a real one before Christmas.)

 The tree is a hoot, the girls decorated it all themselves and you can tell.  They grouped ornaments from the same set together (like the fairies Charry receives each year from Grandma in on section and the star wars M&M figures we each got their Dad in another.)

 As an added holiday treat Grandma came over to try out our new-to-us oven.  And thankfully it works!

 Cookies were handed out to the workers when they finished the tree.

 I did my own version of baking, I frosted little leaves on Little Debbie cakes to turn them into "Yule Logs.

 I also made some sugar cookies for the girls to frost.

The hat makes the memories more festive.
I hope everyone else is taking time to make happy memories and spread holiday cheer.