Don: "Whatcha doing?"
Me: "Making the kids dinner - just an assortment of stuff."
Koa: "Noooo, I don't want that!"
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Creating Christmas Traditions
This Christmas Makoa is 4 and I really felt the pressure to create and follow through on Christmas traditions that I wanted for my family.
The week started with baking cookies (despite the heat) and Makoa spent over an hour helping me to roll the Russian Tea Cakes (a treat that I remember always having at Christmas) in powdered sugar.
Thanks Mom for the cute aprons!
During the week we also made thumbprint cookies and some yummy kid snacks for our friend Nate.
On the 24th we prepared the cinnamon rolls (my dad's famous treat) for Christmas morning. Makoa was in charge of the fillings.
Growing up, on Christmas Eve we were able to open 1 gift . . . always pajamas. This year I 'Julie-fied' the tradition of washing all the jammies before opening them (if you didn't know already I have a thing about washing clothes before wearing!) and added a Christmas story.
Makoa received an activity book to go with our favorite, 'An Aussie Night Before Christmas'.
Tas was more excited about the wrapping paper than the gift.
We had fun reading the stories after Don made some yummy pizzas.
Makoa took his time choosing and putting out his treats - healthy and sweet - for Santa, and even included a note. Here is what it looked like after Santa stopped by (I forgot to take it before!)
The presents from the extended family had been out all week, but the ones from Don and I and Santa arrived over night. Makoa could see them when he went from his room to ours in the morning and was very excited to tell us that Santa had in fact been to our house!
Stockings were passed out
and opened while the cinnamon rolls were cooking.
After cinnamon rolls and special sugar cereal (Don's family tradition) we had all day to open and play with our toys (and wrapping paper).
And look who started crawling this week, just in time to get into everything during the crazy holiday time!
We paused the gift opening and playing for a nice big lunch with foods from both families - Grandma Z's jello, veggie meat Papa style, Don's green beans, mashed potatoes, Makoa's requested cauliflower, 2 cream pies (too hot for the other kind), and my attempt at baked macaroni and cheese (did not turn out as yummy as it looked!)
Tas and I got dressed (I could not get Makoa or Don out of pjs for the entire 4 day weekend! They did bathe and change their clothes, but as Koa put it, "I am too lazy to get dressed and leave somewhere.") Well, the girls looked good anyway :)
Then we Skyped with both families and opened and played with more toys.
And what Christmas is complete without sweets and special treats :)
The week started with baking cookies (despite the heat) and Makoa spent over an hour helping me to roll the Russian Tea Cakes (a treat that I remember always having at Christmas) in powdered sugar.
Thanks Mom for the cute aprons!
During the week we also made thumbprint cookies and some yummy kid snacks for our friend Nate.
On the 24th we prepared the cinnamon rolls (my dad's famous treat) for Christmas morning. Makoa was in charge of the fillings.
Growing up, on Christmas Eve we were able to open 1 gift . . . always pajamas. This year I 'Julie-fied' the tradition of washing all the jammies before opening them (if you didn't know already I have a thing about washing clothes before wearing!) and added a Christmas story.
Makoa received an activity book to go with our favorite, 'An Aussie Night Before Christmas'.
Tas was more excited about the wrapping paper than the gift.
We had fun reading the stories after Don made some yummy pizzas.
Makoa took his time choosing and putting out his treats - healthy and sweet - for Santa, and even included a note. Here is what it looked like after Santa stopped by (I forgot to take it before!)
The presents from the extended family had been out all week, but the ones from Don and I and Santa arrived over night. Makoa could see them when he went from his room to ours in the morning and was very excited to tell us that Santa had in fact been to our house!
Stockings were passed out
and opened while the cinnamon rolls were cooking.
After cinnamon rolls and special sugar cereal (Don's family tradition) we had all day to open and play with our toys (and wrapping paper).
And look who started crawling this week, just in time to get into everything during the crazy holiday time!
We paused the gift opening and playing for a nice big lunch with foods from both families - Grandma Z's jello, veggie meat Papa style, Don's green beans, mashed potatoes, Makoa's requested cauliflower, 2 cream pies (too hot for the other kind), and my attempt at baked macaroni and cheese (did not turn out as yummy as it looked!)
Tas and I got dressed (I could not get Makoa or Don out of pjs for the entire 4 day weekend! They did bathe and change their clothes, but as Koa put it, "I am too lazy to get dressed and leave somewhere.") Well, the girls looked good anyway :)
Then we Skyped with both families and opened and played with more toys.
And what Christmas is complete without sweets and special treats :)
Christmas Concert
Makoa's preschool put on a fabulous Christmas concert with the kids, aged 2-5, sang songs from around the world. First were 2 Australian songs sang by the whole school.
Makoa's group sang 2 songs in Spanish.
Finally, the whole group sang 2 Christmas songs.
The kids were adorable and of course I was a very proud Momma.
Makoa's group sang 2 songs in Spanish.
Finally, the whole group sang 2 Christmas songs.
The kids were adorable and of course I was a very proud Momma.
Some December Highlights
One rainy weekend we heard a tinkling sound and ran outside to see a pink ice cream truck. Don and I were expecting popsicles but this driver was serving soft serve.
Tas snuck a bit when I was trying to take the first photo - What? Do I have something on my
face?
Such a second child - I guarantee Makoa did not try ice cream at this age. But she was in love!
Tasi also helped me with my never ending laundry chore.
This year I decided to have an Advent Calendar. On the first of December I explained to Makoa that he would get to open a door everyday until Christmas. "What is in it?" "Chocolate." "I will get chocolate EVERY day?!" Treats are usually only for special occasions and Makoa was just a bit shocked to hear that he would get a sweet for 24 days - forever for a four year old!
For the next 23 days I either had to take a photo or at least message Don to tell him what picture was on the chocolate!
Just another cute pic of Tas - I turned away and she managed to do this with the rest of her cereal:
Tas snuck a bit when I was trying to take the first photo - What? Do I have something on my
face?
Such a second child - I guarantee Makoa did not try ice cream at this age. But she was in love!
Tasi also helped me with my never ending laundry chore.
This year I decided to have an Advent Calendar. On the first of December I explained to Makoa that he would get to open a door everyday until Christmas. "What is in it?" "Chocolate." "I will get chocolate EVERY day?!" Treats are usually only for special occasions and Makoa was just a bit shocked to hear that he would get a sweet for 24 days - forever for a four year old!
For the next 23 days I either had to take a photo or at least message Don to tell him what picture was on the chocolate!
Just another cute pic of Tas - I turned away and she managed to do this with the rest of her cereal:
Redecorating
Makoa did a fantastic job decorating the tree . . .
after a few weeks though I had to unorganize the carefully sorted ornaments from their silver and red sections!
Most of the breakable ornaments were added this year too - last year we stuck to the Ikea ball ornaments as Makoa was a bit more involved and too young to discourage from touching. It was so fun to see the ornaments from around the world - Hawaii, Monterey, Holland, Australia, Dubai, Bali - and also to see the ornaments that were given as gifts - the cowboy Santa from Durham, the camping moose and beautifully painted Eskimo globe from Alaska. I was flooded with memories of decorating the tree when I was young and my mom explaining where each ornament was from or what it signified, and I can't believe that now I am a mom who will get to do the same thing.
after a few weeks though I had to unorganize the carefully sorted ornaments from their silver and red sections!
Most of the breakable ornaments were added this year too - last year we stuck to the Ikea ball ornaments as Makoa was a bit more involved and too young to discourage from touching. It was so fun to see the ornaments from around the world - Hawaii, Monterey, Holland, Australia, Dubai, Bali - and also to see the ornaments that were given as gifts - the cowboy Santa from Durham, the camping moose and beautifully painted Eskimo globe from Alaska. I was flooded with memories of decorating the tree when I was young and my mom explaining where each ornament was from or what it signified, and I can't believe that now I am a mom who will get to do the same thing.
Santa's Helpers
You might remember that last year we were decorating our tree just following our Halloween party. This year I convinced Koa to wait until after our Thanksgiving celebration!
He very carefully placed all of the silver and red ball ornaments, while Tasi watched.
She might have helped remove a ball or two from the packaging.
My cute Santa helpers.
He very carefully placed all of the silver and red ball ornaments, while Tasi watched.
She might have helped remove a ball or two from the packaging.
My cute Santa helpers.
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