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 :)
No comments:
Post a Comment