Gingerbread and History

 

A few weeks ago we decided to make some gingerbread cookies from scratch.  Very typical of me I just started mixing before realizing that I was out of nutmeg...well let me tell you we just used cloves (a bit less) and plenty of ginger and molasses and they turned out delish!

The marshmallow Sis is eating was about a millimeter away from the cookie before she reconsidered and popped it into her mouth. 

It all ended up devoured eventually! 

Both kids wanted to decorate cookies especially for Best and he was so appreciative when he got them.  We were missing him as he was away at a hockey tournament that weekend.  Thanks Best for always being so "impressed" with their creations, they love the look on your face. Smile.

Our other Christmas activity that weekend was our annual trip to the Landing for "Folkways of the Holiday".  It is one of my favorite places and the Christmas celebration is one I never hope to miss!

 

It was pretty cold that day but we stayed warm with some hot cocoa and "ebelskievers" as recommended by Santa.  Peanut said they were a little too sweet for his taste but Sis gobbled hers right up!

 

Of all the houses in the village the bankers house is a favorite of mine.  It's furnished as a rich man would've lived and there are always fun antique toys to tinker with.

 

In one of the other houses the kids got to visit with a woman making roll out cookies and make Christmas cards.  The volunteers that "inhabit" the houses on these living history weekends are so knowledgeable about the time periods they represent. The kids always have plenty of questions for them and we all learn a thing or two!

I loved seeing the old fashioned trees.  Not sure how I'd feel about candles on the branches but  the ornaments were so quaint...

The community sing a long is another favorite of mine but wasn't scheduled until the next weekend (forecasted for a high of -8!) so I was a bit sad to miss it.  However, the duo here was friendly and we had lots of fun singing carols with them

and Santa!  Sis moved from her seat next to me to go sit by him.

And then we got this wonderful picture with him in the gazebo.  It wasn't busy at all the day we were there and so the kids had lots of chances to visit with him.  At one point Peanut told me that he knew he was the real Santa because he got really close to his beard and it was real.  He was pretty great and had a never ending supply of candy canes.

Hope your holiday season is jolly and you're staying warm with those you love!

 

Tradition

 

We got our tree decorated just in time for Sis to model her fancy new Christmas dress in front of it!  To be honest it was quite a bit too big last year and it's actually a bit small this year but she still looks adorable and it probably would've fit perfectly around July, ha ha!

Although it was a bit tough to leave behind our brand new slate appliances at the old house we are getting to have fun with the fridge this year!  So simple but it makes me smile every time I see it.  He now has a talking bubble that says "I love you snow much."

There are so many wonderful holiday activities in our metro area that I have to write them down from year to year to keep track!  I'm glad we made it to Macy's this year because we learned that the building is being sold so it will be the last year for the 8th floor Christmas display.  It's been a tradition here since Macy's was Daytons and I'm sad to see it go but happy my children got to enjoy it for a few years.

They love to write letters to Santa and put them in the special mailbox.  I gave them the choice of going through the display first but they both wanted to write letters first.

And I love that there was a drop for all sizes!  I put a letter in too this year. Smile.

                         Here's Peanut's letter.  It says "I would like a box of K'nex". 

                                            And here he is using the "big drop"!

The beginning of the tour through "A day in the life of an Elf".  Wonder what they will do with all of these magnificent props?

Making Christmas cookies...

The singing Christmas trees.  I would really love one of these.  

We saw lots of other scenes including the reindeer stables, flying school, North Pole post office, and Elves bakery.  I knew we had pictures of all of those from previous years and I just really wanted to be present with the kids.  Seeing the looks on their faces, talking about what was going on.  We did and  it was so special.  And for the first time in the years we've gone we decided to see Santa.  There wasn't a line and both kids were feeling brave. 

And then we ended our tour the way we always do with cookies from "Mrs. Claus's Bakery". 

Everybody is now to the age that although we still have a regular "resting time" we can skip it occasionally without the world falling apart.  So sometimes we do.  Like when we want to have pizza in the big city and watch the holiday traffic.

 

 

I'm soaking up all the time I can with these littles while the holiday magic is so real to them.  We've got lots of special memories and traditions already started and we are adding to them each year.  I think my favorite thing this year is actually just listening to them sing Christmas songs as they play.  Hope you're enjoying some holiday fun with the ones you love.