December also is....

...finding ways to stay occupied while mom wraps gifts and checks lists.

Harley and S. are snuggling buddies. The doggy got too tired to finish an episode of Jake and the pirates though and fell asleep. I love that they are holding hands. It took 2 entire years for Hog to settle down enough for anything like hand/paw holding. Finally she isnt a puppy!

Normal children play with playdoh on a table or on carpet somewhere it will make a big mess and leave crusty residue for a few months. Not these kids. They seem to think your face is a good spot for it. My favorite? The one coming out of her nose!! Gross. I know she didnt come up with that on her own.

Family Cookie Exchange. Fun and delicious. I didnt take any picts but Z. was there and she went around taking random picts afterward. It is so very nice to live so close to the Grandparents, Great Grandparents and even some of the Aunts Uncles and Cousins. 

Great Grandma and Grandpas house has always been a comfortable place for me. Bright, Clean, and full of Love and Laughing.

December is a time for putting off the procrastination and finishing up the last minute projects. Daddy made each of the kids an awesome Robot. He is a pro and got them all finished up the week before Christmas.The stiff neck(understatement!) he got from so many hours banging around in the cold garage was tolerable due to the fantastic finished product. The kids love them!

S. helps mom with a project for her cousin. She was so happy to be included in part of the creating. WAtch out world. Has she got some creative ideas!

Jingle Bell gloves. Fun for a little Caroling night. 

Z. seems to think Caroling is a tradition of ours, so now it is. We bundled up our bad attitudes and drove out in the slushy rain for a quick singing session. We dont know many songs and didnt go to many doors but the feeling we got filled our hearts and somehow the kids didnt want to stop or even take cover to get warm. Strange and Wonderful. 

Is it December without Sugarcookies? Such a messy undertaking but so tasty. We got more plates of treats this year from neighbors than ever. They probably recieved these from us with the same thought we had recieving "We love treats. Thanks. What should we do with all these cookies?!". Come January and February we wish we had a plate or 6 still!Theres not a treat to be found.