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Last Friday it was 76 degrees here! Absolutely gorgeous…we just had to go out to the park! We had a great time at the playground and then walking around the woods…..We felt like Spring had arrived…but it hadn’t…..yet, this week it has arrived..but it is freezing out again! Oh well…we enjoyed it while we had it!
I’ve just never been a big batter fan….cake batter, cookie dough batter, brownie batter….I just want to finish up, wash the dish and be done with it….
But not so with the rest of my family….it is considered a crime if I wash the bowl, spoons, spatulas or mixers without letting everyone lick the remains of every drop of batter! I just don’t get it……
I’ve gotten in trouble for accidentally putting the bowl in the sink and filling it with water…..this is just what I do…naturally…I cook and then I immediately clean..I don’t go around the house making sure everyone has a lick! Well, now I do…in fact, it has gotten so bad that we now have a rotating schedule..who gets the bowl, the spatula and the spoon and/or mixer! The things we do for our family……
Today was a beautiful day…not a cloud in the sky, literally. Quinn had an assembly at school, so we walked to the school. After the assembly, River decided she wanted to play on the playground for a little bit. We haven’t been to a playground in about five or six months!
I knew River had grown a bit over the Winter….but as soon as she started playing on the playground….I found out how much! She instantly started scampering and climbing up things she couldn’t last Fall! It was incredible. She barely needed any help at all. It was so nice to be playing in the sunshine.
There is a rock climbing wall and River has always tried to do it on her own..but she has never been successful….well, today she just scampered up that thing without any problems! The look on her face when she reached the top..she was so proud of herself!
Over the weekend….we had another birthday….I can’t believe Quinn is eleven!! We had a lovely weekend with lovely birthday celebrations……
Every time it snows….everybody wants to have snow cream for dessert. In our family, there are two different ways to make it. For either version, you need a big bowl of fresh snow!
For the first variety, all you need is maple syrup…just pour in as much as you like…which in our families case, is a lot! Stir it up and enjoy…..very simple.
The other version involves sugar and vanilla! It all depends on your mood.
For this version, all you do is add about a teaspoon of vanilla and sugar…..a lot of sugar, if you are one of my children!
And of course, you have to mush it all up before you can enjoy it!
So, for this week’s Embrace the Camera (inspired by the anderson crew)…I thought I would like to have some photos of Quinn and I….so I sat us down in front of the Christmas tree…but, of course, River said she had to be in the photos with us…well…she thought she wanted to be in the photos……with us….
And, how could I say no…so…..here we are……well, sort of…River was bopping all around…but I got one good one of her..before she was on her way again……
The Yule Lads have started coming to our house. Another tradition. Every year, starting on December 12th, the Yule Lads begin to arrive. We love the little guys.
Each night, we read about the Yule Lad who is coming that night…we get out the little statue….and then the children leave a shoe in their window.
So far, we’ve been visited by Stekkjarstaur, who likes sheep, Giljagaur, who steals milk, and Stufur…who is the little short guy.
In our house, they are all very friendly, and they leave little gifts for good children. (If you are bad, they leave you a rotten potato!) Sometimes the Yule Lads do slightly mischievous things, like drink our milk and leave the empty container on the floor!
We haven’t talked too much about Gryla, the Yule Lads mother, or the Yule Cat, because they are a bit too scary. If you are interested in learning more about the Yule Lads, there are a few good websites..but I love the book that we have entitled The Yule Lads by Brian Pilkington….the illustrations are wonderful!
Another Christmas tradition, in our family, is visiting Santa. After Tuesday was born, for the first seven years, we went to the same place and there was the same Santa! He had a real beard….but wasn’t too friendly..but it was neat that he was the same Santa . We were so disappointed when there was a different Santa…..with a fake beard the next year. I don’t like the Santas with fake beards. So, this year I called different places asking if their Santa had a real beard or a fake beard…they must get that question a lot…..because they didn’t seem to think it was strange.
I also don’t like it when they won’t let you bring in your own camera..that really bugs me. Anyway, we found a local farmers market that had a wonderful Santa..and it was free (He was on a tractor, which was sort of funny). You just had to bring your own camera. There was no line and the kids had time to actually “talk” to Santa….a rarity. He was so friendly and patient. River was so nervous and almost couldn’t get any words out..it was adorable.
This is Tuesday with Santa when she was a few days old. The Santa was so nervous to hold her. Here are some other past Santa shots…..
It is Embrace the Camera Thursday and today’s photos are Tuesday, Quinn and I……last night we went to our first concert..all together….I went with Tuesday to the Lilith Fair this summer..but this is the first time the three of us went to a concert together.
As an early Christmas present…we hopped on the high speed line and then walked to the concert center. It was Jingle Ball 2010……with Script, Selena Gomez, Charisse, Train, Flo Rida, Adam Lambert and Justin Bieber…..Bruno Mars was supposed to play, but he was sick..so Flo Rida took his place and Jesse McCartney played for about 15 seconds.
There was a lot of screaming and we had a lot of fun! When Justin Bieber came out…the crowd went CRAZY!
Everyone was very tired this morning..but they dragged themselves out of bed and made it to school on time! Oh, and did I mention…..we were in the last row!!!!
Another Christmas tradition around here is getting out the Christmas books…and books are a big deal around here. We used to have everyone pick out a Christmas book to buy every year..but then we just got too many books.
Everyone has their favorite book and loves to be the first one to read it…..especially to River…oh, and to the cat.
I try to tell River that she has to read every book at least once..but before we start re-reading them. That doesn’t always stick!
