12 Days

With 12 days left until Christmas, I thought it was time for a couple of Christmas projects. I told the girls that if they did their chores really well this morning, we’d have time to do some fun things in the afternoon. And lo, they cleaned up! An early Christmas miracle.

 

This is stage one of our first project. I will have to finish stage two later – when there are less kids jumping around. Can you guess what they are?

 

Then, on to cookies! We decided on Gingersnaps today.

 

Diligently rolling the dough balls in sugar.

 

But ready to pause for a photo-op.

 

Or a little goofing off.

 

There was a lot of “tasting” throughout the process.

 

The finished product! Some of them anyway. It wouldn’t be Christmas baking if we didn’t at least double the recipe, right?

It turned out to be a productive afternoon. Hope your preparations are going well, too!

St. Nicholas Day

We missed St. Nicholas Day last year because Ari was a tiny, tiny baby. But Veronica still remembered the popcorn balls of times past. So this year shoes were selected and ready.

 

Yes, they picked their own. I thought putting them by the fireplace would be fun. Until I saw how dirty it looks in the pictures.

 

Jacinta was too interested in her treats to give a smile.

 

Or maybe just too tired.

 

I wish I had a caught a picture of Veronica’s face when she spotted the treats. Her two hands flew to cover her mouth in utter surprise and delight. She doesn’t do emotion halfway.

 

Yum! Breakfast of champions! Or maybe saints.

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

One

I can’t believe it’s already been a year since this little bear arrived. She has been such a blessing for our family, a true gift.

 

Happy Birthday, Ariadne!

Say Cheese!

I think we all know that the more children you are trying to photograph, the harder it is to get a picture where they are all simultaneously looking at the camera, not to mention smiling.

Which is why I’ve dubbed this photo, A Small Miracle.