Christkindlmarkt

Baylor and I spent the night at my parent's Friday so we could go to Bethlehem in the morning for our annual trip to the Christkindlmarkt.  This is our first Saturday because now that Baylor is in school, we can't go on Friday.  It was much busier than our usual trips and we had to park way out in a distant parking lot. Which was OK for Baylor and me, but Mom was not happy.  Her hips hurt when she walks and we rested a few times on the way.  Baylor, my budding photographer, took a few photos of the buildings.  I guess I should work on his framing skills.   

The Leigh PBS building was along our walking route.  They had a little stage and fun sculpture in their courtyard.  

Of course we took a few selfies, he loves pulling faces in photos.  It was a beautiful day for the market, not hot, not cold, not raining, and not snowing.  I did not get any glass candy canes this year, all they had were weird colors and not the red and white or red and green I was coveting.  It made me sad because I love collecting them.  

Another sad point was seeing there was a new Father Christmas this year.  Don't get me wrong, he rocked the job, but it was sad hearing the gentle soul that had been doing it for years died over the summer of cancer. And he was apparently sick last year and still performed his Father Christmas duties.  

Merry Christmas and best wishes on the other side! Thank you for all the thousands of kids you shared your Christmas Spirit with over the many years!  Especially mine. 

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I let him pick the ornament from the German stand, he picked a blue frosty penguin.  He said next year his is picking a peacock.  I think he liked the feathers on the tail.  We headed home and started in making cookies.  He really wanted someone to play with and would come in and help for a bit and then wander off again to the basement or living room.  

Slicing peanut butter cookies.  

Epic knife skills!!  

The finished products.  Rolo Stuffed Chocolate cookies, one of my favorites.  We baked until bed time!  It was a long day but as always with my family, a good one. 

And peanut butter cookies.  Yum. 

Snowflake King

Baylor learned how to cut snowflakes and went to town on the scrap paper.  He was very proud of this one and asked me to put it on Facebook because it looks like a mask.  Which I of course did.  And then we decorated the fish tank with snowflakes!  I love that he is enjoying a craft I am not making him do! 

6th Annual Gingerbread House Party

When Baylor walked out into the kitchen the first thing he said was, 'Today is the Gingerbread party!'  I am glad he looks forward to it as much

The party was open for 11:00 but we did not have any guests until around noon, which was fine as I was behind in getting the houses put together.  But everything else was set up and decorated.  My theory is if it does not move, decorate it.  And Baylor loves that as much as I do.  

Some of the candy decorations went on the buffet cabinet and the rest went on the craft shelf.  The candy canes were on the bookcase on the other side of the room.  We had decorating stuff everywhere! 

And we were decorated pretty much everywhere.  I left up the sugar skull animals to show Tara and Julie.  Tara got to see them but sadly, Julie and family could not make it due to her mom being sent to the hospital for surgery.  

I made Italian bread rolls but the dough was a bit dry and they did not turn out as well as I was hoping.  We had ham and bean soup, mac and cheese, veggies with Ranch dip, grapes, and a cheese and meat selection.  For sweets we had Oreo truffles, Gingerbread bars, sugar cookies, snickerdoodles, and molasses ginger cookies.  And coffee, lots of coffee.  

Cat in the open window with our lights and melted bead decorations. 

And the houses!  I made several styles this year and let people choose the house they wanted and the base they wanted to put it on.  

The Hazel family and Tara all started their house at the same time.  Miss Brigid asked for a gingerbread man and woman to decorate but she was not too inspired past decorating one of the their feet.  I finished off the lady for her.  Heather was inspired to make an all natural house this year with lentils, dried peas, raisins, and such.  Until it became fairly tedious and then she wanted to just be done with it.  And the hollow pretzels would not cut well and .... it was a mess for her in the end and I don't think she was pleased.  

Baylor loved his design and even created a deer head on one side out of the green gum drop.  

Tara helped Lucas construct his masterpiece and then we occupied him with some Handy Manny and some tools while she worked on her house.  

Heather left in a hurry so I did not get photos of them with their creations, so instead we took pictures of our crazy Grimm hiding under the tree.  He loves to knock off the ornaments and chew on the branches.  

We tried to get the boys to pose but it was like wrangling cats, neither could stand still or look the same direction at the same time.  But they are who they are and it is what it is.  And they are both growing so fast!

Baylor and his finished house. He did it all by himself.  I may have found a sweet or two for him to add to the house, but he did the work.  He should be a pro, he as been decorating houses since he was 2.  

Tara made a lovely home, nearly in the style of her soon to be new home.  

Lucas did a great job with his house as well.  They 

were all great, as they all are.  I love spending the time with everyone!  Farewell until next year Gingerbread houses!! 

New Wax Warmer

After Halloween I put out an owl wax warmer at work and today at the Goodwill I found this lovely reindeer for $3.00.  Say goodbye to the owl for a few weeks!  

Let the Advent Fun Begin

Baylor loves doing the Advent calendar and this year I bought him the big one from Aldi.  The candies are huge compared to the usual one but he is worth it.  He moves the present up the Santa beard calendar first and then finds his chocolate treat for the day.  He does not need help anymore, even with opening the little paper doors.  

Chocolate before breakfast?  I don't mind if I do. 

Pictures with Santa 2015

Gloria had off today as did Baylor so she spent the day with him.  I begged him to wear jeans and the red sweater to see Santa and he said he could make that sacrifice.  She took him to get a hair cut before going and they did an awesome job, other than he now looks much older!!  He has always done with with Santa, every single year he is smiling.  They stopped by work to give me the photos and see his new hair cut and he just looks amazing!  

Working on Bringing Out Christmas

After Jamie and family left, my parents came back to pick up the gifts Jamie said they had no room in the car to pack.  I joyfully enlisted their help in getting the Christmas tree down from the attic and put up in the living room.  It is one of my favorite things to do this time of year.   Baylor was a big help, as usual, in putting up the branches while I wired it up with a ton of lights.  The best way for me to find out if the lights are balanced is to take an out of focus photo.  I can see the empty spots much better that way. 

With just the lights on, he loves it already.  

Baylor and Buddy put the ornaments on the tree while I brought them down from the attic and unwrapped them.  I loved seeing them work together on it. 

A few family selfies in front of the tree.  

And our tree, it its beautiful splendor!