Snow: The inside adventure!

After Emily had a run in with a tree branch and we were all chilled, we headed back inside. But, we weren't quite done with our snow play! We filled the saucer with snow and brought it inside to the dining room table where the littles played for almost an hour!! (That's extremely long for any of my children to stick with anything!)

We dug with spoons, scooped with cups, tasted, made mini snowmen and a snowfort! It was great fun - and, yes, I did have as much fun or more than the little ones did!!

Snow: The outside adventure!

I know that some of you are sick of snow - but for those of us who rarely get to see it - it is a blessing and such fun! The day after Christmas, it snowed beautifully at the cabin and we had fun going out and enjoying it!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

After I posted this idea, several of you asked for pictures. Here is the cake I made for celebrating Jesus' Birthday! It was fun to hear from a couple of you who also made this cake!

Thanks for your patience as I catch up in posting all of our Christmas fun! Next week I'll be moving on to other things and for the first time in a very loooong time, I am wondering where to start up again. What do you love about visiting here? Is there anything you'd like to see me post on?

Christmas Eve After Dinner

We tidied up dinner, and cozied up in front of the fire to read What God Wants for Christmas! The little ladies sang Away In A Manger and recited a verse they have been learning. They put on their ballet outfits and danced all around and my sister signed to Breath of Heaven.

Next up, Christmas jammies! We opened the pj's and got changed, I surprised all the mommies with matching pants and we opened new books to read together that night!

Growing up, my sister and I were known for planning little "programs" for Christmas Eve. It was fun to watch my ladies wanting to begin this now as well by doing a song, verse and lots of dancing about! We grew up going to church on Christmas Eve, but being up in the mountains this year - we did not go. However, we had a wonderful and special time together!!

Aside from a traditional meal, what are your Christmas Eve family traditions?

Christmas Eve Dinner

When I lived near my parents, but in my own apartment, it became a tradition for me to host Christmas Eve. I still look forward especially to this night and preparing something pretty for the table decorations!

I had intended to do something about decorations before we left home, but the time was so short - that it went off the list! So, Christmas Eve afternoon - I found a neat basket in the cabin and headed outside to gather some goodies!

I love that you can still see snow in the pinecones!!

My mom had brought two tapers and I had some scrapbooking paper in our car - so this is what happened with what we had:

A piece of paper became a "doily" underneath the basket centerpiece. I spread some pinecones and evergreen sprigs down the center of the table. Mugs from the cabin filled with sugar became candleholders!

Our traditional Christmas Eve dinner happened years ago by accident! My mom remembers that someone gave them a box of sausage and cheese from Swiss Colony and the tradition stuck - we've been having this same dinner along with our favorite chip dip, chips, veggies, and hot sausage in BBQ sauce for the men. A cookie tray at the end is the perfect dessert!

What is your traditional Christmas Eve dinner? How did that tradition begin?

Christmas Eve Cookie Decorating!

After sledding, we were ready to break out the cookie decorating goodies! The cousins did a great job and had fun decorating and eating cookies together!!

Christmas Eve Sledding!

Happy Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve began with the little ladies receiving a surprise from Grammie - princess snow boots! Of course, we all got bundled up and headed outside for some sledding!


Uncle Eric found an icicle for the littles and they had fun touching, biting, licking, etc...