Grand Christmas Fun

This has been a special week of fun with Haleigh and Ella. They stayed at our house for three days while their mommy and daddy were in Chicago. Uncle Big Jon was responsible for them on Tuesday, while I was at Noah's house, and they had a great time going to El Reparo for lunch and eating his home-cooked bacon and eggs for supper. When he picked them up from school, they jumped up and ran to him, shouting, "Big Jon! Big Jon!" Then the teacher asked him to show her his ID. Lol. One can never be too careful!

We went to church on Wednesday for supper, choir, and GUMY Kids, then came home for baths and jammies. Silly girls!

We read Jan Brett's book The Gingerbread Baby, in which the little boy, Mattie, catches the baby by making a gingerbread house and putting it out in the woods. That prompted us to think that it might be fun to make our own gingerbread house, something I have not done before. (Well, I did help with the milk carton/graham cracker ones at school a few times.)

Since I wasn't sure that my rolling, cutting, baking skills would produce sturdy walls, and considering the patience of 3 and 4 year old little girls, I found a pre-made gingerbread kit that looked just right for us.

They helped me spread icing on the roof, one side at a time (since it dries quickly), and then went to town adding candy embellishments.

Then we turned it around and did the other side of the roof.

We added some fancy peppermint windows,

and Haleigh wanted to be sure we had a wreath over the door. :)

They worked hard, and did a good job. There was a question about new traditions on the Wednesday Hodgepodge last week, and maybe this will be one we will continue! 

Of course, I wanted a nice photo of them with the finished product.

I got some silliness.

And sister hugs.

And happy girls. (Maybe it was tasting the extra icing that made them smile. Lol.)

The fun continued on Thursday night when I got to watch them portray two little red birds in their school Christmas program. On Saturday afternoon, I took them to the GCHS Drama Club production of the Velveteen Rabbit. (Sorry, no photos of the program or the play.)

On Sunday after church, we went to the Decatur County Historical Museum for their Christmas Open House. We took them last year, on a very snowy day, and they were the only children there. The weather was better yesterday, and there were Girl Scouts singing, and several other children playing in the old fashioned toy room.

Haleigh enjoyed the old-time telephone, while Ella sat at the little table for a pretend snack.

They also had the opportunity to visit with Santa himself. Haleigh says, like ELF, "I know him!" Haleigh asked for a doll, and Ella asked for a doll and a zebra. Santa said, "Did you say a zebra?" :) 

Of course, he also said he would bring some surprises. Good ol' Santa Claus.