Lorelai’s 9th Birthday

 Lorelai celebrated turning 9 years old with her very first sleepover. It was a quiet party but she had a great time, watching movies and staying up late. 

Remote control cars...

 Is Joseph ready for a remote control car?  Maybe not...

video below...

It snowed!

We got our first really big snowfall.  It snowed big, fat flakes for most of the afternoon.  The girls were outside playing most of the day.  Joseph missed out in the beginning because it was his naptime but he got to go out too when he woke up.  This is the most snow they've ever seen.  I think we got at least 18 inches, maybe more.  

The snow just started falling.  It's accumulating fast!

I found Scarlet under a tree, eating snow

The kids were pretending to be bears.  They'd crawl around in the snow, making designated paths/trails to one another's dens.  They'd say, "come over to my house!"

She is ready to come inside...and she's bringing some snow with her!

In the house for some hot chocolate in her new Polar Express mug

video below in the web version

Polar express

Our town is famous for our steam engine trains and during the Holiday season it turns into the Polar Express!  It wasn't the same as previous years due to social distancing and masks for adults but we tried to make the best of it.  At least they got to see Santa at the North Pole with two of his real reindeer (named Cinders and Switch).  There were dancing elves and we walked away with hot chocolate, snicker doodle cookies, and a bell from Santa's sleigh!

The kids were all dressed up in their Christmas pajamas.  Just like in the book...

waiting for the train to show up and taking pictures in front of some of the cars

We hear the steam engine!

below you can see a video of the train arriving in the web version...

The boy from the story, getting ready to get on the magic train to the North Pole

Lorelai's got her golden ticket

On the train ride they read the Polar Express story and we sang Christmas songs

Lorelai asked Santa for a microscope, Evelyn asked for a Kindle, Joseph asked for a truck.  Scarlet was too shy to talk but I helped her ask for a new doll.

The kids have their sleigh bells

Let us pray...

 The girls are going to Catholic School now and of course that means religion has been more prevalent in our house.  Lorelai and Evelyn are actually really into it and enjoy their school mass every week.  This year at Thanksgiving the girls were even the ones who said grace at our table.  Well, Joseph has been picking up on the abundance of prayer.  At dinner yesterday, on his own, he said he wanted to say grace.  It was a little bit of a mash up of the prayers her heard but it was too adorable not to share.

video in the web version...

Gingerbread village

We try to make a gingerbread house every year.  It can be hard with 4 kids because they argue about who does what and what it should look like.  Some kids are more controlling than others, I'll let you make those assumptions on who I'm talking about.  Well, this year I found a kit that contained four mini houses so we could make an entire village!  Perfect!  Each kid did their own house.  It was fun and they got one-on-one time with Mom.

  

Evelyn did an awesome job!!

Scarlet, of course, wanted a lot of snowflake sprinkles on her house.  I think she's channeling Elsa in her decorations.

This is Scarlet and Evelyn's houses.  Scarlet made the Bakery and Evelyn made the Candy Shop.

The backs of their houses

Joseph's turn.  He's concentrating so hard!

Very meticulous placement.  His took the longest.  He wanted no help and was very choosey in where everything went.

Joseph made a Chalet.  Very fancy!

Lorelai went last.  She had Daddy time this afternoon and went on a hike just the two of them.  By the time they got home the icing was a little stiff from sitting around.  Mom tried to loosen it and it got too loose!  She was a good sport about it but her house isn't as refined because of this.  

Lorelai is always all about symmetry and patterns

Joseph made the Chalet and Lorelai made the Toy Shop

Short video below in the web version