preparing for christmas part 1

I love MOST of the things we do leading up to Christmas. We have started to make certain craft projects "traditions" while others are fun to do one year and try something new the next. One of my most favorite things we did when the kids were little, was to make a "handmade" tree and ornaments. I cut a tree out of green poster board, and pulled out the craft box and we all went crazy glueing, glittering, drawing etc.... i saved that tree and hang it up every year.....

Last year we made gingerbread houses for the first time. The kids really enjoyed it and I discovered it wasn't too bad of a mess. So that has become a tradition now. Only this year Frankie wanted to try the gingerbread men instead. I think the fact they were edible made the decision for him! lol

I don't know why we always forget the house has to "sit and dry" for awhile before you can start to decorate it. It must be the same as how you forget how bad childbirth is, after having the baby since your so happy, well we love how the house turns out so i think we always forget about the drying! lol

But Frankie, he got to get right to work on his, with a little "advice" (aka, bossy) from his sister....

a little while into it and Gracie got some relief help from her daddy.....

Frankie certainly doesn't let us down on his.....well, his....ummm.....INTERESTING artistic abilities!

Gracie always comes up with some very creative ideas. This is definetly her element. She made a "melted" snowman, and even made "tracks" in the snow, where people would have walked! LOVED IT!!!

Even though we have our holiday fun, we still have school to do. However i decided they can have the week after Christmas off, but they don't get the usual 2 weeks off others do. Now before you feel too bad for them, you should know, they get a day here a day there off during the rest of the year that other kids don't.

Our next project we did last year, we decided to also make a tradition. Last year we painted ceramic ornaments. This year, I couldn't find the ornaments, all the stores were sold out before the first weekend in December. So I got some other ceramic "things" for us to paint. I have to say, their skills have improved from last year. I am looking forward to seeing their control over the paintbrushes grow each year....

It was a perfect day for this craft, it was blowing snow outside and we had Christmas music on, it was such a perfect atmosphere! Hunter Beans, he thought the couch and a blanket was a much better atmosphere!

As with the gingerbread decorating, Gracie has found her area of talents and Frankie, I love how happy he is with however his turns out! He laughs and tells me how wonderful he thinks it looks!! LOVE IT!!! AND LOVE THEM!!!

Yahoo!