We got a kitten at the end of October. She loved wrecking havoc on our tree!
We got a new tree this year. I have disliked our tree for many years and have kept my eyes open for a second hand one to replace it, to no avail. This year I was determined to find one. I went to my favorite thrift store's Christmas sale--I showed up right on the dot for it to open...but the truck bringing the Christmas stuff hadn't arrived yet. It eventually came, and since I was waiting to look at the trees at the BACK of the truck, I helped them unpack and set out all the Christmas goods. Then the trees came out, in boxes and bags, so I also helped the guys put up all the trees so I could see them assembled and make my choice. I ended up finding one that I liked. It was being sold because half its lights didn't work. They gave me a GREAT deal--$10!!! The kids and I spent a good deal of time with wirecutters clipping off the old lights, which was a lot of work, but a good time working together to practice their grit (which is a big thing we want our kids to leave this house with). We decided to go with an "old fashioned" tree this year to go along with the historical fiction Christmas books we'd been reading....so we had fun dipping candles, drying and stringing oranges, etc.
My dad and the kids caught tons of bugs to feed the chicky babies. They also found some good ones that didn't become chick food. Like this leaf mantis!!
Quinn caught this--the tiniest skink!
My dad made the kids a scavenger hunt (which they ADORED) and then they made one for him.
We took my parents to the Health Museum (a favorite place of the kids) and to the gardens outside it, and then we lunched at Niko Niko's!
Playing school while being wrestled by the little guy.
These two took good care of my fire!! I love days cold enough for a fire
Quinn got an email account to email family! She loves it.....we're working on email etiquette. It took her all of 2 seconds to discover how to use emoji's, and she uses them liberally... ;)
Beck discovered Daddy's hatchet.
We enjoyed time with friends.
An impromptu music lesson for the girls.
Decorating Lovebug's beard:
Beck also fell in love with the violin--he is playing a friend's, here:
Christmas with my parents brought lots of chicken-bug catching, walks, games, and snacks!!!
We made clove oranges....
Beck got a football from Papa.
Right after this picture of the kids looking at the fog was taken, Beck tried to pet the cat, the cat took swing at him (she hates him, sadly), lost her balance, fell off the window sill, and her tail had been swishing through the curtain pulls. She got caught, began hanging about a foot off the ground by her tail and the curtain strings and going CRAZY. Quinn tried to grab her and got her hand clawed and bit to pieces...I had to pin her against the wall with a pillow and untangle her, and I got some bites, too. That cat.....
