Sunday kicked off Advent. After much begging from Linus and that fact that Dave came home early from work, I gave in and let the holidays commence around our house. It first started with baking cookies--cardamom. While the cookies baked, we brought out the decorations. This was the first year we let Linus help. Eileen contributed by taking an extra long nap during the whole process.
Dave was a good dad and helped Linus set up nativity scenes. We currently have 4 sets, 3 of which are kid-friendly.
Then it was time to break out the Christmas jammies. Linus fell in love with the little tree I used to have on my desk at work. He claimed it for his own and it currently sits decorated on a bookshelf next to his bed.
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| fresh cardamom cookies make for happy, smiling babies |
Wednesday the kids both took horrible naps. Since they were up earlier than normal, I decided to go ahead and take the kids to visit Santa. While I normally don't go quite so early in the season, I wasn't sure when there would be another weekday afternoon where it wasn't too cold, wet, or windy, and both kids were awake before 3:30 pm. My instincts were good and there was absolutely no line (on weekends the line is 3 hours long--no joke, we waited in it one year). I was a little disappointed by Santa. He didn't seem very into his role. Linus didn't notice. Before we left the house, he grabbed the letter we had written, thinking it would be a good idea to hand deliver it to Santa. As soon as we walked into Santa's cabin, Linus marched up and told Santa he wanted a Buzz Lightyear. This is a far cry from the past two years of screaming and crying. Eileen cried at first and then didn't seem to mind. The U Village Santa this year is giving away coupons for free hot cocoa at Jamba Juice along with candy canes. We made sure to get our cocoa before heading home.
Back home, I made sure to snap a few pics before letting the kids get out of their Christmas finery.
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| Eileen got in the Christmas spirit by trying to eat the jingle bell. |
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| This little boy loves Christmas. |
So things are off to a good start. I am hoping this weekend to snag a tag off the tree at church and have Linus go shopping for someone his age. I want to teach him the importance of giving back and that Christmas is not all about getting more presents. After a month of birthday celebrations, he needs a little reminder.
#1. I'm pretty sure I NEED the recipe for your cardamom cookies. They sound so yummy.
ReplyDelete#2. We have that same Playmobil nativity set. Isn't it the cutest! Between that and the fisher price one we are set. I figure I'll get a nice one once the little ones are a little older.
We have the Playmobil, Fisher Price, and a Schleich set. My mom compiled a bunch of Gene's recipes for all of us. I haven't tried too many yet. Here's the recipe.
ReplyDeleteCardamom Butter Cookies
2 sticks butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup sifted flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/8 tsp ground cardamom
Cream butter to consistency of mayonnaise. Mix and sift flour with powdered sugar, cornstarch and cardamom. Add to butter mixture continuing to cream. Divide into 2 equal portions. Wrap each portion in foil. Chill thoroughly.
Work with one portion at a time, shaping into 1" balls, keeping other portion in refrigerator. Place balls 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten with floured tines of fork. Bake at 325 degrees about 20 minutes or until brown.