Old Timey Christmas at Shasta

 The kids and I loaded up in the car with Payton' buddy Eric for old timey Christmas activities at Shasta earlier this month.  It was fantastic and all free!  We dutifully made donations of course, this poor park is due to close this next year because of state budget cuts.

 The kids decorated sugar cookies in the back of the bakery and Payton and I sampled sugar plums that were being made by some period costumed volunteers.

 A few Christmas ornaments were made.

 The kids mastered rolling hoops with a stick.

 And I can't remember the name of this game, but it was so fun and quickly became a competition to see how long they could pass the hoop back and forth on the sticks without dropping it.

 You throw the hoop up high in the air by pulling the sticks out fast and then your partner catches it on their sticks.  I seriously want to buy a set.

 We ended the day by making candles over a pot of melted wax.  

It was a great afternoon.  The air was brisk, the kids ate a ton of crap, we toured the courthouse and museum, and we learned new games and crafts.  I love that such adventures are only a twenty minute drive away. 

Gingerbread House Making

 I love having annual family traditions because they're such markers for growth in our kids.  We make a Gingerbread House every Christmas, and it's usually a bit chaotic.  It's one of my anticipated but somewhat dreaded activities.  Ideally it should be a fun and joyous expression of creativity, but it tends to digress into fighting over who puts what candies where with icing and candy covering the table and floor.  Decorating the Gingerbread House was something to survive for several years.

 But something magically changed this Christmas.  At ages 11, 9, and 7, the kids worked harmoniously together to create their house.

 They listened to each other's ideas, took turns, and complimented one another on a great placement of candy.

 I didn't need to step in once.  I sat comfortably with a cup of tea and watched the magic unfold.  It was glorious, and I marveled that miracles do happen.

The kids crafted their house start to finish, all by themselves, and had fun doing it.  

It was a very Merry Christmas.

The Christmas Tree Hunt

We headed up to Lassen the Saturday after Thanksgiving for our third annual Christmas tree hunt.  This has been one of our favorite things about living in the North State.  We are forever ruined for tree lots.

 How cute is our boy?

 There was hardly any snow to be found, but that didn't stop our kids from dropping and making snow angels immediately upon arrival.

 I was still walking like an old lady at this point from carrying Davey around Disneyland a few days earlier.  It's not as attractive as you think, walking with your butt and your boobs sticking out.  Thank goodness for our chiropractor!  After a few adjustments, I was good as new.  Butt and boobs are back in where they should be.

 The kids happily sledded in three inches of snow and lots of plants sticking out.  They'd still hoot and holler as if it was the fastest sled ride ever.

 Our tree!  It's always discombobulating looking for your tree among all the tall giants growing around.  A tree that would actually fit in our house looks puny in comparison.  I'm always drawn to the 20 footers until Trav stands beside it and sets me straight.  We can only clear about seven feet where our tree sits in our living room.

Another amazing sled ride.

 Trav cuts down the tree, sets it up in the house, places one ornament on the tree, and the star on top.  I do the lights and over see the kids breaking the ornaments decorating the tree.  They put the ornaments on, and I move them, only the heavy ones that need stronger branches, I promise.

 The kids get a new ornament each year.  Payton received a Guardians of Ga'Hoole, Davey Luke Skywalker, and Jonah Snoopy.  I buy them the year prior at the half off sales after Christmas.  

 Travis's annual ornament hanging.  It's a volleyball player with his name across the back that I got him our first Christmas.  

 A sleepover under the tree with the flash.

And without. 

The kids will need to get in another sleepover this week before she comes down.  (Sigh)

Some Favorite Pics at my Favorite Place

 I uploaded all my pictures at once, so they're not in chronological order...  but here's our wonderful one day Disnelyand event from November.  I had been pining for a Disneyland visit at the holidays for several years now, and my wish finally came true!  We went with Nana Sharon and met Trav's bro and his fam for the day.  It was perfect.  Here are Davey and Parker, only four months apart.  Love Parker's dimple:)

 I dragged everyone out of bed super early so we could make our breakfast date with Goofy and the gang at the Disneyland Hotel.  Nana was a good sport.  Davey's still waking up.

 Still waking up...

 We were 45 minutes early!  Yay us!  

Everyone was super calm and well mannered for the breakfast, except for the large milk spill and syrup spill, etc etc

 The boys hid under the table, and Payton tried to excuse herself to the bathroom when Snow White came to visit.  Thank goodness Trav was excited to meet her.

 Riding the monorail into the park.

 Again, totally out of order, this is after 14 hours at the park on the bus ride back to the parking lot.

 We always end Disneyland in a whimper.

 Davey is all business on the autopia cars.

 The kids made signs for the Jedi Training and made it in.  

 There's equal parts terror and excitement when facing Darth Maul.

 Jonah got reprimanded for busting out some new moves on Darth Maul.  He was told to "stick with the plan" by the assisting Jedi Master.

 Our little Anakin

 The kids do thumbs up in all their pictures now.  All.The.Time.  I've given up trying for a normal picture and now just join them.

 The bros

 One of many reasons why I love D-land at Christmas.

 Why I walked like an old lady for the next five days.  Davey's a lot heavier than he used to be.

Trav took over.  We always end our day with zombie children.  Totally worth it.  Another happy memory to tuck away until next time!