365.3: WEEK 52.

LAST 365. Getting donuts on Christmas Eve. Opening presents Christmas morning. Flying (and losing and finding) drones. Having an adventure in the snow. Experiencing shock after a traumatic accident. Spending time together as a family. Attending nursery for the last time. Celebrating New Year's Eve.

CHRISTMASY

This post might go unnoticed as a direct result of the New Year, but it is technically still December, so I wanted to squeeze this post in before the month ended. December was a busy month with all of the festivities and merry-making surrounding Christmas. Two of our favorite activities this year included decorating cookies with Mimi & Papa and coloring our own gingerbread play house. The former is a beloved tradition for the littles. One Saturday each December, may parents will take the kids for a few hours and help them frost, decorate, and eat a fair share of Christmas cookies. And the latter activity was a new craft that we happened upon. Michael's was selling gingerbread play houses for $10, so it seemed an obvious choice. We spent two days coloring our gingerbread house before assembling and playing with it (which, of course, I didn't photograph...). Perhaps a new tradition?

365.3: WEEK 51

Have to be quick because TOMORROW IS CHRISTMAS! Going to Illumination to see Christmas lights. Getting rescued on my crazy bike ride. Feeding giraffes at the zoo. Making candy trains at school. Cashing in on a massage and pedicure at my favorite spa. Decorating cookies at Mimi & Papa's house. Christmas Sunday.

 December 17th - December 23rd

GINGERBREAD

I will occasionally pretend to be a fun mom and surprise my littles with an exciting activity. The week before last, it was homemade gingerbread cookies. I baked cookies all morning while the kids were at school. We spent the afternoon decorating dozens of cookies. It was picturesque for maybe 10 seconds, at which point frosting started getting all over the table. And the chairs. And a certain 3 year old's clothing (note the outfit change)... In the end, the kids made a total mess between the frosting, the sprinkles, and the m&ms. But everyone had fun and the cookies were delicious! Until I realized that, although I made them gluten free and dairy free, I did NOT make the cinnamon free. SMH. I'll just stick to my lettuce...

365.3: WEEK 50

As we inch closer to Christmas, our days seem busier. We are trying to squeeze in every last holiday-related adventure that we can before the end of the year. I am equal parts excited and relieved and exhausted. It'll be a week before you see, but last night we went to Illumination: Symphony of Light in Tempe and so far, it's been my favorite. We've also decorated cookies, wrapped presents, adorned our tree, hung lights, danced to Christmas music, and ALL THE THINGS. Last week, from start to finish. Snuggling a favorite stuffed animal. Prepping for the first of two concerts of the season. Decorating homemade gingerbread cookies. Feeling overwhelmed. Coloring with colored pencils (her favorite). Taking our new bikes for a spin. My birthday!

December 10th - December 16th