Winter Wonderland

This is Deck the Halls Part 2.
Snow was the basic theme with snowman being the focus of tableware and the Christmas tree (which was up the week after Thanksgiving!).
The following are a few of my favorite ornaments that are hand made.

I bought these snowflakes in A2 after Christmas three years ago.

Kadie made this when she was in seventh or eight grade.

My mom made this one with the buttons because I collect buttons.

My sister and I were headed to A2 one year after Thanksgiving. Along Ridge Road were several holiday sales held in peoples homes. One lady made these ornaments from light bulbs.

My friend Valorie made this Snow Lady from soft blanket materials and buttons.

My mom made this candy jar from an old mayonnaise jar. She crocheted the parts. I love him.
Go to the archives, December 2007, to see the cookie plate my sister made from a candle stick and snowman dinner plate. This item goes out every year too.

Santa Jeff

Jeff has established a tradition of giving crazy gifts. This year was no exception. He sent money to the "Something Store" which is an online store that sends mystery gifts. The highlights were: Kadie got an inflatable travel pillow, and Brandy got a purse made from zippers.
Jacob got a white elephant (a cross stitch) from the Goodwill pile in the basement. We laughed so hard tears rolled from our eyes.
Jeff did buy me a tool for building up my muscles hence the illustration on the box.
I'm not sure you can tell, but he used three different papers to wrap the gift.

Festive Foods

Christmas Brie (topped with apples, dried cherries, walnuts,cinnamon and sugar), spinach balls, olive penguins, and Flower Ball tea.
We had crab muffins, cranberry meatballs on basmati rice, and chicken strips with three dipping sauces:spicy plum mustard, peanut butter, and ranch. For dessert we had cookies and chocolate orange cake.

Deck the Halls

Kadie and I stayed up late one night making Christmas Crackers. Yes, they had real cracker snaps inside them. Only two didn't fire off. They were a big hit filled with odd toys mostly from the Peaceable Kingdom in A2. I put a "pill" of an expandable sponge toy in each one. Those silly things were a big hit! My advice for filling crackers would be to take part of an empty paper towel tube with you to the store to make sure your toy will fit inside.

Jolly 'ole Time

Us ladies sat separated from the boys. Not a soul complained about the arrangement.

The Hundred Dollar Holiday

I read The Hundred Dollar Holiday: A Case for a More Joyful Christmas By Bill McKibben.
It's no secret that I really don't enjoy the holidays. I feel like the season is a commercial trap pressuring folks to spend money they don't have on crap that people don't need.
While at the local library to see the Gingerbread House display/competition, I took a glance at McKibben's book. The premise of the book struck my interest along with the size of the book (three chapters). I enjoyed the first two chapters which time-lined the historical evolution of Christmas and its diminishing religious importance vs commercial influence on society.
The last chapter was filled with boring ideas on how to make the holidays more meaningful. While none of the suggestions inspired me, the idea that one could create a meaningful gift with imagination did.
I was thinking of something special to make give my colleague, Janet, when it struck me. Wouldn't it be funny to dress the kids up like Santa Claus and take their picture?
I have to tell you that I don't really like the practice of portraying Santa as a "magical being" who brings gifts to good (more often bad) children in want of a toy. I kinda think of Santa as the anti-Christ of Christmas. As posted on Indexed the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny are the first means of religious doubt when a child discovers they aren't real.
Still, I like the idea of the spirit of Saint Nicholas living in each of us; that each of us might adhere to the Santa code, "Tis better to give than to receive."
After taking pictures of my students, I thought it would be funny if my family participated in spreading holiday cheer. HOHOHO! What a hoot! Hundred Dollar Holiday???? No, it's worth much more than that. The family dressing up like Santa Claus? PRICELESS!

Family Portraits at the Toledo Zoo

Toledo Zoo has been a popular place for our family to visit over the years. In the winter time the zoo has "The Lights before Christmas" and "Frozen Toezens" during January and February. Went went with Jake's Family to see the lights and to capture another generation of portraits at the zoo.