If You Can't Beat 'Em, Basham: December 2009

Milk, Cookies, Santa...Ellipse?

Welcome to our pre-Christmas post! Lots of big fun in the days leading up to the big holiday.

Proof of our 2009 Christmas Miracle: 126 homemade monster cookies made from scratch in ONE hour. No kidding...the double ovens made this possible. Only 46 cookies are pictured here.

Simon also had an early birthday party at school since his big day occurs over the break. Here, Ms. Michelle guides Simon on their celebration routine. On their b-day, they put a candle in the center of an ellipse and let the child carry a globe around the "sun" once for each year they have been alive. Meanwhile, the parents can read milestones from each of those years. This is all pretty much a formality that gives way to more important things: the snack.

Simon shares his b-day snack with two friends he talks a lot about: Tah'Janey and Nolan.

We cap off our pre-Christmas post with a tear-free visit to Santa! Simon even remembered what he wants...something he has been telling us for a month: a motorcyle (or bicycle...depends on the day). Naomi LOVES beards and is mesmerized by Papa Noel's most impressive one. Saint Nick was spared any brutal beard-pulling, though. She saves that for daddy.

It's the Most Wonderful Time...

... of the year. And it is the season for:

Making treats. Here, Simon uses spices heretofore untouched in our 9-year-old spice rack to whip up some "strawberry berry." Ingredients: LOTS of celery salt (i.e., "sand"), coriander, marjoram, and mustard seeds. He tasted it and insisted it was good and tasted like strawberries...despite a face that looked like he's just kissed a pig.

There is no neat way to make "strawberry berry."

It's also the season for tree selecting. Simon picked a nice one from a local tree farm in BG. "Get that one, Daddy. You cut it down and you carry it to the car."

Also the season of holiday 5ks. The Family Vance/Moore/Basham ran the Christmas Lights 5k in Glasgow bedecked in proper yuletide apparel.

Also the season for appreciating the great things in life...small children in PJ's in the glow of the tree. Not much better than that.

A late decorating addition: popcorn string. Needles and almost 3-yr olds...not a great idea. But, he was actually very careful and only one minor stick.

Hanging Orville Redenbacher on your tree isn't nearly as cruel or messy as it might sound.

Turkey to Tinsel

After FOUR Thanksgiving meals, the transition is complete from T-giving to the Christmas season.

Stop 1: Grandma's (Vances)

I know, this is cute. But it's slightly less cute when you realize that this is a ceramic dog. Then, it becomes slightly sad because these kids are clearly in desperate need of a puppy.