Holiday Greetings... Part 1

Hanukkah this year was early. REALLY early. Which meant that the Holiday Season 2010 was (well, still is...) long. REALLY long.

We've celebrated over and over and over. The kids were really in to it this year. Which made it ten times more fun. At six and two, the girls knew what the holidays were all about. They had plans. And wish lists. And lots of activities they wanted to try.

Like gingerbread decorating.

Although we don't celebrate Christmas, we do apparently celebrate art projects and candy. And we REALLY celebrate when we get to combine the two. Which we do every year...in a lovely mother/daughter tradition that started a few years ago (2009, 2008, & photos from 2007 are buried somewhere in iPhoto...).

Although Lily was anxious to invite her old buddies again this year, we branched out to her new kindergarten friends -- plus cousin Camilla of course! -- and had an absolutely lovely afternoon. Each of the girls partnered with their moms to decorate AND name their houses. I was amazed by how different each house ended up...despite having all the same ingredients at each work station. The names were just as quirky and cute as the houses themselves. Sadly -- SHAMEFULLY -- I forgot to write them down. Bummer!

(Erin with the winning house, in my book...this one rocked!)

(can you see that Lily's gummy Frosty is on candy cane skis? Bonus points for creativity!)

Even the little girls -- who were simply candy "catchers" (as it fell off the table and in to their mouths) last year -- had tons of fun doing their own houses this year. And I must say, having the extra 2,000+ sq/ft of (real) house made ALL the difference when setting up to decorate 8 cookie/candy houses!