Polar Express Party!

Last night we had our annual Polar Express Party.

My husband wore his Polar Express conductor hat (with foil decal by my sister) and read the book to us. This year everyone was assigned a sound to make when Jeremy pointed at them, from a train whistle "woo woo" to "Oh no" when the hole was found in the pocket. Lucky even got out his harmonica to make sounds. It was a blast.

Afterward we watched the movie and drank hot chocolate. 
I fell asleep, of course, as is my tradition. They paused the movie so we could do our Countdown to Christmas scripture study before I went back to my room. I was so tired that when Jet brought me my mint M&M somehow I didn't put it in my mouth and later they found it sitting on the couch. Jeremy put it in a bag for me to eat later.

This is a fun tradition to do as a family every year (though not necessarily the falling asleep part). 

P.S. We also had Chex Mix to munch on during the movie. Mmmm. My favorite holiday treat. It doesn't last long when we make it because everybody else in the family also likes it. 

P.P.S. Another thing I think is cute. Jet saw that Daddy's Polar Express cup was out on its saucer (so I could get that picture). I got Christmas mugs out of our Christmas crate to use for this event. Jet grabbed one of the mugs and a tiny plate and set out the mug on the plate, just like Daddy's cup and saucer. I love my children so much.

 

Baking Buddies

Both Jr. Jr. and Lucky wanted to punch down the dough. I told them they both could.

Jet saw the balls of dough (he just instinctively knows when I'm baking or something) and the cookie sheet I got out. He knew what to do- enthusiastically throw balls of dough onto the cookie sheet.

The turned into very nice bread bowls (I used the Italian Bread Bowls recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe again) and Jr. Jr. was very interested in eating chili in one of them.

Jr. Jr. also ground wheat for me.

I mentioned already that Nichole helped me make cinnamon and sugar quick bread. Jet tried to help, too, but we had to quickly wash his hands after he stuck them in the raw batter.

Jr. made Chex Mix.

This was all done on the same day.

I love my baking buddies.

Celebrating with the Menu Plan

O.K. Menu plan based on celebrations. I don't have a lot of pictures.

Monday, January 11, was National Milk Day. We had chocolate milk with our dinner.

Wednesday, January 13, was Korean American Day. I tried a new recipe from Six Sisters' Stuff that my sister recommended. Korean Beef and Rice. 

It called for soy sauce and when I pulled the soy sauce out to use it, I realized I didn't have enough. The reason? I used most of it to make Chex Mix for New Year's. Sigh. Luckily, Jeremy was out shopping and was able to pick some more up. Sigh. The kids all liked it and some commented that it tasted kind of like that Chex Mix. It was the soy sauce and brown sugar, I'm sure.

January 13 was also Peach Melba Day. I didn't make peach melba but I made peach cobbler. Mmmmmm.

Thursday, January 14, was Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day. Jr. made hot pastrami sandwiches for us. Thanks, Jr.

Friday, January 15, was National Bagel Day. We made breakfast sandwiches on bagels. Yummm.

Happy New Year

2020 coming to a close as you would expect. The kids wouldn't do enough chores so we didn't make nachos for New Year's Eve. I didn't get the sparkling cider and apple Shasta into the fridge as early as I planned, either.

I started making Chex Mix and realized I'd used soy sauce instead of Worcestershire sauce. Sigh. Jeremy told me what the internet said about substituting for Worcestershire sauce, including using soy sauce along with other ingredients, and some things that are in Worcestershire sauce. So as he was talking I started throwing in brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, dry mustard, brown sugar, brown sugar, and more brown sugar. It turned out okay and everybody ate some without complaining. Yay! 

That is also like 2020. Even though it's been a rough year, there have been some good things. Doing #GiveThanks helped back in November. Finding ways to #LightTheWorld in December also helped. We've done quite a few fun things as a family this year even if we haven't done much around other people. At least since March. We had good bonding time with family before things shut down and we were able to do some things we wouldn't normally have done after things shut down because of online activities.

So goodbye, 2020. Hello, 2021. I'm sure there will be plenty of the same in 2021. Some tough things and some great things.

Here's a great thing on New Year's Eve. Jeremy got to build a sculpture for a "Yeti Plunge" at Luminaria at Thanksgiving Point (like a polar bear plunge). He hasn't been able to do the amount he normally does for Thanksgiving Point this year so this was fun.

"Is it midnight Yeti?"

 

Another fun thing is that this year I broke my record for number of blog posts. Highest number of blog posts. The highest before this year was in 2014 the year after Lucky was born. 

Happy New Year!

Balloon Christmas Tree

Finished Christmas tree pictures.

Jeremy went beyond just finishing the tree, though.  The kids helped with branches and ornaments and Jeremy also built presents for under the tree, a candy cane arch, a wreath, holly garland, and a Santa hat.

We invited people to come see our Christmas tree since we're still new to the area and many of our neighbors are still learning about our balloon art.  We also had Chex Mix and hot chocolate for those that wanted it.  Yumm.

Earlier in the day, Jr. and I went out to deliver Christmas-themed balloon sculptures.  Jr. twisted them all himself.  He's doing really well with this.

Yesterday, December 21, was Humbug Day.  Jeremy and I decided to watch the Christmas Carol episode of Doctor Who.  I looked at the clock right before starting the movie.  Midnight.  Oh well.  I still wanted to watch it so I guess we celebrated Humbug Day Observed.