More Celebrating in December

December 17 was Maple Syrup Day. We tried out for the first time our four waffle waffle iron we got from my in-laws when we were visiting them this Summer.

Jet couldn't wait so he got a waffle to eat while I was still making them. The following happened when Jr. saw-

Jr.: Can I have a waffle, too?

Jr.: Sorry. May I have a waffle?

Jet: May you?

Jr.: Yes.

Apparently Jet learned that from me. I had no idea I did it. "May you?" Chuckle.

 

That day we also had the opportunity to go caroling around the neighborhood with other people in our ward. Jr. Jr., Lucky, and I joined the people going out. We caroled to several people who live alone. Some aren't able to make it to the church building on Sundays so have to watch church from home. We could tell that our brief visits and singing really meant a lot to some of them.

Jet joined in on a couple of the songs which was so sweet and said, "Merry Christmas," to a few people. I hope my boys learn from these experiences that it feels good to do service and I hope they want to find more ways like this to do it.

December 18 was Answer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf Day. When Jeremy called for family prayer that morning, I answered this way. "Kristin the Human. What's your favorite color?" He laughed and told me I was awesome but never told me his favorite color during that phone call.

We had Buddy the Elf type breakfast for dinner. When I put together my plate of food, I remembered it was supposed to be mixed by hand then shoveled into my mouth with my hands. Wow. That was disgusting. But funny. I did wait until after my kids had eaten most of theirs with a fork before doing that.

We started the movie, Elf, and ended up pausing it at this spot where one of these elves looked... um... kind of... crazy looking? 

Speaking of that particular elf with the glasses, did you know the actor who played that elf, Peter Billingsley, played Ralphie in A Christmas Story many many years ago? 

Speaking of A Christmas Story, during the holiday season I daily passed a house with a full size leg lamp in the window. It's a yearly tradition for that house. So awesome. I didn't get a picture of it but I love it.

December 19 was Oatmeal Muffin Day. We ate those.

 

We got Nichole home from college for Christmas Break. Yay. Just in time for some celebrating. The new Percy Jackson and the Olympians series was premiering so we had blue foods to eat while watching. We didn't have any blue jelly beans unfortunately but had some fun with blue pancakes, blue scrambled eggs, blue milk, blueberry bagels, and blue butter on toast.

The butter totally looks like frosting so there is a certain taste that is expected from it but it does not taste like frosting. I would not want a spoonful of that to snack on. Ugh.

There were no food coloring fiascos during this, either. Hooray.

By the way, it's been a few weeks so there have been a few episodes we've watched now of the series. We're enjoying it. We are book lovers of course. Most of us have read the Percy Jackson books. Lucky is reading them now for the first time. The discussions while watching the show together have been fun. I love family bonding.

 

The Winter Solstice was on December 21. It was a perfect excuse for another Fablehaven Feast using recipes from The Fablehaven Cookbook. Told you we're book lovers and love to find ways to celebrate based on books.

This time we had more Ogre Stew (it's a favorite). We quadrupled the recipe so we could have extra to freeze. Yeah, it was gone in about three days. Didn't end up freezing any of it.

We had Muriel's Pretzel Knots and Olloch the Glutton's Caramel Biscuit Bars.

For months Lucky has been wanting Zombie Cake Eyeballs so I finally made them. Wow. That is an ambitious recipe from the book. It's not so much hard as time consuming. Definitely not one I'll make often like Ogre Stew. We didn't even decorate all of the cake balls we made. There was another jarful of just white chocolate covered cake balls.

 

December 21 was also Humbug Day. It has become tradition to watch The Muppets Christmas Carol on Humbug Day if possible.

Back in 2020, Nichole said, "Happy National," before Scrooge said, "Humbug," then she said, "Day," after he said it each time. This year I said, "Happy Humbug Day," after he said, "Humbug," the first time. This is what happened then-

Nichole: We forgot to do the traditional...

Mom: We've done it like one time.

Nichole: One time makes it a tradition.

I love this family. I love finding reasons to celebrate.

Brew a Potion Day 2022

Wednesday, January 19, was Brew a Potion Day. We decided to do Family Home Evening that day since again we were so busy on Monday. Jr. Jr. was in charge of the treat so he wanted to make chocolate frogs. Then he and Lucky got really excited with the idea of making them the colors of poisonous frogs. I couldn't tell them No, not with that creativity.

I was a little concerned with the idea of them using food coloring on that particular holiday. See my blog post from January 19, 2013, to see why. I'm not actually superstitious and they did a good job making the chocolate frogs with the poisonous colors.

Jet did get a hold of the red food coloring while it was on the table. He is getting really good at getting things open. Luckily he only got a tiny bit on his hands and the floor... this time. Just Monday he found blue food coloring and got it on his hands and face. Talented kid.

When it was time to eat the frogs, there were some interesting things said.

Nichole: Pass me a paper towel and a frog.

Jr.: That's a scentence you don't hear everyday. "Pass me a paper towel and a frog."

The kids also got into a discussion about whether to eat the head or the feet first. If you eat the feet first, it can't run away. Potions call for eye of newt and toe of frog. Maybe you eat the head and leave the toes. This is not the first time we've had a discussion about what part of a chocolate animal to eat first. Remember those chocolate bunnies from my blog post on April 10, 2012?

Apparently Jr. Jr. and Lucky made a good choice in coloring these frogs they way they did. Lots of fun conversation.

Jr.: The legs are red and the body is blue and it's filled with a sort of whiteyish goo.

I did something else to celebrate Brew a Potion Day as well. I made instant pot caramel apple cider from Six Sisters' Stuff.

January 19 was also National Popcorn Day (the kids had some) and Jeremy informed me that it was Whisper "I Love You" Day. I hadn't heard of that one. He informed me right after he whispered, "I love you," to me. Then Jr. Jr. came up and whispered in my ear, "I love you, my precious." What is he? Gollum? And I'm the one ring?

We had some fun. And I'll have to remember Whisper "I Love You" Day for the future.

Note to Self

Celebrating Brew a Potion Day, January 19, should be done with adult supervision.

I didn't get pictures of the green drops all over the kitchen table and floor, or the potential stains on the dish towels and socks, or the green fingers, or the 2-year old holding the thankfully closed container of blue food coloring.
I did get a picture of their not quite finished potions.  Not quite finished because Mom didn't let them finish when she found all of the above. 

Some notable quotes from this morning-

Mom:  You only need a few drops of food coloring, maybe two, maybe even one.

Mom:  If you'll be patient, I can help you when I'm done.


Nichole:  Mom, where's the food coloring?
Mom:  In the cupboard.
Nichole:  Which cupboard?
Mom:  The one above.
Nichole:  The one above what?
Mom:  The one above the counter.
Nichole:  Which counter?
Mom: (thinking to self- I'll help you when I'm done.)
Nichole:  Oh, I found it.

Mom:  Are you wearing painting shirts?

Nichole:  You need a container like this and a lid.  I'll get it for you.
Mom:  (thinking to self- One of the lids had a crack in it, we probably don't even have it anymore.)

Nichole:  Then you shake it up.

Mom:  Do you know what food coloring does?  It colors things.  We don't need a green table.

Mom:  Do you know what food coloring does?  It colors things.  You don't need green fingers.

Nichole:  We're not done with our potions.
Jr.:  I just need to put Italian Seasoning in it.

Nichole:  Why are you taking off our socks?
Mom points to spots of green on socks.
Nichole:  Oh.

Nichole:  Can I do some more to my potion?

Nichole:  Can I drink my potion?
Mom:  No.