Our Family in Front of the Tree

This Christmas Eve I decided it was about time we attempt to get some picture with all of us in it.  So I set up the tripod and we took a few family pictures.

I wanted to get a few pictures of the kids too, but Ephram refused.  SO this is what I got.

Later that night, just after our Christmas Eve dinner, Ephram came running up to me and pulled me into the living room to take his picture.  So, I was lucky to get this.

I'm glad we took the time to do this... maybe I'll make it an annual tradition.  Everyone needs a few "we took it ourselves with the tripod so it doesn't look the best and could be framed a bit better but at least we did it" pictures from time to time.

Visiting Santa

Once again, we headed to the Everett Mall to wait for a turn to see Santa this year.

I usually like going to Everett because it seems to be less crowded then some of the other places.

But this year, people were really edgy there.

On our way into the mall, a car actually came inches away from hitting me with a baby in a stroller.

And then threatened to hit Andy, who was carrying Ephram right behind me.

(And no, I didn't just walk out in front of oncoming traffic.  I looked, nobody was there, and then this car literally came racing through.)

That act seemed to be pretty descriptive of how nearly everyone was acting at that mall.

But once we were in the short line, and the kids could see Santa, excitement and nerves took over.

I wasn't sure what to expect of Macie, but she did fantastic.

All of the kids did.

My favorite part was when Santa asked Charlie, my only understandable child, what he wanted for Christmas.

Charlie blurted out, high speed, "I want a Death Star Lego pack, a mountain bike and a Luke Skywalker light saber flashlight.  Please."

Even with Charlie's charming smile, Santa held his gaze strong, put on a jolly smile and answered,

"That sounds like quite a lot!  What is the most important to you?"

From there Charlie started blabbing about this, that, and everything in between.  

(Which is his M.O.)

But I just thought it was too funny that Santa said exactly what mom and dad had been saying all along.

As the kids walked away from their visit,
In which none of my children cried or acted scared,
Charlie reminded him that they were supposed to get candy canes.
And Ephram held out two fingers to indicate that he would like two.
Their wishes were granted.
Santa's good at that!

Creating Christmas

I love Christmas.
Well, I do love the day.
But more than that, I love all of the days leading up to the day.
(And the days in the week following, because I do not believe on stopping the celebration that day.)

I love them for the fun that they bring.
I love them for the excuse to be silly.
I love them for helping me to think about those I love and how to make them happy.
I love them for the movies, and the syrupy-sweet television specials.
I love them for the music.
I love them for the vast library of piano music I delve into.
I love them for the baking.
(I love them for the eating.)
I love them for the smiles they bring to my kids' faces.
Every day.
Mostly, I love them for the wonderful feeling that they hold.

To me, the best part about the Christmas season has to do with the way we spend our days.
And in our house, that always includes a lot of art.
At this time, the creations are simple... But I know they will evolve as my children grow.
I can't wait.

Every year I "put up" Christmas on Thanksgiving weekend.
Every year the kids add to it little by little until New Years' Day.
And every year, I "take down" Christmas by my birthday on January 15th.
It's always a nostalgic day...
I always cry a little,
But smile a lot,
As I remember everything we did to create Christmas that year and in years past.

Taking down Christmas is possible for me because I know that another season will come soon enough.
And with it, that wonderful feeling.

Here are just a few of the things that we did this year.
(Believe it or not, I know I take a ton of pictures, but I actually miss a ton of things too!)

Around the House this December

December is a fun, exciting, exhausting month for us.  It starts with Charlie's birthday, runs through the Christmas holiday, slams into Ephram's birthday and drops us at New Year's Eve.  There is always a lot of excitement in our house in general.  

Here are some of the things that were happening at the Kovar's this December.

Advent calendars - we had four this year, and a calendar for each of us so that we would know which one to do each day.  Everyone was most excited at the Lego calendar.  

This year we added a Little People Nativity set to our Christmas paraphernalia.  All three kids loved it, but Ephram did most of all.  He was constantly rearranging the characters.  Here he removed the angel from the roof and replaced her with one of the wise men to sing "Away in the Manger".

We got the Merry-Okee back out.  Everyone had a blast with it.  Even Macie.  Even when Ephram came and grabbed it from her, she'd just dance along.

 The Surprise Box continued to give us fun things to do.  Sometimes it left us art projects, sometimes treats, and sometimes it left bigger things like our newest Christmas movie - Prep and Landing.  Incidentally, Ephram is fixated on this show.  He now wants to be a Prep and Landing elf when he grows up.  He practices for it all the time. This works well since he's not moving in on Charlie's territory.  Charlie is going to be Santa when he grows up.  Except for the times he's going to be a magician.

Ephram took pictures of everyone and everything with every device he could get his hands on all month long.  Here he is using Photo Booth to take pictures of himself.

This year I taught Ephram how to wrap presents.  He chose these links to give to Macie and was so proud of his wrapping job.  Even if it did include some super long pieces of tape.

Charlie wrapped his presents too.  He did ask me for help with the bow on this one.  Charlie's still working on his shoe-tying skills.

And, of course, we did a lot of baking.  We actually made four kinds of cookies this year... but the kids always love sugar cookies the most.  We made two varieties of sugar cookies and divided them equally between the boys.  Each boy made his own frosting and had a blast decorating his cookies.

And there was so much more happening too...  So hold for a post about arts and crafts in December to follow within the next few days!

Elf Drop 2012

What happens when you put these under your door mat one night?

Well, the elves come to retrieve them... and then after a day's time they return to your home to leave...

The kids were so excited to receive their early Christmas gifts from the elves this year.  The elves brought them each books.  Charlie got a copy of The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, Ephram received Mickey Saves Santa, and Macie opened Merry Christmas Little One.  These books joined our growing Christmas library and received plenty of love during the month!