A pre-Christmas trip north to Alaska is a cherished tradition now. Several mornings we drove to preschool, where candlelight flickers in the classroom, and viewed the “snowcake” Lady Baby created. We decorated the Downtown Abbey Christmas tree, read many Christmas books, and did a lot of “come let us adore him” around Baby Brother. After her mom laid it out for us, Lady Baby helped me (sitting in my lap, and pushing the lever for backstitching) sew a stocking for her brother.
One day we made Christmas cookies – a nearly all-day affair. Lady Baby can now do all the steps – rolling and cutting and decorating. For part of the time, Baby Brother slept on me in the Ergo, but he woke in time for decorating at the kitchen table.
He’s so long, he’s outgrown the nest I can make for a baby by crooking one knee and placing my ankle on the other. So we used a pillow as a head prop, and he smiled and chuckled (he does that now!) as frosting flew nearby, and Poppa Jim pretended to be stealing cookies.
This year Mrs. Hughes suggested a Saturday morning exchange of our gifts to each other, and Lady Baby was so excited to come downstairs and discover presents under the tree. Outdoors, the North wind did blow in cold and snowy dark till after 9 a.m., inside we sat in the cozy living room by the lighted tree. Baby Brother slept on his dad while Lady Baby deciphered gift tags and dispensed packages – a perfect sampler of Christmas morning magic.
When we reminisced about the cookie making, Lady Baby said: “That was a very happy time for me.”
So me too – the whole trip.
her spirits rose... 
A very happy time for me too! Thank you, Katy, for the beautiful image you painted in my mind. – Jane
Sent from my iPhone
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Thank you Jane!
Sounds lovely! Sorry to miss you. Merry Christmas to all. 😘
A happy time indeed. These are customs that the kids will cherish and then repeat when they have their own children.
But we haven’t managed a Christmas play in a snow covered, candlelit cabin!
Oh what fun that sounds. I am anxious to have Christmas here too. Jim and Lisa are expecting a new baby any day – due last Wednesday. Your pears are a delight!
OH, Katy. What a delight reading your blog. You paint such a sweet picture in my mind of you all in that cozy living room and kitchen. Wishing you a blessed Christmas.
Shirley M.
You fuel my anticipation of grandmotherhood with the lovely word pictures you paint!
You will love it! And grandchild will love you!