Christmas stuff

- Today the kids and I built and decorated a gingerbread train. I assembled the pieces (and managed to keep the kids from breaking it), slathered the whole thing with icing, and told them to go crazy decorating it with candy. They fought a little over who got to put on what candy, and of course ate too much, but did a pretty nice job anyway. Took 10 pictures, 5 of which had Kate looking in the general direction of the camera, 5 of which had Jack looking at it. Oh well.

- The other day Jack decided he would keep a Christmas journal. Each day he's been drawing a picture and writing a line about it. First day was a picture of a present ("I love Christmas because I get presents..."), another day was a picture of reindeer, another day was a picture of the Elf on the Shelf, sitting on the mantle, and he carefully drew things on the mantle like a stocking holder, a stocking, and half of a picture of himself on the mantle. He was very proud of how he made half that picture of him. I guess at some point Kate ripped it out of the journal and he threw it away, which is kind of sad, but he then drew a new one of the elf in today's hiding place, which is on the Christmas tree.

- We've been watching Christmas specials at night. Jack remembers where the commercials were the previous year and points it out. I imagine I was the same way. Or no, Robin was. Yeah, that's it.

- Kate drew a Christmas tree today. Or rather, she wasn't sure how to draw one, and asked Jack to help her. He did. Pretty sweet. He drew the tree, she drew ornaments on it. And went to show Mommy.

- Jack's been reading a Peanuts Christmas collection book we have. When he reads a funny one, he laughs out loud. Then continues on reading it.

- We went to the Christmas breakfast at Jack's school this morning. Jack sat happily with Santa for a picture. Kate hid behind my legs. Both ate fruit and half a bagel, then really cheered up when they saw friends (Kate saw Sofia, one of Jack's friend's little sister). But that didn't compare to discovering that each child got a Beanie baby stuffed toy; Kate got a cardinal, Jack a komodo dragon ("..the world's largest living lizard...")

- I can't think of anything else right now but aside from Emily being really sick it's been a nice Christmas season so far.