Over the Christmas break, we took a quick trip over to the Butterfly Rainforest at the Natural History Museum. It had been years since we’d gone (I think this might have been Ben’s first time). It was a fun outing with everyone on a really beautiful day.
The older kids enjoyed using the guides to find out which butterflies they saw.
Jonathan had a butterfly land on his shoe. Rosemary had one land on her guide.
Checking for hitchhikers.
A happy little girl and her daddy.
We spent the entire Christmas weekend in Gainesville this year. This was the first year we’ve done that and it was really nice. My parents came up Friday night and stayed through Monday. We filled the time with lots of food, shopping, napping, attending a live nativity, Christmas Eve service, church on Christmas day, and celebrating the birth of the Savior.
The kids were ready for presents at 7am. Again this year they didn’t deviate from their usual ‘get up time.’
Rosemary and Ben helped distribute the gifts.
This was Charlotte’s first Christmas!
Ben went for the biggest present first. He was excited about his Mega Blok train set.
A little bath wrap for Rosemary.
Ben guessed this gift.
An overnight bag for Charlotte to coordinate with Rosemary' and Ben’s.
Excited about Strawberry Shortcake from Grandma and Grandpa
A new book
A little baby doll from Grandma and Grandpa
Ben’s hooded shark towel.
Ben specifically requested a “Mack” and my mom and dad got the last one at Toys R Us.
The new train set
After opening gifts, we all got ready and attended church. It was a great morning. When we got home, it was time to start getting the food in the oven. We had prepped just about everything the night before so it wasn’t too hard to get things ready.
Christmas dinner is ready!
My mom and dad got us a fire pit for Christmas so Jonathan and my dad set it up and we had a fire and s’mores Christmas night.
Obviously, it wasn’t too cold since Jonathan is wearing shorts!
In addition to s’mores, the kids had some veggies, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie for dinner. Such a weird meal!
Merry First Christmas, Charlotte!
The next morning, mom and I shopped a bit then met up with everyone for lunch at Five Guys. We had a wonderful Christmas weekend!
We have had a wonderful Christmas break. Here are some photos of the low key moments that have been so fun too.
We grabbed a bite to eat at Burger King the other night then ran some errands. By the time we got home Rosemary and Ben were asleep. Jonathan carried them both inside and they stayed asleep! That never happens. They were exhausted.
I think these Butterfinger Bites have become a new Christmas staple. I saw the recipe on Pinterest. They are so good. If you’re interested in making them, the recipe is available here. I would change a couple things though. I would use a larger pan so that the pieces are thinner and after they cooled I would melt and pour the chocolate over the entire batch before I cut them.
We get the ol’ push toy out for Charlotte. She has enjoyed it.
Playing a bit in the older kids’ room.
Drinking some hot chocolate with a straw, of course. It was almost 80 degrees outside though.
Climbing all over daddy!
Rosemary wanted me to braid her hair before bed one night and these are the results the next morning.
Curly hair!!!
Amicalola Falls from Labor Day camping this year; Forks, Washington ornament from Jonathan’s trip to Seattle; Jacksonville Zoo ornament from our trip this summer; a White House ornament from my brother; and a candy cane bead ornament Rosemary made
Air dry clay ornaments that Rosemary and I made one day.
Glass ball ornaments. The top right is Ben’s hand as our snowman family, the bottom left is Rosemary’s.
New ornaments this year. Cars for Ben, an angel (from Rosemary) and the Family ornament for all of us, the little pink stocking for Charlotte’s first Christmas, the purple ballerina for Rosemary, and the photo of Charlotte.
Rosemary and Ben spent a few nights with my parents last weekend. I drove down a day early to drop them off and to meet up with Becky and her kids. We’d tried to meet up a few weeks earlier in Gainesville and it ended up not working out. It was great to catch up!
Charlotte and Jacob hung out a bit on the floor.
And Rosemary and Abby enjoyed playing with the dollhouse.
Ben was around playing somewhere.
It was my turn in December to plan our co-op field trip so in keeping with the season, we planned to attend the school performance of The Nutcracker. Since it’s the school performance, it’s an abridged version of the ballet and only an hour long. There were about 25 of us from our co-op that attended. I’d love to go back and see the full ballet with Rosemary. I saw The Nutcracker for the first time when I was about Rosemary’s age with my Aunt Edith and remember it as a very special event.
Last week, Rosemary and I headed to the Phillip’s Center while Ben and Charlotte spent the morning with Emily.
We were there early so we snapped a few photos
Being silly waiting for the show to start.
But she did indulge me and smile sweetly for one.
We ended up pretty far back but could still see fairly well. They won’t seat your group until everyone is there but thankfully we were able to see.
We had a wonderful time and would love to go back next year.
To me, it just doesn’t seem like Christmas unless there are Buckeyes. I think Ben agrees. I have fond memories of making these almost every year with my mom and my brother. The ones that I rolled were usually the biggest. This year Rosemary helped me make them for the first time. She was a great roller.
Buckeyes (this is a half-recipe but is always plenty for us with some to give away)
Using an electric mixer, combine margarine and peanut butter at a medium speed. Add vanilla. (I forgot the vanilla this year and you couldn’t even tell). Slowly add confectioners sugar until all is combined and a smooth dough forms. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate dough at least 1 hour.
Form dough into 1 to 1 1/2 inch balls (mine are never this small though) and place on wax paper lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate peanut butter balls for at least 1 hour. This will make the next step so much easier!
Melt candy coating according to directions. Insert a toothpick into the top of one peanut butter ball and dip into melted coating, covering approximately two-thirds to three-quarters of the ball with chocolate. Place back on wax paper lined cookie sheet to harden. Repeat with all peanut butter balls.
I refrigerate our Buckeyes when they’re all done, but I know others who don’t. I like them cold and I feel like they last longer that way.
