Hi, everyone!
Happy Christmas week! Last week we finished getting ready for Christmas, and now we’re continuing to celebrate!I helped Grandpa put the lights on the Christmas tree, then I helped Grandma put on the ornaments. Our tree was a little skinnier this year than some years, so we had to decide which ornaments wouldn’t fit. I made sure my favorite moose ornament got a place on the Christmas tree!
There was at least one ornament on every branch when we got done, and some of the ornaments ended up on the fireplace, instead of the tree! When it got dark, I like seeing the reflection of the Christmas tree lights and the apple tree lights at the same time.
Grandma and I have been baking more Ground Hog Day cookies, too! We finished filling up the great big storage box in the freezer and we have lots more cookies to make and wrap! Grandma says we’ll have to find room in the freezer for at least one more box!
Last Friday, Grandma and Grandpa had their annual Christmas stollen party. I’m always excited to see all of my friends! The very first family that came was La Vache with her grandma and grandpa. Then Joe-san and Nancy-san brought Moose-san and Tilly. We all tried to be good hosts and make sure our friends got soup and coffee or cider while they visited! Grandma put out a fresh-baked stollen to nibble on, too. Grandpa calls that “sacrificial stollen”!
While Moose-san and Tilly were at the stollen party, I gave Moose-san his Christmas present from me. Guess what? Moose-san and Tilly had a present for me, too! Then I helped Moose-san and Tilly pick out a stollen to take home.
After Moose-san and Tilly left, Papa Dick-san and Grandma Sue brought Rudy to the party! Last year, Rudy was packed up because Papa Dick-san and Grandma Sue were moving, so he couldn’t come. I was happy to see him again! Rudy sang “Jingle Bells” for everybody who came at suppertime.
La Vache got to have a sleepover at our house! We decided we’d keep the Christmas tree company overnight, so we camped out right underneath. In the morning, I introduced La Vache to my Christmas cactus friend. The cactus is just starting to bloom right now! La Vache went home on Christmas Eve.
On Christmas morning, I helped Grandma get the croissants ready to go into the oven. When they were baked, we had Christmas brunch and opened our presents! First, we Skyped Uncle Steven and Aunt Kara so we could watch James and Thomas open the gifts we’d sent them. It was already dinnertime on Christmas for them, so they’d been patient all day waiting to open those presents. Their dinner company arrived just when we called, so we didn’t open our presents from the Netherlands until after the Skype call. Aunt Kara crocheted nice warm scarves for Grandma and Grandpa! There was a pretty carved wooden Christmas ornament and James sent a blue glass ornament from Greece. I made sure we found room on the Christmas tree for both of them! La Vache gave me an amaryllis! I get to watch it grow every day and then bloom with big flowers!
After we opened our presents, Grandma and I made the final two batches of Ground Hog Day cookies and found room for them in the freezer. Then I took some time to enjoy all the pretty holiday decorations around the house! It’s nice to have reminders of family and friends when we’re not together for Christmas!
Today it’s very cold! When I woke up, the outside thermometer read 10 degrees: minus 10 degrees C. and plus 10 degrees F. It’s windy, too, so I’m happy I don’t have to go outside. James’ friend Annie-chan came with her parents to pick up a present and their stollen. Annie-chan and I played Legos while her parents visited with Grandma. Now Grandma and I are going to start a new jigsaw puzzle. It’s a picture of Kings Day in Amsterdam and it looks just like what we saw when we were there. Do you think I should put on my orange vest, just to work on a Kings Day puzzle?
Love,
Lion-san
We had a good time with you, Grandma and Grandpa. Moose-san really liked his present from you. He looked at it for the longest time. I liked the scarf that Aunt Kara crocheted. She must have worked on the scarves a long time. I can see why you liked that card. Were there lions on it? I don’t think you will have to wear your orange vest when you are working on the puzzle unless you want to.