Loads of December Fun!

Michael was able to score free tickets to the Festival of Trees (as it was, in part, sponsored by his work.) Always one to grab at the chance at cheap entertainment for my kids, I couldn't turn them down. I invited a couple of my mom-friends and their kids (one of which used her connections to get free MAX tickets) to go along. What I believed would just be a giant expo hall full of decorated trees, turned out to be a child-focused activity-filled extravaganza. The highlight of the event was the free teddy bears and the Teddy Bear Hospital. The boys picked and named a bear (Benjamin, Jack, Austen Two, Sonic and Teddy) and took them through many "treatments" complete with bandages, shots, x-rays and the like.






The boys also enjoyed the craft room; coloring pictures, making bell necklaces, stamping gift bags and making foam Christmas decorations.




Ben had better things to do...ZZZZZZZZZZ!


Later that same day, we took the boys (and my mom) to Loch Lolly to get a Christmas Tree. We've enjoyed many visits there over the years, and the boys were especially looking forward to the free hot cocoa. I looked forward to the tradition of buying a couple of ornaments in the gift store. It was a beautiful day, chilly yet sunny with only a smattering of clouds. It rained torrents the next day and we were all glad we had chosen to go on Saturday.





Here is the sunset that hung over Loch Lolly as we were packing up the tree to head home.


On Sunday, I took the boys for professional pictures (to be shared later) and then we spent all afternoon baking Christmas cookies. We made cookie cutter cookies and decorated them with frosting and a myriad of candies (mmm...red hots!), my favorite Russian Tea Cookies and a new treat, Oreo Truffles. As one friend said after tasting one, "These are heaven in a ball!"