Virtual Coffee

It's Tuesday, my friends. And while I do know it is very cold and snowy white where a lot of you are (*cough*Illinois*cough*), here the high is 64 and it's already 50 degrees. So, I do have some nice hot coffee brewing away for you all but we also have some iced tea in the fridge too. :)

If we were really having coffee today...I'd tell you that Hanukkah ended last week. Julia still asks for it because she really misses lighting the candles.

Elisabeth asked if we can celebrate it every year and Evan and I both said yes. She was very excited and said next year we could check out even more books to read. I guess we've started a "Hanukkah children's book reading before lighting the menorrah" tradition.

If you were at my house having coffee with me today...you'd be leaving with a small tin of cookies. We've been baking up a storm here and I love to share them. You could have one now if you want. Julia can tell you what one to eat since she's sampled and helped bake them all.

Julia's been my big helper this year. She's excited to put on her apron and dump in ingredients. She's very adamant about me needing her help. Elisabeth's helped a bit here and there, but mainly has only been "helping" by licking the spatula. I think I'll be seeing her help more when school's out for winter break on Friday. It's a half day and then they have almost 3 weeks off.
Have you seen Santa yet this year? We have. Thankfully, the BX on base had a spot set up for Mr. Clause and there was no line the night we went to visit him. Last year we waited over an hour to see him at the mall. I shall be checking the BX from now on. Julia was so excited this year. She went straight to him and told him exactly what she wanted--a big red ball.
Elisabeth had a letter she'd written for him that gave him lots of options. She's all about making Christmas easy on Santa. One year, when she was around 4, she told him to just surprise her because she knows how busy he is. I love that girl.
We'd sit and sip coffee and talk about the upcoming holidays. You'd tell me your plans (are you going anywhere? what are you making for dinner? are people coming to your house?) and I'd tell you that I'm making a traditional Italian Christmas dinner this year. Last year we had a traditional English dinner. Next year, Elisabeth wants a traditional Mexican Christmas dinner since we'll be in Texas and so close to Mexico.
Ooh! Then I'd remember to tell you that Kyle, Matt and the boys are coming to visit us again this year for the week in-between Christmas and New Year's!!! The girls are so excited. They want to take Ethan to a billion different places. I'm excited because I have plans on squishing Owen's cheeks and smooshing his fat baby belly with kisses and huffing his baby scent while I cuddle him. He's 6 months old now and is a total butterball. We're also going to go out to dinner with Kyle and Matt solo. No kiddos. I can NOT wait!
I'd ask what your plans for today are. I'm going to be be baking gingerbread like it's my job. We're going to build our big house tonight and start decorating it tomorrow. Last year we made a grocer store like what Evan's family used to own in the 1930s. This year, we're making a bird house. I will definitely be posting about it when it's completed.
Thanks for stopping by today. I know it's a busy time of year, but I love brief moments of sitting and slowing down to just be with friends. And I totally love our virtual coffee Tuesdays.