Sweetness and Light

Been Doing

Finished our 3 week run with Nutcracker. Violet takes the prize for most parts danced in a single production, hands down. She is amazing!!!

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Decorated the Tree, beautiful!!

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Been reading :: The Lady of Guadalupe, Merry Christmas Strega Nona & The Birds at Christmas by Tomie dePaola, The Tomten (LOVE) by Astrid Lindgren, The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown, Hanna's Christmas, Annika's Secret Wish (audio) The Polar Express (audio and movie - LOVE) The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey (audio), Christmas in the Stable by Astrid Lindgren, and started I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Goudge (LOVE).

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Been watching :: The Polar Express, Blizzard (great family movie) Ice Age 4 (pretty funny, not nearly as crude as #3, thank heavens)

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Been Baking :: Pecan Snowballs, Speculaas, Traditional Sugar Cookies

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Been Eating :: The most amazing Swedish Cardamom Bread from one of Violet's ballet friends, yummo!!!

**Recipe update :: the Carne Asada recipe I alluded to in this post was amazing, especially the second day, I highly recommend it :)

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What have you been doing in this 3rd week of Advent???

 

Advent Snippets

We've managed to stick pretty close to our Advent Reading Plan, with the exception of a few books that still haven't come from the library, as I ordered them last minute, so serves me right, eh? There were plenty of substitutes waiting in the wings nonetheless.

Christmas in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren
The Littlest Matryoshka
Night Tree
The Miracle of Saint Nicholas by Gloria Whelan 
Christmas Tapestry
Counting to Christmas
Santa Mouse
Christmas Trolls
Home for Christmas by Jan Brett (new for us this year)
Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas
Four Friends at Christmas  by Tomie dePaola

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The younger boys are learning Russian and French at Memrise. Super fun site (HT: Lissa)!!

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Secret Santas have been leaving little surprises around the house for their recipients, I think some have guessed already, but it's still fun and of course we all pretend not to know ;-) The manger is quickly filling up with nice soft hay as well for Baby Jesus.

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Nutcracker has been going well, we will all be a little sad and relieved when we finish this weekend. Violet of course is our shining star on stage and has some lovely solo parts - Marzipan and Ballerina Doll, as well as being a Snow, Flower & Russian Corps, oh and she is a Maid too for one of the party scene casts - she is LOVING it!! We have all had such a good time!

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Have a yummy Carne Asada  bubbling away in the crockpot today for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I hope it turns out well, haven't tried this one before. The kids are clamoring at me for their Mexican Hot Chocolate for teatime! Have a great rest of the week friends!! We're looking forward to St. Lucy's day tomorrow!! God Bless You.