Catching up with the break

Well.  At least I'm almost caught up into the year 2013.  That's good.  Here is just a little recap of our "Winter Break."  For those old schoolers, like myself - I'll refer to it as "Christmas Break."

There was the ever popular, ginger bread house decorating.  This was the first year I actually made ginger bread.  Five small houses, and one big one for the center of town.  I had some candy I brought from the states, and then thanks to my candy trip to Tamimi's a few months ago - remember the overload??? - well, we had lots of fun things to decorate with.

There was A LOT of crafting!  Christmas break always brings out the crafter in us all.  Doesn't it? 

There was lot's of talk of Santa Claus and presents. Lots and lots of snuggles and fun.

Happy New Year!!!

 We had a Fondue party on New Years Eve, with about 25 people;  no kids.  It was so fun.

Overall, the break was uneventful.  The highlights were going to the beach -a lot.  Parks and walks.  Someone gave us their old wooden play set.  We put it right up under a tree and my kids spend hours on it.  It's 15 years old, lived here in the middle east, and very worn.  But I'm telling you - they are loving it.  It has been a bus, a pirate ship, a submarine, a fire truck, a kitchen, a school room, and I'm sure much more.  They are loving it.  They have tied all kinds of things to it.  Ropes, nets, hammocks.  It's fun.

There was  A LOT of drawing and lego making.  And the last week, my two oldest made almost every meal.  My goal was to teach them how do the basics of cooking, and get them to the point where they could open a cook book - and make a recipe on their own.  And they can!  They made cakes, bread, tacos, grilled cheese, pancakes, waffles, and most anything their little hearts desire.  Or that I can stand being made into mess in the kitchen.  But as I tell them - cleaning up is part of cooking!

Break is like this for me.  I love it...then I want it to end...then I love it and never want it to end.

The end.