A California Christmas

For the second year in a row, Christmas was unseasonably warm. Last year got up to 55 degrees and sunny due to a tropical storm that rolled in on Christmas Eve. This year, it was a similar circumstance. Tropically rainy Christmas Eve, followed by a warm and sunny Christmas day. This certainly contrasts two years ago when we were hit with an ice storm on Christmas Eve that knocked out the power for four days! We hosted the missionaries for dinner for the third year in a row. I always appreciated the families that hosted me while I served in Houston. I feel honored to return the favor to do the same for the missionaries in our branch. We had our typical oyster stew, green salad, stollen bread, fresh fruit, and sparkling cider over a candle-lit table, followed by ginger bread and whipped cream. The kids (Madie) didn't want to act out the nativity this year, so we had to improvise a bit. Mal came up with an excellent alternative with using the kids nativity set to act out the reading of Luke 2. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't want to act it out, mostly out of tradition. But this turned out very well. The kids went to bed shortly after, and fell asleep quickly! I can't believe how fast they fell asleep. Madie has been so anxious for Christmas this year that I thought she would have a really hard time falling asleep. Mallory and I spent the evening laying presents underneath the tree, cleaning the house, and watching Arrow (our latest craze).

Although she fell asleep quickly, she was certainly the first to get up. I was somewhat awake when she trotted out of their room, and stared into our room. She had a huge grin on her face and big eyes of excitement. She was ready to run out, but I told her to snuggle with me in bed until Finn and Nella woke up. The first objective was to get the stockings. In our home, Santa is the one that fills the stockings. So I went out with Finn and Madie to get their stockings, and we brought them back to our bed. Madie was pleased that Santa pulled through on some things, such as the stick-on ear rings and candy canes. Finn was happy about the candy, of course. Nella was just happy. 

Onto the main event, our gifts to each other and family. We decided to go a slightly different direction this year. We wanted to make each other gifts using our amazing skills. The outcomes were phenomenal! Mal made Madie a cute dress from one of my old shirts (to be pictured in a future post), and Petranella some mittens. Madie made Finn a super hero cape, and Nella a bell-bracelet. Finn made Madie a sun catcher for their window. I made Finn and Madie a wooden sword, Finn a rubber-band rifle, and Madie a custom sweatshirt (see below). Of course, we did buy a few other things (bows & arrows, clothes, and some family games and activities), but we really wanted to try and simplify a bit this year and let the kids take ownership in making gifts. I'm hoping we can keep this going for them, because they all had really good ideas.

Grammy and Grampy gave us an apple picker, some lincoln logs, and farm animals. Nana and Papa gave Madie & Finn ice skates, and Petranella a toddler sled. We also got other gifts from Grandma Clark and Grammy Haskins. We are very blessed, and truly thankful for wonderful family that thinks of us.

 After we opened presents, it was time for war games! We went out and had a war with the bows, swords, and the gun. The kids got some good practice with their weapons.

 So what do you do on a warm Christmas day, you might ask? We pretended we were in my native land for a day and biked from the Schooner Head Overlook to the Great Head parking lot, and hiked to Sand Beach. Finn was getting a little tired toward the end of the bike ride. I think he will be ready to move on from his tricycle next summer. He does really well in it, but I think he wants to go faster and has a hard time keeping up. He certainly does more RPM's than any of us.

The kids walked bare-footed in the brook, and ran around in shorts and a t-shirt. Just being able to run around in the sun was a treat. The sunlight felt warm enough for me to lose the shirt for 20 minutes and get some sun for my vitamin-D depleted body. The kids tried making sand castles, then tried making sandmen (instead of snowmen). That turned into Finn flinging sand everywhere and getting out of control. 

Petranella was content on Mal's back for a few minutes, but was ready to be freed to explore the sand. She was threading the needle between some rocks on her way to the water and stumbled into a small tide pool. We had to lose her pajamas to keep her warm. She was loving her first time walking on sand. 

It was a fun journey back, with Nella all wrapped up in a blanket in our bike trailer. We came back home and had ribs for dinner (inaugural Watkins tradition), followed by a warm campfire and camping in the back woods with Madie and Finn. They loved running around the fire, chasing each other away from the light and back toward the fire. It was a full moon, so it wasn't like it was totally dark. But I'm so glad these two love to go camping and spend time outside. I think it helps that we are fairly ambitious when it comes to the outdoors. It doesn't matter the conditions, as long as you have the right gear and attitude. Madie declared this Christmas, "The best Christmas, ever!" Now if we could get some ice and snow, we will be able to try our new winter toys.

The day after Christmas, we got together at Grammy Haskins home with the Varnums, Easthams, Seth & Ashley Haskins, and Uncle Shawn. Good food, great company, and a fun time.

Winter called and said it will be a few weeks late

The severity of the past two winters have been well-documented. I guess after getting beat senseless with old man winters ice club has made me come to the realization that I need to either accept it, or move. I have opted to accept it, and try to embrace it. Heading into winter this year, Mal and I came up with a game plan to combat some of the winter blues I sometimes experience. Time outside is my number one medication. So naturally, we planned to do more outside. Most of our Christmas gifts this year revolve around this (snowshoes, ice skates, sleds, snow gear, etc). We have discussed getting the family into downhill skiing or snowboarding, and planning an annual trip as a family for a new tradition. All of these plans...ways to look forward to the season. And I can honestly say that making these plans have been helping me look forward to a potential repeat of last year. But, we are still waiting for our first snow...I don't want to complain though, we have certainly been taking advantage of this beautiful weather we have been having. I've basically come to terms with the weather situation and decided that we just need to play the cards we are dealt. When it snows, we'll go ice skating and skiing. When it's warm, we'll go climbing and canoeing. Here are some highlights from the past couple of weeks. 

Just Madie and I went on a hike up Flying Mountain. The views were great, and I got to talk to Madie about school, and marine life. She has taken a special interest in whales lately. She says they are her favorite animal.

Nella favors her left two fingers for her mouth, which frees up her right hand to grab either her ear, or the ear of the person that is holding her for comfort. I've joked with Mal that we should get a rubber ear for a stocking stuffer this year...

We have caught Santa a couple of times so far this year. This event was in Northeast Harbor. In all of Madies life, I still don't think she has said more than five words to Santa. She is very interested in Santa and his elves though. She asks a lot of questions about Rophy, our elf on a shelf.

This moment warmed my heart. Our kids love to plop down on the couch and look a books. It's cute to watch Nella climb the couch with a book in hand, settle herself down and thumb through her cardboard books.

Last weekend we sent for a hike up the west side of Champlain. It was beautiful up there, with granite boulders, steep terrain, and dramatic light setting in the southwest. You can really see how early the sun is setting in this photo, which was taken around 3:15 pm. Winter solstice is coming soon, which means every day after will only be getting lighter.

Yesterday was over 50 degrees! I had been looking forward to it all week, thinking about what we were going to do to take advantage. I don't know why, but I just really had the itch to go canoeing. Finn and I made a Man-Day out of it and took it up Northeast Creek. We saw a lot of Canadian geese and ducks. Today I asked Finn if he had a good time yesterday, and he said, "Yup!"

A couple of geese we were able to sneak up on.

Outrageousness

It's been a while since I've posted any of the incredible things said in this house, so I thought I'd share a few today:

Me:
"Finn, I'm wicked tired. I'm going to lie down and rest for a little bit. You can sit on me, just don't jump too hard."

Me:
"Why would the wisemen give a baby boy a perfume they put on people who died?"
Madie:
"I'm not sure, but I think maybe because little boys are stinky when they come out of their mommas."

Madie:
"We need Jesus because without him you can get all washed-up."

Me:
"Please don't kiss [the dog] on the bum."

Me:
"Please don't share your drink with [the dog]."

Me:
"What's the number one rule about helping Mumma in the kitchen?"
Finn:
"Don't pick your nose."
(Which, by the way, makes sense, so 'Only Do What Mumma Says When She Says' is now #2.)

Christmas Prep

Thanksgiving week was a week off from school, a week of baking, and a week of Christmas preparations! The kids wrote letters to Santa Claus. 

I love Madie's fancy-pants lettering for "Santa."

They drew pictures for him, too.

"Dear Santa, I love you. I want stick-on earrings, and a candy cane and lipgloss, and of course a doughnut and (we think...) a big stuffed bear and I want it to be colored rainbow. A mini cupcake. I can't wait to get my elf! Love, Maddy." (The elf is our elf on the shelf--Rophy--he comes Dec. 1st.) 

Via dictation: "Dear Santa, my brother wants a truck that moves by itself, and a bow and arrow, and a tractor, and candy and a chocolate orange. Love Finn."

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we picked up our tree. I love lounging in front of a lit tree.