building a house

Last year we didn't build a house from gingerbread because we were going home for Christmas, we didn't do a few of our traditions but the gingerbread house is a favourite of Rosie and she made sure she got to do one this year.

Ninety nine percent of the time she was decorating she had some sort of confection in her mouth but I suppose that is the appeal.

We aren't very patient and find that the icing given to "glue" the house together takes way too long to dry and oftentimes when it is dry the house falls apart so we improvise.

getting ready

worlds most revolting sweeties. 

when you mother is into DIY one improvises. My first thought was liquid nails but I thought that a little over the top.

It bonds instantly

quality control😆😆

such concentration

Rosie LOVED doing this

ta da

the only good thing about the 'orrible sweets was how colourful they were.

Christmas is just around the corner...time to get cracking. I was so organised this year that I seem to have become complacent and now it is full speed ahead.

happy, pretty, fun, love

I absolutely adore this time of year. Yes, it can get very very stressful with all the extra things to do but this year I was determined to not allow that to happen and with some extra planning I think I have a handle on it. I keep waiting for my 6 months of hell to be up and everything is hanging in the balance but I realised that is ridiculous and I have to live now in the now so that is how I am approaching Christmas. Ain't nobody going to rain on my parade.

Each year I try and buy a new ornament, or 2 or 3, that represent what our year has been about. I really should have just hung a bucket of chloriney water on the tree. Hah! 99% of all the ornaments on the tree have special meaning and I love looking at every last one of them.

This was the first ornament out of the box and heading to the tree

At least it was just a generic red glass bauble. Lily was the klutz this year and it made me laugh.

the other ornaments looking on and wondering who's next to die. Hah.

Some of the newest ornaments for this year:

I buy a new Nutcracker every single year, the girls get to chose them and so my fabulous sister bought this ornament for the day she was, Maisie. It's beautiful and I adore it.

From back in the days of blogging, my friends Kris's daughter, E made this for us 

It's orange and it's a heart so I gave it to Rosie

Really, you don't have a minion on your tree?
 I never thought I would either but one kidlet loves the movie and so it goes

Once the tree was up and the outside lights and decorations hung we ventured off for our annual visit to Santa. Lily is such a good sport about it all and loves to see Rosie so excited. We go to the Christmas Village in Coral Gables.

In my opinion, one of the nicest public trees in Miami

City Hall

Ho Ho Ho, the big guy himself

Sadly both of the kids are starting to think this snow themed park is cheesy. We have gone every year since lily came home. 

The name caught our attention and it was such a funny little shop

a close up of the outside decor.

And finally after a long wait and temperatures that suddenly plummeted, resulting in us freezing to death, they met Father Christmas himself. 

This Santa has been here for as long as we have been going and he remembered the girls. I was shocked. They asked for a freaking puppy!!! He was laughing and joking as I am standing out of view of the kids, shaking my head NO NO NO. Rosie had written him a little Christmas card and when she climbed out of his lap she gave it to him. I felt so awful for the next people in line as he spent ages reading it and thanking her.

And with all the necessary preparations in place I think I can kick back and enjoy the rest of the season. I think!

thankfully

This year is a year in which I am a little more thankful than most. I made a life decision that has put me where I needed to be for a long time. (even if I am still not alone, that gets closer by the day)

Last year we went with my friend Maria and feed the homeless and less fortunate and this year, to my delight, the girls asked, yes they asked, if we could do it again. We did. They knew the routine this time around and were much more comfortable. Even Rosie stepped up and just dug in.

200 slices of pie needed to be cut.

tables needed to be set

Maria and us. 

Maria and the Thanksgiving turkey 

Oh look. That Turkey looks familiar

Rosie working hard. Sorry it's blurred 

working hard and so happy

After the initial set up was done. The lady in charge was looking for someone to be the turkey, she didn't have to look far, Lily stepped right up. She added a smile to a lot of hungry faces. Rosie decided she wanted to serve ALL the drinks and she did so by herself, well over 200 of them. A few times when it got hectic she had help but for the most part she was a one man show.

It is heartbreaking to see so many families with little children have no place to call home. I few times I had to fight back tears. A few really skanky folk showed up and that is what I expected to see, the drunk, off his arse, dude but the families were hard to accept.

Later in the afternoon we headed to my friend Ames house for a quiet family Thanksgiving. Truly a beautiful day.

 And then, later, much later, the black Friday madness ensued. I wanted one gift for Rosie and I have researched the price for weeks. I knew where to go and the crazy price I was going to pay. I slipped in and out with no hassels and no wait??? Apparently the stores opened at 6pm and were mobbed and the midnight shoppers were yet to arrive so at 9.30 it was like a Sunday morning. I hope your Thanksgiving was meaningful and filled with love.