Since Christmas

Thank goodness Alaska schools give the kids a bit over 2 weeks off for Christmas, regardless of when the holiday falls.   Even though Amelia said she didn't want to do much except stay at home in in pjs and play with her toys, we squeezed in quite a bit of extra fun. 

Including a day at Westchester Lagoon, skating with one of her pals. 

They had a skate up hot cocoa stand too.

After their feet reached the cold level, we headed to a nearby playground.

We did a lot of skating it seemed during our break.  Always bringing a pal to join us.

Did a lot of sledding when the rain didn't make it an ice skating rink outside.  We are actually opposite of anything that happens on the East Coast...they get sub zero...we get 40's.  I would take the sub zero any day...as 40's in an Alaskan winter means ice.  The snow melts on the roads that are covered in hard packed snow.  Rob had to turn around and take our studded tire Tahoe twice during our break. 

 We did manage to take advantage of a few days of new snow....

and made candy sushi.

Although super fun to make...the taste was "too sugary" per Amelia.   And on a all day of play, we ended it with cleaning out our purses.  Amelia LOVES purses and crams as much as she can in them.

She "packs" if we go out to dinner with friends.  Note the book and reading light if adult conversation gets too boring.   And if that isn't enough she occupies her time by digging in her purse and eventually ends with her iPhone that she has for games. 

Mine's a bit different.  I used to be (still am) obsessed about cleaning purses...not just mine but anyones.  As a kid I would beg to go thru my sister's purses.  It is my organizational obsession that is responsible I am sure.  

Lastly, I forgot to post on her holiday dance observations.  She takes 2 classes at different studios.  One is a pure ballet class and the other is Ballet / Jazz and a bit of acro, but from these photos you really can't tell which is which as she insisted on wearing the same outfit for both.  Glad she loves dance.

Lots coming up it seems...Valentine's Day and our Science Fair in February!  Of course early March will bring Amelia's 8th birthday...all that forthcoming!

Christmas Gifts, Decorating and A Christmas Card

Now that the holiday is over (ugh I hate saying that), I can post a bit about gifts that I made/assembled.  

First up ... teacher gifts.  

Amelia's beloved second grade teacher got a furry white stocking full of goodies that included a air plant in a christmasy bulb that we put into a hanging picture of an apple.  You only mist it once a week and we included a little spray bottle for the task.  Also included was snowman nail polish, a nail polish dipped frame with a pic of her and teacher (Amelia made),  bunch of small blinged out clothes pins, a cookie cutter, a starbucks gift card, a metal bird, candy and...

an apple made out of Sculpey that Amelia made for her...

and a Lego mini figure that Amelia assembled with an Hawaiian skirt as her teacher mentioned she liked Hawaii.

Her other teachers for Music, Health, PE and Art received a red stocking full of more goodies including their own Minifigure, the metal bird and a sculpey creation that Amelia made.

Her classmates each received a bag of goodies...

as well as each in her dance class.

On to the handmade items I did...

I made this recipe box before for her teacher for Valentine's day with heart recipe cards.  I had received one last year from my sister in law and loved it.

This time I made it for my nieces and sister who have kitchens :)  The recipes included a couple from a few family members, as well as my grilled salmon recipe.

Amelia and I went to a Hanukkah Party of one her friends and learned about a clay dreidel.  When we returned home she wanted to make one for her out of Sculpey clay that I had originally bought for the horn for this project that I saw on Pinterest.  Didn't take a picture of the dreidel that really did spin, but did of our unicorns.  My niece commented on an instagram pic that she loved it and wanted one, so whipped another up quick and put it in the mail just in time for Christmas.

Her teacher asked a few parents to come up with a craft to share with the class the day before their break.  Had to be in a 15 min. time frame as they rotated around from craft to craft.  I spotted this on Pinterest and made one to see if I could do it in the time limit.  

Amelia's came out even better...

 I don't post on all my Christmas decorating as I pretty much do the same thing year to year...being the traditionalist that I am!  Here are a couple I took ...

Santa brings Amelia a new nutcracker each year (this year included) and the Santa on the end was from last year that I left the bow on.

Threw together a hot chocolate station that Amelia stole candy mints from when not filling up a mug of hot cocoa. 

Our stocking advent is the same as last year, but didn't put the days on them...she could figure it out.

Lastly, did a photo shoot in November of Amelia for our Christmas card. 

Tried to incorporate the "simplicity" message of our card to the entire Christmas season...well sort of :)

Happy New Year!