Finally, a day worthy of blogging. Okay, so there have been others, many others, but this evening really jumped out and yelled, "Record me! Record me!" So I guess I'll stay up and do it.
After weeks of being pestered, I finally surrendered
and let the kids make gingerbread houses. Nothing fancy---just graham crackers, homemade icing, and some candy---but boy, did they have fun. My dear husband and I helped the three youngest with their basic construction; otherwise, they all did everything on their own. 
We ended up with six unique designs, each sweeter than the next. (Pun very much intended!) I don't know why I was so reluctant to let them begin this project. As with all of the crafty things we do here (and 
my poor deprived kids will tell you that they don't happen often enough), my dreaded anticipation of the effort and mess is always so much worse than the actual event. And of course, their joy and creativity is always so worth it anyway. You'd think I'd remember this the next time they beg me to do something fun. But I probably won't. Ah well, at least we have smiling faces and a whole village of gingerbread houses tonight.
Following a delicious dinner of homemade pizza a la Jim, I decided to make the most of a good thing and throw away my list for the night. I can't remember the last time we all watched a movie together, but tonight the ten of us ferreted onto a sofa, love seat, and rocker to enjoy White Christmas. Okay, I admit that using the word enjoy is a mighty stretch in the case of my husband---in fact, it's a downright falsehood---but he did say that he enjoyed watching the girls enjoy it. For everyone except my mother- and father-in-law, it was our first time of ever seeing the film. A bit hokey and very Hollywood (1950s Hollywood, that is), but clean and fun nevertheless. The girls' favorite scene was Bing and Danny performing the Sisters song, so we watched it over again when the movie ended. My favorite lines of the night occurred in the middle of a big dance number where Vera-Ellen wore a flashy leotard with nothing covering her legs. My 9-year-old said, "I don't like that dress. It's not very modest." My 6-year-old followed with "Not modest at all." (I must be doing something right!)
One final bit of happy news I wanted to share is that I received my Christmas present today. Last Sunday, my mother-in-law and I stumbled upon this pretty little settee in a local antiques (and I use that term very loosely) warehouse. I mentioned it to my lovable husband, and without batting an eye, he drove me back today to buy it. Honestly, I didn't think we really even had a place for it in our current home, but I could so envision it in the entry hall of our future imaginary one. My mother-in-law, who has such a knack for decorating, found the perfect corner for it, right next to our front door. It really warms up the room. I love tapestry on furniture, especially in greens and roses, and I won't have to worry one bit about it taking a beating from my kids, because the cherry frame is already slightly worn. It was the perfect gift and will always remind me of our special years in Belgium. Merci, my Love!
