Christmas is almost here. It was in the 50's the other evening, but the cold has left and it's been a little warmer the last day or two. When the cold wind blows here, it blows right through you and you can't believe you're so cold. I didn't bring many warm clothes from the states, and I've been awfully cold without them!
December 8:
We thoroughly enjoyed our family day at the theater this afternoon, watching Brooke play the genie in the Aladdin Panto. Here are some of the pictures I took after the show where the actors came out and mingled with the guests.
Brooke is in the hot pink outfit. She had a blast signing autographs and answering questions. A Brownie troop watched the show today.
December 10:
We're dog sitting Zoie again while our friends are out of the country for a few weeks, and when we walk dogs here, we're always supposed to keep them on the leash (even in the parks,) so we frequently take them out to the dessert where they can run free and not get in trouble. We're still in the compound... it's only across the street and down a block from our little neighborhood.
Sometimes, Brooke even goes out here with her friends. They tell me there are some cool places to play in. People also have bonfires at night on the jebbels and roast marshmallows!
Brooke likes to look for pretty rocks.
Shadow likes to find rocks too!
Here, we're on our way back home.
Next weekend, the girls have all invited friends to come over and make gingerbread houses. Here I'm baking the gingerbread dough in my mold.
In school, Reese is learning about Canada, and here she is making an Inuit carving. She's almost done carving a whale here, except the tail broke off. Her friend, Grace, has just come over after school and is carving something into the broken piece from the tail.
Here we are opening our first Christmas gift. We brought this over in our suitcase. Thank you, Aunt June and Uncle John, it's beautiful!
Even Shadow likes it!
December 15:
Today we invited 12 girls to come over and make gingerbread house. I brought my iron mold from the states. I baked gingerbread houses all week long and was up very late last night finishing the last several houses. I thought I was done baking until I found out Mackenzie had a little sister! So, I quickly made another house and finished it just in time for the girls to begin their construction.
All of the girls have arrived and are starting to put their gingerbread houses together.
Grace can't believe how easy this is!
The teenagers can't believe how hard this is!
Morgan
Mackenzie
Kathrine
Kinley
Claire
Jordan
Brooke
Jayda
Jocelyn
Rilynn
Emily
Haley
Danielle
Kelcy
Morgan's house had an avalanche and Shadow got a bite out of the roof before she could collect it.
I love how they look all snowy before all the candy is piled on.
Here's Morgan's repaired roof. I baked another roof side, butshe didn't want to wait 25 minutes for it to bake.
Now that the gingerbread houses are put together, the girls are playing a game while their icing dries and sets.
Bruce and I had fun putting out all the candy!
Tashina showed up at the door, so we gave her Morgan's extra roof side, and she turned it into a raft!
We need more icing!!!
How did those bowls get so empty?
Lots of candy trash!
Here are the finished products:
Tashina's raft...
Katherine's...
Jordan's...
Brooke's...
Mackenzie's
Emily's
Danielle's...
(Danielle and her sister, Claire, won the "Most Artistic" award.)
Rilynn's...
Love the eyeballs.
Morgan's...
Haley's...
Kelcy's...
Jayda's...
Jocelyn's...
Kinley's...
Grace's...
Claire's...
Reese's...
What a fun day! Afterwards, Brooke spent the night at Rylan's house and they both rode their bikes back here at 8:00 in the morning to go to church with us. Bruce and I went to a Christmas party and enjoyed some homemade Thai food! I'll put the pictures of that in the next blog.
- Pattie -
