Christmas Eve

This year was the first Christmas since we had kids that we had to prepare for Christmas morning by ourselves at our own house.

Cutting room floor

These shots didn't make the original postings

Eating oranges

Clementine season is upon us, 3.50 for a 20 lbs crate.  Perfect activity after church, orange eating

Cookie decorating

Also know as sprinkle eating. But in this house they are called sprinklers. 

Christmas Cookies

Wrestle time

Break it down!!! The boys are learning to wrestle in a "nice" way; no  jumping on heads, no knees to the back.  Anna Lena is just interested in sitting on our heads and jumping, and of course not getting knocked over!

Christmas Trees

We waited others out to be the fourth owners of this great tree.  It's been up for 24 hours and only one ball broken so far. The boys decorated their own tree for their room, and I got another small one for the kitchen (and if anyone else moves in the near future I'll probably buy theirs too!) ya!! I love a decorated home!

Leftovers....emmm

On Sunday the day after our big meal around 2:00 pm we felt like eating again. So it was leftover time. Once again we over did it.  

Wishbone

Zaki and Jonas split there first wishbone. Jonas got the larger side. 

Kids Table

Saturday marked Thanksgiving in south Lebanon. One family came down from Beirut and slept over.  We were joined the next day by another family from Tyre and two other of our friends from Beirut.  Here are pics of the celebration mainly from the view of the kids table. 

Difference between girls and boys

So, Aunt Julie sent the kids Halloween bags. As you can see below Jonas uses it to scare people and Anna-Lena instinctively saw it as a purse. We thought their different perspectives were telling.

Turkey craft

My highlight, the boys helped write their own names, and Zaky wrote Anna Lena's name. Their favorite part, painting Anna Lena's hands and foot.

Turkey shopping

The bird weighs more then the little turkey!

Sunday best

Yes I do love dressing her up, but I am still to lazy to make bows. Aunt Julie, do you remember this book?

The Big Girl's visit

The boys' friend from Jordan spent a few nights with us last weekend. We realized our house would be quite different if we had a girl first as opposed to last.  The kids really enjoyed there time together.  

Independence Day

Friday November 22 is the Independence Day for Lebanon. This holiday ensured that the boys would have 5 straight weeks of 4 days of school or less.  At school earlier in the week Zaky explained to us how they marched around to make shapes out side to loud music, what more fun could you have on an Independence Day, and oh yes there was dancing and hats (but no beer or hot dogs - and there lies a major difference between our two cultures)

Amelia Bedelia's Pie

The boys helped mama bake while baba read the book.