...and it's finally Christmas

All the build up, all the excitement, all the planning, all the work...

All the fun!

Christmas Decorations

We had a lot of fun this year making decorations for the house.

Morgan's thumbprint 'lights' on her footprint tree

 

 

Morgan, Russell and my Dad working on a wood project at the DIY Wood Studio

finished product from the DIY

She made this one all by herself!

footprint angle

Playing with the nativity scene - this was the last gift my mom chose just before she died

Swedish Jul Magic

My mom 'bequethed' her collection of Tomten to Morgan. My dad has given them to Morgan for the last two Christmas'. This year we made a big deal of reading the Tomten and feeding them. She understands that the collection from Kat is just a representation of the Tomten that lives with us and that it's important to take care of our tomten so he does not cause mischief throughout the year.

For those of you non-Swedes reading this a Tomte is an elf that lives on the property taking a care of everyone. The Norwegian word for the same being is Nisse, the Finish is Tomtu and Santa's elves would be the rough equivelant.



 The Tomten like to eat grain - so we fed them oatmeal. And they need to be fed once a year, usually at Christmas time.

Morgan was shocked I tell you, SHOCKED that the oatmeal was gone!

Visit with Santa

Morgan was SO excited for Christmas this year, she believes with all her heart and soul in the Magic of Christmas. She visited Santa and was in awe, but she did get her wish list out in a whisper: a unicorn, castle and snow globe!

The photographer loved Morgan in her dress coat and hat



Morgan's comment afterwards, "I had to hug carefully so I didn't squish him!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Baking

Morgan is more and more helpful in the kitchen, she loves the measuring and stirring, but leaves the stove-top and oven to me. I was looking at old pictures the other day and came across her very first time helping in the kitchen


She was a big help making Christmas cookies this year - even developed her own way of dipping the  peanut butter/pretzel cookies in chocolate.

A Bit of History

Morgan got dressed up for our party last night. She wore the dress her Aunt Maria wore for Easter 1971. Another bit of nostalgia - It being Dec 1, Morgan got to snap an ornament on the advent 'calendar' that Jim and his siblings used growing up. It's been haning on the dining room wall for a week and Morgan was stopping daily to inspect it. Late last week Jim stopped her to talk about the biggest star, "Daddy, I KNOW! The biggest star goes on the top and then it's Christmas!" She has discerned that all for herself.

Easter 1971: Dan, Maria and Jim (3yrs)

Maria

Morgan



Morgan and the Advent Tree

 

Clothes Shoot

This is what happens when there's no clothes shoot on the second floor, but there is one in the kitchen. Morgan's favorite Saturday morning 'helping' is moving the clothes down to the kitchen, then throwing them down the shoot to the basement.