Christmas Festivities

This is my view each morning as I drive back from the kids school. It has been interesting to watch the sun as it moves across the horizon to a different location each week.  This is its location in December. Christmas time!

Things started early for us this year.  Shaynie came home on December 4 ready to begging a new tradition in our home (which she learned about in school). December 5 is 'Sinterklaas Day'. This is an old traditional holiday still practiced in the Netherlands  Germany , Belgium etc...  On this day, Saint Nicholas (patron saint of children) comes to town on his horse (from Spain/Turkey?) to celebrate his birthday.  He gives gifts to the good kids, while his companion 'Zwarte Pete' might capture the bad kids and take them away back to Spain (and you thought getting a lump of coal was bad!).  I enjoyed celebrating this while on my mission in the Netherlands.  However, I think Shayne's motives were not my nostalgia.  She saw another opportunity to get some gifts.  So... as tradition dictates,  they put their shoes by the fireplace (look how terrible Weston's' shoes look!), provided a carrot for Saint Nick's horse, and prepared for bed. The entire time, Shayne was telling Rebekah how much she hoped Saint Nick would come!  She may not have been very subtle, but it worked.  He made a visit and left some gifts.  What was the take away from this? Next year - bigger shoes! 

 Of course, Rebekah was also in a festive mood. I arrived home from a trip to spend the day preparing the house for a 'Carol' party.  We had a dinner, played games and sang carols until 11 PM with some  20 friends from church, neighborhood and school.

People seemed to enjoy themselves, and Rebekah was in heaven.  I think it was her way of making sure we HAD to decorate the house?  I was boycotting the idea since we will be in the US for Christmas  and I not not enjoy cleaning up and putting decorations away!  Once again, not subtle, but it worked?  I see a pattern here.

For the last few months, the kids and I have been enjoying a series of talks online. They are called TED talks.  They are short, informative and can really make you think.  The kids love them.  Last Saturday, the kids created their own holiday themed TED talk in our living room.  The subject was "Heat and Air".  Wes came up with the idea while taking a shower?  Notice the festive Santa hat and snow drawn on our mirror.  Shaynie provided technical and moral support from the sidelines while giving directions on when to take a drink, and what to images to draw.

Finally, we spent that night in down town Dublin, wandering the main shopping area of Grafton street. Lots of people were out. Some street musicians were playing, and the pubs were full of youth in the most hideous holiday sweaters and hats that I have ever seen.  Many of them had flashing lights and ornaments dangling from their bellies.  What a crazy group of people the Irish are.  We celebrated by ordering a burrito?  I imagine our Christmas day in the US will be similar.