Christmas at the Dollhouse

The dollhouse is decked our for Christmas! Big Girl and I decorated it the other night. As we were going through our decorations, we realized we need a new tree for the living room, so our little house is lacking a bit of Christmas cheer. The tree was just a bottle brush-style tree that you use in those holiday villages; most of them have snow on them, but this one didn't so we used it inside. I had strung a set of mini lights, also from those tiny village accessories on it, but both the tree and the lights have seen better days. I need to scope out a new one.

Here's the front door. The little sled by the front is an LL Bean ornament. Ornaments can be the perfect little things for dollhouses! This year, we have a new addition to the decor:

The little red wagon with presents inside is actually an ornament from the Sandra Lee line at Kmart. It's really a perfect little addition to the yard, don't you think?

Check out this, however:

Yes, that's a Leg Lamp in the living room window. Be careful, it's fra-gi-ley! (We just love "A Christmas Story," don't you? So retro, so cute.) The leg lamp was a stocking stuffer to my husband last year, who jokes that he wants one for our real living room window. Sure, it would be funny, but I can't get past my love of sweet, country Christmas stuff to actually put something like that my window. So we just got this for the dollhouse! It's actually a little porcelein hinged box. It's the perfect size, however. I only wish it would light up!

Have a merry "little" Christmas!

Gingerbread Village

Every year a little church near our house displays a giant Gingerbread Village. The church members spend months planning and creating elaborate houses. The houses are on display for one week only, during which visitors can purchase a house and pick it up at the end of the week-long event.

Big Girl always has a half-day of school during the week the village is on display, and this year was no exception. Bunny Twin joined our excursion this year; Buddy Twin was sleeping so we left him home with my mom. It was definitely a bit of a challenge to contain a toddler in the crowded gingerbread room, but we managed to leave unscathed!

The village is always so inspiring! This was my favorite house:

I love the little pretzel fence on this one, and the sheep are so cute!

Another adorable house -- love the windows!

A sweet barn:

It's always fun to check out all the different creations and see what they come up with each year. And believe it or not, admission to this event is free! They take donations, and the houses are, of course, for sale, with some sold for hundreds of dollars. The church also has a holiday bazaar and lunches available during the event. It's very popular; when we arrived on a Tuesday afternoon, there were three senior citizen buses in the parking lot. 

Do you have a gingerbread display in your area? 

TWINS TUESDAYS: Traditions

Waiting to decorate gingerbread houses!

Last weekend, we ventured to my parents' house to make gingerbread houses. It's a tradition for Big Girl to make one with my mom every year, but this year we decided to pump it up and expand the tradition to the twins and their cousins.

The best kit to use is the one they sell at Costco by Make-A-Treat. It's so easy. We buy extra candy to decorate the houses. This year, my mom got two of those kits -- one for Big Girl and one for the oldest cousin -- and then she purchased a Wilton kit that had the pieces for several small houses. The twins decorated the tinier houses, since that was just their speed.

The twins' tiny houses.

It was definitely less calm than just Big Girl with her Grammy. The twins wanted to eat the candy once they realized there was so much in front of them.

Move over, Willy Wonka!

But we persevered and they turned out cute. It was fun to put a new twist on this tradition and expand it to the cousins as well. With two toddlers, it can be hard to do certain traditions, but don't be discouraged to try things out and twist their to suit your family. Eventually, the little ones get older and will be able to handle everything a little better, but they will always remember these fun times of their childhood!

Bunny Twin with her gingerbread creation.
Buddy Twin barely stopped moving so it was hard to capture him on film!

Another tradition of ours is driving around to see crazy holiday light displays. That's easy with twins, since you just strap them in car seats! We also watch many holiday movies, which have been introducing as well. I'm always looking for fun new traditions which don't break the bank and create fun memories. 

What traditions does your family celebrate each holiday season?

Balloons!

On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, the city of Stamford, Conn., hosts a big balloon parade. More than 100,000 people cram the streets to see this spectacle, which is like a smaller version of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and frankly, better -- you don't have to get up before dawn to see it on a holiday.

It's a lot of fun -- they have 18 giant balloons in the parade, as well as bands, floats and assorted entertainment.

The parade is so much fun to watch -- the balloons are gigantic, and if you encourage the balloon handlers, the group runs in a circle and spins the balloon!

The kids really love the balloons and they are so big you can't miss them! It's definitely a fun family event.

This is our second year making the drive to see the parade, but it is already a beloved annual event. The parade really kicks off the holiday feeling, and I don't have to travel to New York to see it. Of course, it's free to watch.

In case you missed it, late last week I posted A Mom's Guide To... Thanksgiving. It has a lot of ideas to help you get ready for the big day with your little ones. I know our week will be filled with "getting ready" -- how 'bout you?

Ladybugs

Ladybugs are great for the garden!

Source: howdididoit.com via Kellie on Pinterest

In the past few weeks, there seems to have been an explosion of ladybugs on my sliding glass door. I know this sometimes happens in the fall, or on Indian summer days in fall. It's like the little eggs hatch and they take over. I don't remember it being so prominent as it seems to have been this year, however.

Ladybugs also make me smile. They remind me of my grandmother. Her house must have had a ladybug infestation, because they always seemed to have swarms of them at certain times of the year. When I see a ladybug, I can't help but think of my Gram and thinking it is a sign from her. I can't kill them. If they are inside, I gently get it outside as fast as possible.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks ladybugs are a sign from above. I was reading a post on SuperTy.org (I can't stop thinking about that poor little boy losing his fight with cancer! I even wrote a Yahoo! Voices article about it.) where his mother says after she returned from the crematorium the day after his death, she found ladybugs all over her sliding glass door and considered it a sign from above. In her post, she said she researched about ladybugs and found so many interesting little facts about them. Like how they are dedicated to the Virgin Mary as the "beetle of our lady" and they hold a special link to mothers.

Reading this was poignant to me as I consider them a link to my grandmother. Her name was Mary, and she was very religious, so the Virgin Mary connection to my grandmother is also important and relevant to me. And the link to mothers is also an interesting little link to something that happened to me.

When I was at the end of my pregnancy with the twins -- 37 weeks, to be exact -- I went to the doctor and they were concerned about my fluid levels and sent me to the hospital for yet another ultrasound and test. I had so many ultrasounds and so many tests during my twin pregnancy and I had been at the hospital many, many times. However, this time I knew, in my head, that all could not be right and it might be time for them to come out! It was an icy December day, and while I was sitting in that waiting room in the hospital to be called to have my ultrasound, I saw a ladybug crawling up the wall right next to me! On a freezing cold December day! It was the oddest thing, and I totally thought it was a sign from my grandmother. I knew right then and there, whatever that ultrasound revealed, that the babies were coming that very day. And they did. And it was fine. And I knew it was my grandmother's little way of telling me that.

I sometimes think people "stretch" the sign thing a bit too far, where every tiny thing is a sign from above. It's nice and comforting to believe that, but perhaps I am too cynical or practical in that regard.  That said, there are certain times when I really believe in signs. Not every ladybug moment is a sign, but always a reminder. That day in the hospital, it was not only a reminder, but a sign.

I don't collect ladybug items, but I love jewelry with meaning. I think I might put this on my holiday wishlist:

Source: alexandani.com via Kellie on Pinterest

It's very sweet, isn't it? And a nice reminder to wear around my wrist. Do you believe in signs or symbols?

The Tradition of Easter Bread

The beginning of the babka-making session

My grandparents always made babka just before Easter. Their tiny kitchen was covered in flour, but the result was a sweet loaf of raisin-filled bread that made the best breakfast toast, ever. Today, I wish I had their magic homemade bread, as my own breadmaking skills fall a tad bit short. Someday, I hope to make babka as yummy as theirs was, but in the meantime I will just practice the breadmaking craft year after year and keep this tradition alive.

My family is not the only family with an Easter making tradition. Italian families often create Easter crown bread, which has a whole egg braided into the top. Greek families make a similar bread with a red-dyed egg. Another pre-Easter, Lenten favorite bread is the sweet hot cross bun... but I'll reserve a whole post on that treat on Friday.

Easter crown bread with the pretty dyed egg, an Italian traditon

Source: theitaliandishblog.com via Lianne on Pinterest

At Easter, the association with making a special bread is that brea is, essentially, the staff of life. Bread is really eaten in honor of Jesus -- bread needs to rise, as did Jesus did on Easter. And let's not forget that eating bread crosses all cultures and classes. Over the centuries, most families, however poor, could afford to honor the Savior with a specially made bread during this spring holiday session.

Most cultures did their Easter bread baking during Holy Week, so it can be blessed at the church on Holy Saturday. Today, many bakeries have taken over the chore of Easter bread baking since families are busy and many mothers work.

Babka dough in pans, waiting to rise for the second time before baking

This week, my plan is to fit in a babka-making session. I can't leave that task to the bakery, since it could never be the same. It has to be homemade, just like my grandparents' tradition. Coincidentally, the bread is named for the Polish word for grandmother, and every time I think of it, I think of my own grandmother, whom I miss dearly, and I hope her memory lives on in this bread (and my stories and memories) for my own children. Maybe someday they will make babka for their own children.

Stopper Family Babka

Ingredients:

2 sticks margarine

8 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup warm water

4 eggs

4 packages dry yeast

1 tb. salt

2 tbs. orange juice

1 tb. vanilla extract

white or dark raisins

Directions:

In a sauce pan, heat margarine, sugar, salt and milk. Set aside to cool.

Beat eggs and add orange juice.

Dissolve yeast in warm water and add to flour when lukewarm. Add egg and orange juice and milk mixture to flour. Mix together to form dough.

Knead dough until it does not stick to fingers. Use a little flour on board if necessary.

Put dough in glass bowls to rise.

After dough rises once, punch down and put in greased and floured bread pans. Let rise again.

Bake at 325 to 350 degrees, depending on oven, for 35 to 45 minutes.

Our Easter Traditions

Do you have Easter traditions? I was just making lists and realized I have to schedule all the things we must do in the next week.

1. Make cookies.
I am a cookie baker. I like to make cookies because cookies are fun and forgiving -- meaning if you mess one up, it's OK -- unlike with a whole cake! I particularly love to make decorated cookies, and while my skills are not up to par with Martha Stewart, they still are sweet to me. Plus Big Girl enjoys decorating too, and I imagine some day the twins will join our icing party.

2. Bake babka.
My grandparents always made babka bread right before Easter, and it is synonymous with the holiday to me. Of course, I'm still trying to master this baking skill, but I want to make sure I carry on this culinary tradition for my own children. I'm hoping I have time to squeeze this baking time in to the week. (Stay tuned for more on babka later this week.)

3. Watch Easter shows and specials!
Sure, everyone watches the Christmas shows, but it's nice to pull out any holiday show around a holiday right? I have a few favorites. Here's a rundown:

Start things off with the Rankin-Bass 1970s stop-action classic Here Comes Peter Cottontail. This one isn't my absolute favorite, but it's worth one viewing per season.

Then check out the other Rankin-Bass classic, The Easter Bunny is Coming to Town. I like this one much better -- it's got a cute story and it addresses all the Easter traditions (and gives "stories" on how they might have started). It's set up just like "Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Here is a sample of it from YouTube, although please excuse the fact that all the writing is backward in this clip!  





Of course, no holiday is complete without a Peanuts episode: It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown is the Easter show for Snoopy fans. It's cute, it's quick, and it's a tradition.

We might have to add HOP to this year's viewing, since it just came out on DVD and it's one of the few Easter-themed feature films available.

Occassionally I might watch the Judy Garland/Fred Astaire flick Easter Parade if I have time -- I love watching old movies while I'm alone, either when the kids are napping or I'm watching TV by myself. I can't resist a 1940s flick!




Of course, there are many others, particularly those detailing Bible stores and the life of Jesus Christ. It's fun to create a holiday movie checklist, and I think it makes memories for the kids when you plan special treats -- jelly beans and popcorn, anyone? -- with their little movie marathon.

4. Dye eggs!
We always dye our Easter eggs on Good Friday. That's our own family tradition. (And we usually put on "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" while we color them!)

5. Church.
Big Girl and I have a tradition to go to church for the Easter vigil. She loves the fire, and the candles, and although it's long, it's nice to participate in the most important Mass of the Catholic year.

6. The Holiday!
Of course, Easter morning brings baskets and egg hunts and pretty clothes and a yummy dinner and time with family and friends.

This year, a new tradition starts! The family will be celebrating Easter at our house. I'm excited to start having the annual celebration here.

Do you have any Easter traditions?

Meatless Fridays and Faith

It's Friday, and I won't eat meat today.

It's not because I'm some Holy Roller or something. It's Lent, and that's my tradition. I'm Catholic and I will always be Catholic. Not a strict Catholic, but Catholic nonetheless.

Why do I even feel the need to clarify this? Religion is such a touchy subject, isn't it? I was raised Catholic, and have felt the constraint of its rigid rules often. I have thought, from time to time, about converting to another form of Christianity, about attending another church with another denomination. But I can't. It just doesn't feel right to me, for the most part, even thought I'm not crazy about the new Mass translation... And Whitney Houston's rousing "home-going" made me contemplate being a Baptist.

The Catholic Church is my home. To me, Mass is more comfortable than other Christian services. It is what I grew up experiencing; it is what most of my family still attends. I was married in a Catholic Church and I wanted my children to be baptized in the church, which they were, and now I am raising them as Catholics.




Big Girl reading during her Holy Communion Mass

Believe me, I have my share of disagreements with the Church, and I do sometimes fit the term "Cafeteria Catholic," meaning I pick and choose what I would like to follow and sometimes find fault with certain church beliefs. I'm not going to get into all my disagreements with the church here. But If I don't believe it all, you may wonder, why am I still a Catholic?
Because it's my home. It's my tradition. And it has always been my faith.

The Twins, Baptism Day 2010

I believe I know what God wants from me, and what is right and what is wrong. I don't push my faith on others, and I am a very firm believer in tolerance. I can't stand it when people allude that something is wrong with someone else's faith. There is a Muslim mosque being built near a major highway near my home, and I can't tell you the negativity that has been mentioned regarding that building.

Or how when the director of my daughter's religious education program greets boys wearing hats at the door of the school with that statement "Why are you wearing a hat? Take that off? You're not Jewish!" it makes me seethe in my soul and makes me want to scream out that Jesus was a Jew and a compassionate one at that so take it down a notch and find another way to tell a little boy that it's not good manners to wear a hat inside.

Or when a friend of mine made a comment about how Catholics adoring Mary was ridiculous made me want to walk out of her house because I found it completely offensive because Mary is an important figure in my religion.

Religion has always fascinated me, and I have always been drawn to find out more about traditions in all religions. Now, I'm not someone who is so politically correct to change the name of Christmas trees to holiday trees, but I also don't think wishing someone "Happy Holidays" is demeaning the "reason for the season" either, especially if you don't know his or her religious background.

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite series of books was "All of a Kind Family" by Sydney Taylor, about a Jewish family with many kids growing up in turn-of-the-century New York. It was fascinating to read about all the Jewish holidays and the fun traditions the family followed and it was so far removed from my Catholic upbringing, in a small town where I surrounded by mostly Catholics. I recently searched them out (some of them are out of print now :( unfortunately) and read them to my daughter. She loved them too. She liked so much we had a long discussion with our pediatrician, who just happens to be Jewish and wears a yarmulke.

(Funny story about our Jewish pediatrician and my daughter: When we read the Sydney Taylor books, the yarmulke came up. I explained to my daughter that a yarmulke is what her doctor wears, because he is Jewish. My daughter said "Wow! I didn't know that! I thought it was just a doctor's hat!")

Faith is faith is faith. (Of course, there are cults and wayward leaders, but that's a different discussion.) I believe that religion, whether Catholicism or not, can provide structure and morals and give children the same sense of "belonging" that I felt growing up. No-meat Fridays are my religious tradition and a part of my childhood, so I continue the ritual for my own family as much as I can. But I also place a great value on tolerance, and why we need to understand and respect other religions. Everyone is different, but that isn't something of which to be afraid, or to shun, or to put down.

So when I eat fish or cheese pizza or egg salad or whatever tonight, I will be honoring my family's tradition and my religion, but I will also remind my children that part of being a good, moral person of faith is being respectful and tolerant of others' beliefs too.