Jack with time on his hands ...

What will an eight year old boy do while on break from school do with his time ...

***I especially loved the fact that he got out his spy glasses with the lights to put them on under his pillow-head. His creativity is continuing to come out in little bits that are usually very surprising to me and make me smile yet again at him! Here is to creativity and a two week and two day break from the normal school routine.***

Gingerbread houses round #2 ...

After making his second gingerbread house of the season, Jack told me that he REALLY REALLY likes making these houses!

Molly is fun to watch as she concentrates so very hard at making her houses. Her house ended up with a "sidewalk" of icing adorned with red hots that is so very creative and what I thought was the best part of her house.

The final houses "lined" up on Parker Lane. Oh I just remembered something ... these are gingerbread CHURCHES! The friend that made them for us and hosted the party made churches and not houses. The kids thought it was so very cool!

Random car pictures ...

These are our pictures on our way to get the Christmas tree this year. I decided that a couple of pictures snapped while driving there would be fun. Enjoy!

The wreath I made ...

A friend of mine bought a wreath maker this year, so I went to her house and made our door wreath this year. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! and free. I can't wait to do it again next year. (Don't you love the blue berries that I used in there for some fun unexpected color!)

Christmas pictures ...

This year I decided not to torture the family by trying to get a family picture by the tree to use as our Christmas card ... last year was way too much for me! Besides, Kyle has been out of town for almost a week so our chances of capturing one have been a bit limited. I did, however, capture a quick picture of Molly a couple of weeks ago right after church. I had the camera there because a friend's son was being baptized and she wanted me to take pictures. Molly, usually, does not mind posing for pictures right now! I got a couple of really good ones.

So long story to say ... isn't she adorable! and so grown up!

Gingerbread houses ...

Jack's gingerbread house ...

Molly's gingerbread house ...

Yesterday was Jack's class holiday party at school. Instead of the usual stations, one of his teacher's daughter, who is an architect student, came in and gave a little "lesson" about making models, drawing building, perspective, etc. Then the kids got to do a little drawing of a house with a christmas tree, then they got the surprise that they got to make their own gingerbread house. They loved it and were really into it all. It was great! Molly got to tag along with me and make her own. Jack's house did fall apart on the way home, but he did not care - it was a little faulty in its construction to begin with! Molly's is very well built and a little more organized. I smile and laugh a little inside to see the differences between the kids in this "project" - don't you!