Christmas

We headed to Fresno to spend Christmas with my parents. The kids had a great time spending quality time with Baba and Papa. Our family tradition is to allow the kiddos to open a present on Christmas Eve. Each year I get them a pair of p.j's and a new book. Here are Zoe and Noah posing in their new Christmas jammies in front of Baba's tree. Will I ever get a with both of them looking at the camera?

Christmas Cookie Monster

Ready to Bake

Mmmm...making cookies is GREAT!

I think I should eat a little more!

Oh, this is how it's done.

So proud of her snowflake cookie

Just a little bit frustrated...the dough wasn't cooperating.

Let me try

Is there anymore cookie dough?

Yummy!

The top left tree is the cookie Noah did by himself.

As you can see the sprinkles container hit the tree a couple of times.

Zoe has been begging me to make sugar cookies for at least a month. I kept putting it off and saying we would do it while I was on vacation. Apparently I'm in denial that I have to go back to work TOMORROW, because I just got around to making cookies with the kids yesterday. How can it be that winter break is already over!!

Now, Zoe knows the process of making roll out cookies. We've done it many times in the past few years. Noah on the other hand, took making sugar cookies to a whole new level.

I sat each of them down at opposite ends of the table. I floured the surface in front of each of them and gave them each a small ball of dough and a rolling pin. I guess I failed to mention the actual process of making sugar cookies. So, in Noah's mind, making cookies meant we were eating cookies right then and there. I turned for one moment to help Zoe get started, and he had consumed about half of the raw cookie dough. (Not to worry folks no eggs were in the dough) He finally got the gist, but I honestly think he ate at least 3 cookies worth in dough.

In the end it was one of the more entertaining cookie making moments...never a dull moment with the Macknicki kiddos.

First Snow!

Ok, so it's actually the 2nd snow of the year, but the first snow of the year was really very uneventful. Although we only got about 2 inches yesterday, it was the perfect snow for making a snowman. Zoe and Daddy played outside in the snow for hours yesterday. They made a snowman together and Zoe even "snowboarded" a bit. They had a great day. I spent most of the time in the house with Noah. He kept asking to go outside, but every time we got out there something made him cry and he was ready to come back inside. Noah did manage to ride the "snowboard" like a sled a few times and loved it. In fact, every time his sled ride was over he would shout AGAIN, AGAIN! Overall, it was a very fun day!

Tubtime Duo

Bath time is always a favorite for the little Macknickis. Here are a few shots from last night's bath. It's amazing how fun empty bottles can be!

A Family Tradition

Getting Ready for the Parade

Couldn't get Noah to stand still

so this is the best picture I have of him from the evening

Zoe and Daddy enjoying the lights

Hard to see, but this was the best vehicle by far!

Every year, our family enjoys the Trucker Parade in Eureka. It's another classic Humboldt County event. Local businesses decorate their trucks with Christmas lights and parade through the streets playing jingle bells on their horns. It's super hokey but always VERY entertaining!

On the Hunt!

This year's "perfect" tree

Zoe helping Daddy cut down the tree

Yesterday we went to Ben Hurd's Christmas Tree Farm to search for this year's perfect Christmas tree. Let me start by explaining that Ben Hurd's farm is a bit of a hidden gem in Humboldt County. It is owned and operated by an older couple who basically have a tree farm surrounding their home. You walk around their property in search for the perfect tree. The only stipulation is that the tree must be taller than 5 feet (ours is about 9 ft. this year). Once you find your perfect tree you flag it and cut it down.

When we arrived we were invited to have some BBQ lunch...for free. Ben Hurd and his family also offer everyone hot cider, hot chocolate, and homemade cookies. They literally serve the cookies and drinks from their kitchen. They give tractor rides through the Christmas tree farm and there's even a tire swing for the kids.

Finally, once you've cut down your "perfect tree", they take a picture of you and your family in front of your tree and print it out for you...also free of charge. It's quite the family experience, and just another example of why we love living in Humboldt County!

Cornhusk Dolls

In preparation of Thanksgiving, Zoe and I spent the evening making and decorating cornhusk dolls. As you can see, each doll is even accessorized with a basket. The baskets contain "plates" made out of buttons and "berries" made out of beads. It was a great Mommy & Zoe activity.