donuts, kisses, gingerbread houses and more.

Duck Donuts (a popular donut shop that originated at the Outer Banks) just opened up 15 minutes from our house. Hot and made to order. Yum.

 Simon had fun sneaking into this bag of kisses one night.

 Captured this hilarious moment...after I took the photo I realized he had squatted down to take care of some...business.

 Mesmerized by the Swedish angel chimes. 

Ben had a few late nights building these doll bunk beds for Amelia and Elsa. They turned out so well. I stayed up late with him one night to help make the mattresses. 

  Decorating the gingerbread house.

gingerbread house.

We decorated a gingerbread house one night. As usual, the girls were really into the design and placement of candy. Simon really wanted to be in on the action. Oliver really did not want Simon to be in on the action.

gingerbread + sprinkles

We decorated a gingerbread house one night. Oliver shoved candy in his mouth as fast as he could while his sisters screamed in horror/anger.

We had some friends over one night to make sugar cookies which was super fun. Sprinklemania!! I loved watching the kids cover every last bit of frosting with piles of sprinkles. Clearly the best way to decorate a cookie. Oliver loved shoveling sprinkles into his mouth straight from the container. I need to remember not to get the tiny bead sprinkles next time. Those things bounce and roll everywhere. I'm still finding them when I sweep.

gingerbread + getting cozy by the fire

We've been having fun with our daily Christmas activities from our stocking advent. Amelia has made it clear that no matter how many advents I add, she will never fall behind with the daily advent duties.

A few activities from the last week: decorating a gingerbread house, watching Christmas movies, reading Christmas books by the fire (using our makeshift YouTube fireplace), having hot chocolate, and making secret elf assignments (we each draw a name and secretly do nice things for that person during the week).

The kids were mesmerized by the TV fireplace.