What To Do With Your Children ...

... during all of those days starting next week when they are home from school for Christmas vacation.* - buy a bottle of this and spend a few minutes making this. In a couple days the kids will have a real treat. - or make this. I think making root beer and cream soda would simply delight your children. I know it makes mine excited. BTW, the Zatarain's is the most popular and the least expensive extract I have been able to find. You might even get creative and try your hand at your own gingerale. If that is not enough to keep them entertained and busy maybe you can look through the listings here and choose something (since they are beginning to clearance out many things) and let the kids make ornaments and include them as part of the gift and wrapping decoration for grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and family friends. There is also the old tried and true salt dough and cookie cutters to make and bake ornaments. Kids need to be busy not sitting in front of the TV on long cold days. You have time to get some plans together and do fun stuff with them in the coming week. Remember to be patient with them and don't take the crafts or fun time away from them as discipline. And don't get upset if/when they make a mess, spill glue, or get glitter over every surface. Smile. Santa is watching you too. *No, it is not Winter Break. It is the observance of Christs birthday. I refuse to be politically correct. No offense to all who are not christian. ***** In other news- - We attended a party celebrating a friend's graduation from Howard University. - We will be attending a holiday open house next weekend. - I purchased a beautiful black and crimson outfit to wear to Steve's after the holidays work party - casino night in a swanky D.C. hotel. - I made some new decorations out of old stuff. I know some of you think I go overboard with the decoration and celebration of Christmas. I happen to think there is never enough celebration in observing the birth of Christ, my Lord and Savior. As far as the decorations, I have 20+ years of collecting and making decorations. I happen to like every piece I have. Some of my ornaments on the trees are things my kids made in kindergarden. Some we have collected from places we visit. Some are very expensive. Some I bought while visiting other countries. Some are from times when we had little of nothing and no money for much of anything. I promise you we won't be winning no tacky light awards. I prefer elegant and understated. I had planned on showing you photos to go along with this post but my camera has low batteries and I can't get the photos downloaded right now. I also have a whiney cry baby who won't let me type any longer.