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Stringing
popcorn-cranberry chains. (12/21/20)
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Picking the perfect
kernels and berries for stringing. (12/21/20)
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Decorating the
shrubs out front with cheerful popcorn chains. (12/22/20)
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Wrapping presents
and baking cookies. (12/22/20)
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Lee's gingerbread
house has a telescope on top. (12/23/20)
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Lane's gingerbread
house is a cottage in the woods, surrounded by trees. (12/23/20)
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A whole village of
graham cracker gingerbread houses. (12/23/20)
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Curling ribbon is
tricky, but with a few tries, Lee had it figured out. (12/24/20)
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We went on a long,
rambling walk in the cold, over the hill behind our house, and found
some lovely murals. (12/24/20)
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These days, you have
to bring masks in your pockets, and put them on whenever walking past
anyone. (12/24/20)
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The traditional
Thanksgiving olive hand. Uh... wait... those are raspberries...
and this is Christmas Eve... (12/24/20)
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Waiting for the fire
to be ready for toasting s'mores. (12/24/20)
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Lee didn't know what
to write in a letter to Santa. Then they were struck with
inspiration: Cupid should come live with us, because nine
reindeer is an uneven number, so Santa's sleigh would fly better with
eight anyway. (12/24/20)
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"Give me a
reindeer! That's just common sense!" (12/24/20)
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As
such, Lane added a few lines to their letter, asking Santa to "please
give Lee a TOY reindeer so they won't be too disappointed when you
don't give them Cupid." (12/24/20)
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Peanut-butter-peppermint,
gingersnap, chocolate crackle, and pinwheel cookies. All made by
Lane. (12/24/20)
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A sillier reading of
The Night Before Christmas
than usual. (12/24/20)
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Anxious about
Christmas morning, Lee writes out a schedule. (12/24/20)
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Cupid didn't come
live with us, but Santa left notes saying that Kelly was very helpful
delivering presents and our new puppy, Avery, who we'll get in February
would be happy to pretend to be a reindeer. (12/25/20)
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Examining and being
amazed by all the little wonders -- Lane said the quality of the
chocolate was better this year. (12/25/20)
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Counting and
organizing everything. Simply reveling. (12/25/20)
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Lee is eager to
start opening presents after all of the adults' dilly-dallying.
(12/25/20)
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Outside of a dog, a
kid's best present is a book. (12/25/20)
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The uncertain smile
of a child who's been given several pounds of butter for
Christmas. Followed by the unbridled joy of a young baker who got
high quality frosting decorator tips. (12/25/20)
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New dolls and
plushies. (12/25/20)
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Lee saw this
split-wheel stunt car in a toy catalog months ago. It was the
first present we wrapped for them, and despite being in a
plainly-shaped, rectangular box, they somehow instantly knew what was
inside as soon as they picked it up. (12/25/20)
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"Who wouldn't want a
giant snake for Christmas?" Lane naively said, while watching The Nightmare Before Christmas two
months ago. (12/25/20)
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Captain Marvel vs.
the giant snake. (12/25/20)
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We went on a walk,
and Lee was worried that Captain Marvel would be scared. But she
did great. (12/25/20)
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Fortunately, Captain
Marvel and the giant snake seem like they'll be able to get along
overall, even though they started out fighting. (12/25/20)
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Trying out Trogdor! The Board Game, complete
with accompanying soundtrack of the instructions. (12/25/20)
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Trying out the
decorating tools with magnificent results. (12/25/20)
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Preparing the
perfect photograph of their confectionery art. (12/25/20)
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More beautiful and
delicious cupcakes! (12/26/20)
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Family
caroling. (12/27/20)
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"We all live in a cookie submarine!" (12/29/20)
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Lane finds their old hand-print on the mural at their old elementary school. (12/29/20)
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Lee shows us their plan for the giant graham cracker castle we're building. (12/29/20)
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Working on the castle together. (12/30/20)
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Lee takes a break from arduous construction work to play with Piper. (12/30/20)
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The glorious results. (12/30/20)
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Looking back on the year behind us. (12/31/20)
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We all smash the graham cracker castle on one... two... three! (12/31/20)
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We ring in the New Year with fireworks in London and Nagaoka. (12/31/20)
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