He's a jolly happy soul.

Claire wanted a Christmas dress for her Christmas program today at school. I've been working on this smocking plate off and on for a little while now. This was just what I needed to get it done!The material was salvaged from a jumper dress I had made for myself when I was teaching. I had several with different fun fabrics. This is the last one that I've cut down to make into a dress for my girls. The fabric is a perfect match for the smocking plate!
Here's a close up. I'm sad to report that later in the day after this photo was taken, Claire got ketchup on the O in the first "ho". I hope it will come out, but if it doesn't then I won't be able to enter it in the fair. The risk of letting the item be worn in between fairs!

Edited to add: The ketchup stain came out! Don't worry, I'll let Claire wear this dress as much as she wants, even if it means it can't be entered in the fair. I just always hope it will stay nice so that I can enter it in the fair!

Ben finally gets to visit the Washington Monument.

It was very cold day,

but Ben's dream of going up into the Washington Monument finally came true.
Macy didn't want to go into the monument, so I stayed outside with her and Kate.
While we were waiting for the others, a bunch of wandering Santas, reindeer and elves came for a visit.

Macy got her picture taken with Santa when she discovered they were giving out free candy canes. I know, I didn't know them from Adam, but I let her eat the candy cane. It was wrapped well and she's okay.

Kate chose to wait while leaning on these marble benches. I'm sure this would be pleasant on a hot summer day when something cool like marble would feel good, but this was not a hot summer day. It was COLD.

Did I mention it was cold? There weren't a lot of people out and about. We always know how to pick those less crowded days. We live for those less crowded days, because lets face it, we are a crowd.
While we were down on the mall, we visited a few museums. Ben wanted a picture of this dinosaur.
Macy and Eleanor wanted this picture of a Shark's jaw.
Claire and Kate wanted their picture taken in front of this penguin.

All in all it was a good, but cold, day.

I couldn't help myself

Ben is going to be so mad when he sees that I've done it again. Done what? Just see for yourself!

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