Dear Addie,
The school holiday party is complete, so let Christmas break begin!
It's no secret the Christmas season is my all-time fav; I mean, our trees (yes, there's an "s" as in multiples) go up on Halloween – don't worry, the outside is still super spooktacular, but the inside feels like someone gave your soul a hug and some cocoa, just saying. Now, if anything compliments that cozy Christmas feeling to perfection in my book, it would be family and laughter, which brings me to this week.
Every year when you all finish school, I try to create some family togetherness & laughter via a game or a recipe (remember the epic fail at making macaroons? We still laugh about those disastrous blobs today), just something memorable.
The activity is usually silly and straightforward, although macaroons are far from simple. I think it's safe to say baking may not be a solid career choice for anyone in our family. But I digress. This year, I created the prize tree! Bring on the solo cups and tissue paper – mamas got a game idea!
Each of you had a solo cup-shaped tree with various prizes inside. Starting six days before Christmas, each day, you were given a Christmas riddle to solve (your questions were a little different than those of your siblings, and if it was right, you could pick any cup on your tree to get your prize! Clara and Gabe were all in – who says teenagers don't like games and prizes? They even gave their best Narwhal voice in answering day three's riddle. On the other hand, you couldn't be bothered with any of it until today (3 days in) when you realized candy was in your cups. Allow me to explain.
I realized Clara and Gabe had answered their riddle and picked a prize before you came down for the day, so you had not seen the game in action. Today, I decided to ask you a Christmas question as you were having some coloring time, one I knew you would know, so I could show you how to claim your prize!
"Addie, what's Santa's name.. Santa -----????"
You shouted without hesitation, "Santa Clause!" But you still didn't know why I asked you until I busted open a cup and pulled out a Reeses PB cup. Your eyes grew as big as saucers, and you could see it clicked, and that tree wasn't just for decoration. You immediately went to bust out another cup before I politely stopped you and said, "Question first, then prize," just like that, another moment of growth was evident as you calmly went back to sit down to wait for a question. Just last year, I promise you that would have never happened, especially with such a yummy treat, but here you were playing the game!
I gave you one more question, you got your prize, and then I told you we could play again, and once again, there was just acceptance of the rules.
Addie, we again saw so much growth from you this week as we started our Christmas game. It took you a minute to figure it out, but you got it, and smiles were had by all!
So proud of you baby girl - enjoy your treats! You've earned them!