Christmas Around the World: Ecuador

I have been happy to feature several South American countries during this month, but it unfortunately always initiates an enthusiastic round of "Feliz Navidad" from my children. Today we focused on Ecuador and the kids learned of the great pride the Ecuadorians take in their nativity scenes.

Christmas Around the World: India

This is probably my worst costume to date. I posted the picture on instagram and one of my friends commented: "Master Splinter?!" Touche. I will give myself credit that after spending a summer in Nepal I know the proper way of putting on a sari. I have no defense as to why I put it on a (male) stuffed mouse.

Christmas Around the World: Norway

Norway (and Sweden) is home to Monty's favorite Christmas cookie - pepperkaker! The girls start asking around Halloween when we'll be making Pepperkaker.

Christmas Around the World: Netherlands

St. Nicholas Day is December 6th. In the Netherlands, they celebrate by putting out wooden shoes with a gift for Sinterklaas and a carrot from his horse.

Christmas Around the World: Australia

Merry Christmas from the land down under, where Christmas falls in the middle of summer holidays. The girls found Monty soaking up some rays. 

Christmas Around the World: Ghana

Did you know the official language of Ghana is English? So, Merry Christmas! Today the kiddos learned that Ghana is a grower of cocoa. 

Christmas Around the World: Germany!

Frohe Weihnachten! Our first stop around the world was Germany! My grandfather's side of the family was German, so many of the German traditions just feel "right" to me. Here is what Monty had to tell the girls about Christmas in Germany...

Christmas Around the World with our Christmas Mouse!

It's December 1st which means our beloved Christmas Mouse has returned! (For those of you unfamiliar with the Christmas Mouse - an elf on the shelf alternative - you can view my original post here.)

Montgomery, our mouse, travels throughout the year and send the girls pictures, pins, and information about the places he visits. This last year he toured Europe.

The Christmas Mouse: An Elf on the Shelf Alternative

 

We don't "do" Santa at our house. (Jen Hatmaker sums up how I feel about Santa, probably better than I could.) So when the Elf on the Shelf became popular, I ignored it as an option for our family. What I wasn't expecting was that every one of my daughter's friends would have a family elf, and that those elves' antics were the daily talk on the playground. And I'll admit it, I was also getting a little jealous of what fun those families were having. Thus the Christmas Mouse was born!

First Day of School!

My baby started kindergarten today! Our city does full-day kindergarten, so it's going to be quite the adjustment for everyone. We both managed not to cry at drop-off, but we gave each other some pretty watery smiles. I was so proud of how brave she tried to be. What a difference a few years make!