...Christmas is coming

Hey Everyone,...guess, everyone must be settling down from the Thanksgiving holidays and starting to get ready for the Christmas festivities and year ending parties. Don't we all love this season!! As most people in the US, I was looking forward for this long weekend, not for Retail therapy [Black friday et al], but for having a good relaxing time with family and friends. This year's holidays was a little different...with my cousin Ashu's anniversary on Nov 29th, Ashu and her hubby decided to fly to New York and spend the long weekend in the Big Apple...I call it, their romantic rendezvous... And moi, the doting aunt babysat her two kiddos...Sahana, a three year old going on thirty and Sanjiv, a Dragonoid and Beyblade loving, creative and imaginative six year old. What followed was 3 days of bonding, cartoon watching and creative fun time. The kids made some Christmas gifts for their school teachers and for their Ajji [grandmother] in Bangalore...bringing in the holiday spirit into the weekend. Sharing the fun times and the gifts made by the kids...

- Supplies picked up at Michaels, the local craft store... - Wooden boxes to paint and decorate...

-Next Sahana painted a pink box for her Leela Ajji and an orange box for Miss Stacy. Pink, because it is a Princess color and Orange because, it is bright and fun!...And yes, Sahana glued jewels on the inside, as the boxes had to be pretty pretty [translated as BLING...BLING] on the inside as much as outside...

- And Sanju created the red jewelry boxes for Miss Caryn and Miss Anna for keeping safe their beautiful earrings and necklaces... - and an elegant centerpiece for Mr. Josh...a striking addition on his table, or on the mantle...well I managed the Mr Gluegun, while Sanju arranged the leaves, the acorns and the berries... - and yes, the kids also decorated the Christmas tree with ornaments collected lovingly by their mama, over the last couple of years...

Also linking into these awesome blog parties. ...You can imagine, the pleasant surprise that awaited Ashu and Ravi, when they were got back home!...Yes of course, the parents loved the gifts and decorated tree!!... I had read somewhere, that the season is made magical with candlelight, sparkling ornaments and gifts being shared amongst family and friends...Gifts that tell a story beyond just the gift itself. This year is special, as my darling neice and nephew started a tradition of making gifts and spreading joy everywhere...Leela Ajji, Miss Caryn, Miss Anna, Miss Stacy and Mr Josh - hope you all enjoy the gifts, ....and my dear friends, hope you enjoyed the post...

- Anpu Somanath