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the house is waiting for Christmas to really start.
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is our tree here?
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Lauren helped cut it!
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The walk back always seems steeper than the hike up!
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a perfect fit! We didn't need to add or subtract branches.
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the fallen branches we gathered as we hiked down decorate the kitchen--an addition this year is a string of lights.
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time to make a tart.
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Lauren cut the apples, Amy rolled the crust, Jesse read the comics.
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...and showed Lauren the best ones!
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Lauren is wearing the Frida Kahlo apron Kristy Arroyo gave me.
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Jesse and Lauren brought us Woodland lemons and tangerines.
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what shall we add to the gingerbread creche this year? A big space in the middle needs filling.
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With hot cider to warm us, a Chinese restaurant starts to materialize.
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They both worked so meticulously!
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Almost ready to bake--she added #1 to the sign after Tom took this photo.
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Jesse's fire breathing dragon to grace the restaurant's side wall.
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such fun!
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Amy made the roof, Claudette made cookies to take home.
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a fine minestrone soup on the stove, and Budders hoping for crumbs to fall.
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Anyone need pecorino romano cheese?
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The finished Chinese restaurant joins the Creche! On one of the sides you can't see Lauren wrote "Hablamos Yiddish" On the other Jesse put the chinese characters for Chinese food!
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decoration break
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Such a peaceful moment.
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was I listening to rain on the skylight, or just heaving a sigh of contentment?
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I was so touched when Jesse asked if I was ready to lie under the tree.--a tradition from childhood.
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It took a bit of coaxing to get Lauren to join us.
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Then Tom climbed in and it went from ethereal to hilarious.
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Santa came!
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I was in charge of the Christmas morning bacon, Lauren and Jesse, the eggs.
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of course fresh squoze oj in christmas glasses.
