Reston Mom

Snowy Day

I thought I'd  share some snow pics of our family, particularly, because until now it hasn't felt much like winter around here which made the first snow much anticipated and worth celebrating. So much so that while it was still coming down on the evening it started, we loaded up the girls in their wagon and went for a walk through the neighborhood. The only problem was that while Maddie leaned back and opened her mouth to catch the falling flakes, Hope was ridiculously scared of them getting into her eyes. So, despite a hat with protective brim, she rode the entire way with her eyes covered.  

 

I thought I'd  share some snow pics of our family, particularly, because until now it hasn't felt much like winter around here which made the first snow much anticipated and worth celebrating. So much so that while it was still coming down on the evening it started, we loaded up the girls in their wagon and went for a walk through the neighborhood. The only problem was that while Maddie leaned back and opened her mouth to catch the falling flakes, Hope was ridiculously scared of them getting into her eyes. So, despite a hat with protective brim, she rode the entire way with her eyes covered.  

Christmas at the farm

Recently we had a few unseasonably warm days - reaching up to 70 degrees, so we decided to take advantage of a beautiful day and head outside. We grabbed the wagon and headed to the farm for a picnic. I have to admit, it felt a little bit more like Spring than December as I walked along wearing a sleeveless shirt and we petted the new baby calves. My idea of the perfect Christmas includes white stuff falling from the sky more than rays of sunshine, but I had to be grateful for a lovely time with the fam.

Virginia weather varies like that from year to year. Last year, when I brought Maddie home from the hospital on Dec. 15, the ground had been white for a couple of days and it was snowing as we drove. The same day this year, the temperature was quite above average making it more difficult to feel the arrival of Christmas. Alas, it won't be a white one this year - but there is still plenty of time left in the season for snow angels and sledding.

Little Swedish Girl

December 13th ranks high in our household as my eldest daughter's birthday. Interestingly, it also links Hope to her Swedish roots (my husband's mother's family is Swedish). December 13th is traditionally one of the most celebrated days of the Swedish calendar. It is St. Lucia day, the opening day of the Christmas season. 

The story of Lucia has many different versions, but she is always a symbol of light amid the darkest part of the year. A popular legend surrounding her tells of her bringing food to people, who were dying of hunger during a famine, wearing a wreath crowned with lighted candles in her hair to light the way. 

The day is celebrated with the lighting of candles to bear light against the darkness. Traditionally, an eldest daughter of a family dresses as St. Lucia, while siblings dress as "attendants" and "starboys" (associated with the three wise men). The children awaken their parents the morning of Dec.13 and offer them coffee, lussekatter (saffron Lucia buns) and pepparkakor (ginger snaps). Last year, I spent this day in the hospital after the birth of Maddie (Dec. 12). Now a fond and adorable memory, Hope's grandmothers brought her to the hospital dressed as St. Lucia and offering my husband and me cinnamon buns (in place of lussekatter). 

There is a gre
at children's book called Lucia Morning in Sweden by Ewa Rydaker which includes recipes for pepparkakor and lussekatter, the St. Lucia song in swedish and english, and patterns for making the costumes, and a synopsis of St. Lucia's legend along with the colorfully illustrated story.