Today we revieewed the Chanukah story, then played the dreidel game.  For lunch, we had Star of David breadsticks and THE ABSOLUTE BEST Potato Latkes I've ever made.  The dc have never been crazy about these, but I got a new recipe this year - authentic from Russia according to the website.  And instead of the applesauce we usually coat them with, we tried the suggested sour cream on top.  Except I added a sprinkling of brown sugar as well.  Oh, MY!! MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmMMMMMMM!!!

Then we made a menorah out of cut-down wrapping paper tubes.  Each regular "candle" is about 5" tall and the center Shammash is 8".  Every child got to decorate at least one, and my artsy Butterfly (10) made the extras (8 total).  Some dc wrapped theirs in wrapping paper, some painted and some left it plain but all used seasonal stickers to dress them up.  We wadded up aluminum foil to put in the bottom of each so it would stand up.  Then I covered a piece of cardboard with foil and placed them on it in a row with the big one in the middle.  We'll stuff a bit of yellow or orange tissue paper in the Shammash and in one "candle" each night of Chanukah!

 We decided to open their gifts to each other one per night (so 5 there), then I'll give them each a small gift or candy each of the other 3 nights.  We've never gifted over Chanukah before, but we do like to spread out the gift opening so that it is not overwhelming.  This fits right in!

One more week, then I need to gear up for our annual HUGE New Year's Eve bash!

Peace!

Katie

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