solstice celebration

So it's not the end of the world but it is the winter solstice. 

We've been reading solstice themed books and stories this week and finally the day is here. Since we learned about structures that showcase the winter sun in the Shortest Day we checked out the goings-on at Newgrange, Stonehenge and Knockroe.

For our own celebration we made aromatic pomanders from cloves and oranges and a special solstice stew which we ate by the light of our super duper yule candle (for lack of anywhere to burn a yule log indoors).

Medium was extremely disappointed that even though winter is here, we won't be snowed in like Little Bear in the solstice episode. It's not easy to explain to such tiny people why it's still a balmy 75 degrees in December when it's supposed to snow in winter so I'll have to find out if it ever snows far enough down Mauna Kea for us to take him. Luckily, I believe Uncle Christopher is just the man to ask. (Here I'm realizing for the first time that these boys have three Uncle Christophers...and Large has one on his mom's side too!) At least kids are easily distracted because this it what his face looked like all throughout dinner:

We had planned to end the evening outside with the telescope and some spiced tea but the weather was uncooperative. Instead, we put our feet up in front of our Hawaiian-style fireplace (thank you Netflix!) and took turns reading the Hobbit.