The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

Christmas 2010: Here are the many holiday happenings that are fast becoming family traditions.

1. The Nutcracker: Natalie, Romy and Mommy saw the most beautiful dancing (Natalie's "ballalet" teacher, Miss Emmy was even in it, as well as her friends Kendra and Lexy). She really enjoyed it, although it took her a while to get used to watching something with no singing or dialougue. The kind people in front of her got an ear full of endless loud whispered questions "Mom, where did the mice go? Is the mouse dead? Did they take him to jail? What's her name? Is that a princess? Where are they going? Why is there smoke? Can I have some gum?" and so on and so on. Afterward, she couldn't stop talking about it and said someday she wanted to be in the Nutcracker. Better keep up those ballalet classes!
2. Christmas Tree: For the first time this year, I had help with decorating the Christmas tree. Natalie would squeal every time she lifted an ornament out of the box "Oooh, this is a pretty one". And she thoughtfully grouped all of the like ornaments together. For example, the angel ornaments all had to go together because they are a family of course. There is a mommy angel, a sister angel, a grandma angel, etc.) Same with the snowmen. It turned out pretty!

   

   O Christmas Tree! Most of the ornaments are on the top 2/3 of the tree because little boy hands seem to pull them off!
   
   

   3. Santa: I've already posted the Santa picture. A classic keeper! And just for fun, here's a little video of Jameson dancing and playing while we patiently waited for Santa to become available...

   
   

   
   

   
   

   4. Christmas Light Tour: We drove to Eagle Crest Resort to look at the pretty light display. I think Natalie liked riding in the front seat on Daddy's lap more than the actual lights, but she ooohed and ahhhed a lot.

   
   

   5. Holiday Brunch: The kids and I hosted a holiday brunch for mommies and kids. We had 10 adults and 10 kids, aged 7 to 12 weeks. It was very fun!

Ivan, Natalie, Dominick, Nolan, ,Cecilia and Owen watching "Frosty the Snowman"

6. Gingerbread House Construction: Mommy got smart this year and used her trusty hot glue gun to keep the house together. Natalie and I had a lot of fun decorating (and eating) and it turned out pretty darn cute. I told her that by the time she's 10, we can start entering gingerbread house building competitions! 

7. Elf on the Shelf: A new addition to our family this year. Snookie (Natalie came up with the name) watches over the children and each night reports back to Santa and hides in a different place each morning. I wish I could say his presence has improved the kids' behavior, but maybe next year. Naughty or nice? Snookie knows...

"Snookie", our Christmas Elf on the Shelf

Only 6 more days...