Christmas Time

Christmas was a very busy time these past few days. On Christmas eve we finished decorating the gingerbread cookies that we had started a few days before.

Gina also busied herself with creating an appropriate place for Santa to visit. She covered a box with a tablecloth, put out a plate for cookies, as well as an apple, a book of poems, a Sudoku puzzle with a pen in case Santa needed a break from present delivery, some incense and a cup of milk. The extra cup is from Dylan. It was quite an elaborate set up.

Later in the afternoon, Nana and I took the kids to Christmas Eve mass for the children's mass which always includes a short live action recreation of the Christmas story. For once we arrived early enough to get a decent seat. Usually we are far in the back with the kids constantly clamoring that they can't see. Gina and Andrew both sat quietly the whole time while Dylan fell asleep in my lap half way through. After, it was back to the house for a crab dinner, Gina's favorite. The boys instead requested grilled cheese sandwiches.

Vic and I were up for a while assembling and wrapping presents.

It seemed really early when the kids came bounding in at 7am. We held them off for a while with their stocking gifts but then they were anxious to get the big presents. Gina was very excited about her Webkinz animals. Here she is with Chocolate the Reindeer. She also got a yellow Zumbuddy which is a pet for the webkinz animals.

Gina also received a blanket in a bag, something she had seen in Old Navy a month ago. I had warned her that it looked like the stores were sold out, but I happened to go to one of the stores when I was out one night and found one!

Andrew of course got Legos. He had requested a Lego Power Miner set.

and Dylan got a scooter, though his head is too big for the helmet that I got to go with it. So he has been having fun riding it indoors. He could use Andrew's helmet but I think he is enjoying zipping around the house first.

After a fairly quiet afternoon, Alice and Steve came over for dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, and roasted brussel sprouts. I also made lemon bars for dessert. Then it was time for round 2 of present opening.

Andrew got Legos and then more Legos... Happiness is a 5 year old with 5 new boxes of Legos.


The kids also got a digital camera from Alice since she had received a new one for her birthday. All three, but especially Dylan, have been having a ball taking pictures of everything and anything.

Gina also received a kids version of the first part of the Odyssey. She finished it in a day and has been telling us all about the adventures of Odysseus. Now she can't wait to read the second part.

Overall it has been a very fun Christmas.

Christmas Tree

Every year we seem to wait until the last week before Christmas to get our tree and this year was no different. We went on Sunday to pick it out. Gina found a tree that was fairly short and skinny; she insisted that we get it. After looking at a few bushier ones, we also agreed that smaller might fit better in the corner space of the living room.

It took another day to get it up with the lights on, but once it was ready, the kids were excited to decorate it. I got to sit back and hand out the ornaments while they put the ornaments on the tree. I did rearrange a few to the top afterward. They remembered a few from last year and it was fun telling them about some of the ornaments I had inherited from my grandmother.

Andrew's Dance Class

Andrew loves to dance. One time we were at a restaurant and there was some jazz music playing. He could not sit down, instead he was up dancing next to our table. A parent at the kids school started a hip hop class for the kids and I talked Andrew into trying. He seems to like it when he is in class and he always says he has a good time right afterwards, but just before class he complains that he doesn't want to go. There are six boys in the class and several other moms tell the same story.

Today there was a short demo of what the kids have been learning. It was fun to watch Andrew ham it up in class.

Rainy Night Concert

Tonight the kids had their last holiday concert. This one was outside. It had rained lightly all afternoon but for the concert, it stopped. The kids were bundled up for the cold but it wasn't too bad. I tried to get a final video of Gina starting off Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer as well as the rest of the song. I got it and you can see both Gina and Andrew in the picture though there is a lot of background noise from the traffic in the street.

Holiday Concert

Today Gina and Andrew had a choir concert. Gina participated in this choir last year and really enjoyed it. Andrew also seemed interested and was willing to give it a try. There were weeks he was reluctant to go but afterward, he always said it was fun. A week before the performance he was very unsure that he wanted to sing in front of so many people, but with the promise of a Bionicle lego kit, he was ready for the challenge. After the last practice, their teacher Juliette told me not to expect too much from Andrew as he tends to be very quiet and hide behind Gina. For the performance though he did great. There were certainly times he seemed to more mouthing the words than singing, but he did sing and participate. It was fun to watch.

The big surprise was Gina. Towards the end of the performance she got up the microphone by herself and started singing the beginning of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. It was something they put together at the very last practice. Juliette asked if anyone knew the words, and only Gina volunteered. I was definitely proud that she had decided to it, though she was very shy about it afterward.

Gina's Hair

I love Gina's hair. It is thick and wavy and it gets very curly when wet. Because it is so thick, it also tangles very easily and there have been many tears over getting it brushed. Putting it in a braid at night has helped eliminate most of the morning tears. Gina of course would love to have fine, straight hair. Usually she insists on having it in a braid or pony tail, but occasionally she lets it fly free.
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