Christmas Joy

All lit up outside - looks great, Derek!

Waiting to open presents on Christmas Eve

Daddy said to wait on the stairs

Cookin' up something great!

A beautiful Christmas Day to test out the new BIKE!

We have had such a wonderful Christmas with our little family. It's been a hectic couple of months leading up to it, with our fair share of ups and downs. We feel so lucky to have our happy little family, healthy and happy here in Virginia. I think Derek and I have been more excited for this Christmas than ever before, knowing the ages of our kids and how they would react on Christmas morning. I feel like I had played it in my head over and over for the last few weeks. Tate has been so excited this year - knowing exactly what it meant that Santa would be coming and trying so hard to be good, and running down to find Harrison the elf every morning. Avarie could only mimick Tate's excitement since she had no idea what all this Santa, Christmas, present stuff was. (Nevermind she's been with me while I've done almost all the shopping. Guess this is the last year for that, huh?) So, we knew that they would both be thrilled Christmas morning.

It was everything we hoped for and I think Derek and I sat there for over an hour just watching them before Tate turned around and asked if we were ever going to open our presents too. So, here's some pictures of Christmas morning . . . happy kids, happy mom and dad!

Hope you all had a magical and Merry Christmas with your families too!!!

Tra La La ~ Tate's Holiday Performance

Tate has gone to the same preschool for 3 years now, and loves the weekly music jamboree. All the teachers chuckle at Tate singing away each week. Last year we were in Colorado and missed the Christmas performance, so this year the teachers let me know in September to plan my travel accordingly - that the date was set for December 16th. Well, we aren't travelling this year and were priveleged enough to be entertained by the Woodlake Preschool in holiday song yesterday. Derek, Avarie, Mary and I were there to enjoy their smiling faces and happy voices. I wish I had more video to share but it didn't come out too great. What I do have is a bit shaky from me giggling at my son.

Take a look

Oh man! As a teacher/mom, I know I'm in trouble! He is my paybacks for sure, because I have heard stories about me at preschool and elementary school programs. I missed the warm up to the song because I was having a moment of inappropriate laughter - him feeling his throat, wiggling his arms, and dancing as he prepared for his peformance.

Getting that holiday feeling

We are still learning the ins and outs of seasonal events in Richmond. The first year we went on the Tacky Lights Tour - yes, Richmond is the CAPITAL of tacky Christmas lights and we took a tour bus all over town to see some amazing displays.
This year I asked around for other events and found a Santa brunch at Maggiano's. What could be better - yummy breakfast food and a chance to see Santa? It was early, and very cold, but we had a great time. I was hoping to get a picture for the Christmas card, but Avarie had other ideas.

Tate was thrilled with all the characters that came to the table to visit. There was a Raggedy Ann and Andy which Avarie loved but wouldn't dare pose for a picture. There were two elves that Tate was quite happy with even though he thought they were a little large for Santa's workshop.

And, of course SANTA!!! We were shocked that Avarie was willing to let Santa hold her for a picture. We think it's because she really wants some dolls so she doesn't have to play Batman with Tate any more. So, she thought she had better cuddle up!

So, that was breakfast on Saturday. We came home for a nap, and daddy put up some Christmas lights outside. YAY!!! We had to go back to Lowe's for more lights, so I thought I would try again to get a Christmas picture. Avarie still wasn't having it, but I did sneak one that will appear at your house soon. Good thing I got one because then the distraction was much more exciting - SNOW!!!!!!!

You can see a few flurries in these pictures and it did leave enough to cover the grass in the morning. We hope this isn't the only snow we see here this winter.

Tate and Avarie tried to catch some snowflakes, and did catch some at Lowe's when there was more coming down.

We finished the weekend by making a Gingerbread House. Tate and I had so much fun, until Avarie woke up and was furious that it wasn't for her to eat. Imagine that? Notice the box in the background - Tate is just like me and wanted his house to look EXACTLY like the one on the box. No pressure, right?

Uh Oh . . .

It all started with a little after dinner treat of chocolate Santa . . . Oh so happy that mommy gave me candy . . . Oh lucky me . . . Wait until I tell daddy and get wild and crazy on the couch, running, standing on the couch, giggling away . . . "Avarie - sit down" . . . "Avarie - get down or you will go boom" . . . "Not me boom" . . .
BOOM goes Avarie!

And here's the result - her first shiner. In fact, Tate has not had a black eye yet; he's had lots of other bruises and bumps, but no black eye. So, way to go, Sas! This morning she pointed to the couch and said "Me bonk No No."

Do it again. . .

As a mom, we are oh-so-familiar with those moments when our child is doing something cute and we run to grab the camera, hoping they will keep doing it. Well, I had one of those moments the other day while Tate and Avarie were playing with the nativitiy set Nana gave them last year. It's a darling set with wooden figures that are great for them to handle and move around. Avarie "arranges" them several times during the day and will threaten you with a finger to the lips and a "Shhhhh . . . baby . . . nigh nigh" which of course means that Baby Jesus is sleeping.
Tate was trying to mend Avarie's destruction in the manger and I hear her giggling away at whatever he is doing. So I run for the camera. Sure do wish I got the first few belly laughs because this is what I ended up with . . .

Needless to say, that was the end of that fun game. Naptime, anyone?

Thanksgiving Victories and Defeats

(Uploading pictures on this is tricky so my summary is a bit out of touch with the pictures. Sorry!)
We had a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday and long weekend. We spent Thursday afternoon and evening enjoying a delicious meal and the company of our friends (and Virginia family) at the Bickfords. They have a tradition of hosting those folks who don't go "home" for the holiday and we joined several other Circuit City families to celebrate. It's lots of food,wine, laughs and football . . . and this year I provided delicious gravy and EVEN more laughs than usual with a dinnertime catastrophe. That's for another post, though. We are so thankful to have them as friends!
Friday morning Derek began his usual Black Friday at 4am helping with crowd control at the stores. He and some coworkers decided they could use some FUN in these tough times and organized a flag football game for the afternoon. I have to say I was nervous and thought they might be better off watching football instead, but the kids and I trekked up to watch anyway. Boy, for a bunch of corporate guys, they sure did play some great football. And, I could tell that was just what they needed. The kids loved watching Daddy, Charlie, Phil, Matt, Doug, Keith and many other CC coworkers run around like little kids. No major injuries, Derek's team was victorious, and my next worry . . . would the soreness pass in time for the work week on Monday?

Avarie and Tate found some other friends to play football with and then they borrowed some toys, and the car for some more fun. Avarie batted her eyes at everyone there to get them to push her up and down the hill in the little car.

It was getting cold and now it was time for some BUFFALO football! So, we headed over to Doug and Chrissy's to watch the Black Friday Bowl - CU vs. Nebraska. Well, let's just say the food was great, the friends were fun, and ...the Buffs were not victorious like Daddy's team. Bummer! Tate shed a few tears when Cody Hawkins' last pass was tipped and intercepted. Then, after a few moments to gather himself, he blurted out, "I know what the problem is...something is different...the problem is HIM!" As he said this, he turned and pointed to our friend Phil who is behind Tate in the picture in the Nebraska shirt. Usually Phil cheers for the Big 12 with us when we watch the Buffs, but he cheers for the Huskers too. Well, leave it to Tate to turn that frown upside down. Sorry, Phil, we forgive you!

Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving where you are too!