Christmas

Finally...Christmas Day.

It doesn't get light here til 10am, so I battled with the camera and lighting for a bit then decided to sit back and relax with the iPhone as my only obstruction. 

We got a bit silly.

Then the last presents were unwrapped.

We played and of course, had to take a bath with the new mermaid Santa gave her.

Then we tired.

Time to watch a new Barbie movie.  

After a fabulous fondue dinner of steak and cheese (thanks to that husband of mine!), Christmas was nearly over.  How did it go by so fast?

It was the first time away from my family as I mentioned before, I missed them like I knew I would.  However, to be in your own home Christmas morning with a 3 year old is something I am not sure one should be without.

Christmas continues here ... I try to keep it going as long as I can.  Amelia did ask when are putting Christmas away...NEVER I told her...I am preparing for next year.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  

Christmas Eve

We had a few friends over the weekend before Christmas and the last couple advents were waiting to be had.   

There were ice skates for the Lego Friends dolls that she wanted soooo bad.  FINALLY she got them.  Never realized what excitement is until you get a pair of miniature lego skates that will be nearly impossible not to lose. 

Of course she had her other advent filled with a small toy, that she grabbed each morning before searching for Kevin the Elf ... I posted a this pic of the full advent awhile ago.

Kevin greeted us daily all over the house.

One morning he showed up in her room with a very special request.

Amelia was asked to leave the sack of Magic Reindeer food out for Santa on Christmas Eve.  

She had received another letter from Santa a week or so previously telling her he had received her list from Kevin on St. Nicholas Day.  Santa even sent her a video!  Santa is trying to keep up with the computer world at Portable North Pole, she was pretty thrilled she was on the good list. 

Christmas Eve began with a hearty snowman. 

Then proceeded with cookie making. 

She made the ones for Santa.

Of course, I had to ice the rest.  This year I only made half the batch as last year I had to call in the reserves.

We then let her open one gift.

Let the games begin. 

Dinner in the entertainment room watching Prancer, games and popcorn...then it was time for bed.

She wanted to leave chocolate milk and I had bought some carrots to be broken in two for the 8 reindeer.  We left the bag of reindeer food under the tree.  Read Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus and Twas the Night Before Christmas and was out in about 5 min. :)

Tomorrow will post on our First Christmas in Alaska.

Christmasy is most certainly a word

Lots of Christmas ideas that we are feverishly trying to complete!  Put together these little paper gingerbread houses for a little Christmas village decoration.  Then we made the real thing.  Graham cracker houses that is,  as we both prefer to eat that building material instead.

 

She had lots of enthusiasm, until she ate too much icing and overloaded on marshmallows and gum drops.  

 We broke out our button box and stamp kit for the next Christmas Crafts.

Finally, we had a bit more snow and have been outside enjoying it, in between hot chocolate and this business of crafting Christmas.   

Our snowman from a previous frolic was looking like a Calvin and Hobbes snowman.  Amelia went to work on him and he smiled.

Our favorite place to sled is down our neighbor Jim's driveway, right to his house.  This lady is always greeting us after a good run :)

Will post a final Pre-Christmas post before the big day arrives.

The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and Christmas on Ice

 

Like I said...Charlie Brown.   We LOVE IT!  

On an icy morning, we headed out to find us a scrawny little tree that would surely not make it to next winter.  We found him perched precariously on the side of the road.   

The lights needed to be strung toward the trunk, used a ball of yarn for garland as the branches barely supported the weight of even the lightest ornaments...but we persevered!  Hung them on hooks and toward the trunk...to better stabilize the little guy...giving it depth :) :P

There is just something about cutting down a real tree..especially a Charlie Brown one.  We have our large artificial in the living room, but this one sits proudly in our dining room where all can see his true beauty.  Welcome Charlie.

If cutting down a Christmas Tree was not enough, yesterday was Amelia's very first Ice Show!  We made it a day event, bringing lunch and watching her teacher and other skaters take the ice.  It was spectacular :)

Enjoying the Show with buddy Arianna.

She is suppose to be in a straight line here and I heard her say something to her teacher, but not sure what.  Guess she didn't want to give up the gift.

They were the last of the tot groups to go on and I am not saying this because my fabulous kid was in it, but they were the best of all the little guys...seriously. :P  AND the only group that was color coordinated!

This is where her and James realize they need to leave their presents that are just empty wrapped boxes.

Not too happy about that and wanted me to go get it after she got off the ice.  I said I would make her a new one as the snow was coming down in buckets and it was time to head home :)

Hoping dance and skating are a lifelong love.  

So far, so good.