gymnastics

Yesterday evening, my parents, Jack and I watched as Elizabeth and her classmates demonstrated what they'd learned at gymnastics this Fall. Afterwards, there was a little ceremony, and all of the gymnasts stood on the podium and received medals. Good job, sweetie! I am SO proud of you! (The pictures are re-enactments, thank you very much--no flash photography allowed during the performance. And, the last photo is of Elizabeth and Coach Jay--she liked him very much!)

Santa came to Miss Kelly's on Friday evening! Jack was so very excited--he ran to the window when I said I thought I heard the reindeer. Once Santa arrived, Jack asked where the sleigh was--we told him we couldn't see it because it was on the roof. He was satisfied with that answer. As for Elizabeth, she heard Miss Kelly call Santa, "Dennis" (oops, Miss Kelly!). She ran over to me and in a loud whisper said, "Mom, I think that's Dennis!" I reminded her that we'd talked before about stand-in Santas because Santa can't be in so many places at once that he needs helpers to fill in once in a while--more likely than not, he and Dennis had talked before the party, and Santa had asked Dennis to stand in for him at the party because he had to get ready for Christmas at the North Pole. She nodded in understanding and promised that it would be our secret. So cute!

Me: Elizabeth, what do you want to do when you grow up?

Elizabeth: Stay home all day and watch t.v. (hey--that's my dream job...)

trying to take the perfect picture...

to use for our Christmas card this year...easier said than done...there was much laughter on their part, and a bit of exasperation on mine...what silly children I have!

silly boy

and I had to add this one of Jack, wearing the dog's Santa hat:

He walks around the house, saying, Ho, Ho, Ho! Merrrrrrrry Christmas! You might say he's a bit excited about Christmas this year.

more Santa Pictures

Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas, Everyone! (We went to the Mall this afternoon and waited in line to see Santa Claus. I commented that it was pretty cool that we got to see him twice this weekend. Elizabeth corrected me: "Mom, the Mall Santa isn't the real Santa. His beard isn't as full as the real Santa's [that we saw at Dave's house last night]." We will see Santa one more time before Christmas--he will make an appearance at Miss Kelly's this Friday. I wonder which one it'll be? the real Santa, or his stand-in?)

a magical night

check out Jack's expression in this photo:

these are the snowmen that he liked so much:

This evening, we went to my friend, Dave's, house to see Santa Claus. Jack surprised me when he walked right up to Santa and climbed into his lap. No tears at all! He asked for a red car for Christmas. Elizabeth was next: she was uncharacteristically shy and asked only for a DSi. She couldn't think of anything else to ask him for. She later went back and asked him when his birthday is (his answer? just after Christmas). Jack found a race car in the garage that belongs to Dave's son, Devin--he was in love! He also really liked three little snowmen in the yard that were singing and dancing to Christmas carols. The yard was simply amazing--lights and music and decorations--so much to see and explore and very exciting for both kids. They ran all over the place. Elizabeth wants to go back next week with her Papa and Nanny...

I love what they say

Jack (a couple days ago): Nope, I'll drink it like a man. (Huh? This, in response to my asking him if he wanted a straw with his cranberry juice).

Elizabeth (this evening): If I were a slug, it would take me all day to go down Papa and Nanny's driveway. (A slug? Where on Earth did that come from? We were talking about driveways and trying to decide who had the longer driveway--Papa and Nanny or Miss Kelly (daycare). We finally concluded that Papa and Nanny had the longer driveway, and then she brought up the slug. Ugh).

The Nutcracker

  

posing in front of the courthouse before the performance

posing during intermission

riding the carousel at the Mall after the performance

My mom, Elizabeth, and I went to see the Nutcracker yesterday afternoon at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. Elizabeth's ballet instructor, Miss Lizzie, danced as Clara (see first photo, above). Elizabeth loved it!

Jack's favorite Christmas song*

"Jie jie bells, jie jie bells,
Jie jie all the way!..."

followed by this great big belly laugh--he cracks himself up (which makes me laugh right along with him)!

*We call Elizabeth jie jie, almost to the exclusion of her given name.

Merry Christmas!

from our family to yours!