Happy Holidays!

For Christmas 2012 my parents came to town for a week. It was so nice to have them around for Ellasen's third Christmas. I think this is the first year she really sort of understood what was going on. She knows all about the Christmas story, and would often sing Happy Birthday to Jesus around the house. She was also interested Santa and his elves and reindeer. We really had a great time!

On Christmas Eve we took some family photos

New hat and scarf

 

My Great-Grandmother made this quilt in the 1950's and my grandmother (Ellasen's Gigi) gave it to her for Christmas. She loves it!

In new PJ's from Grandpa

Decorating cookies for Santa

Papa made a record-able book for Ellasen 

Santa ate his cookies and left a note!

Playing with a new toy!

Gunner is worn out from all the festivities! 

Ortho Christmas Party

Tim's department had their annual holiday party last weekend. We had a great time, and of course I forgot to take any pictures. One of my friends was better than I was and took and few and shared them. I don't have any of Tim and I, but here are a few of the group!

  

Curious George at Storytime

Curious George made an appearance at the library story time this past Wednesday. Anyone who knows Ellasen knows she is a big fan of his. She was mostly just mesmerized by him, but she did lean over to me and whisper "Mommy will you take my picture with George?". Cute...

Christmas Program at Preschool

Ellasen had her first little Christmas program for school the other day. They were marched into a dark auditorium while the parents, grandparents and video cameras awaited them. They were eerily quiet...
They stood on risers, cried, picked their noses, yawned, waved to mom and dad and even sang a few notes here and there. I won't post the video I have because you really couldn't hear much in person, and I have a feeling the video would only be appreciated by a small minority of my 20 or so readers. Here are a few photos just because.

Ellasen's Teacher

Standing by her Christmas Ornament - All Green

Decorating For Christmas

My camera died when we were out Christmas tree shopping, but I managed to snap a few photos first. Here are a few pictures from our holiday decorating!

Smelling the trees

A little holiday decoration from Mother Nature

Thanksgiving

We had a very nice Thanksgiving this year. Some of our friends host an "Orphans' Thanksgiving" every year for everyone in town without family to spend the holiday with. They make a turkey and everyone brings sides to share. We use good china and silver and we all sit down to a lovely meal. I didn't take too many pictures, but it really was nice so I thought I would post the ones I do have!

The women who made it all possible! 

Santa...Sort of...

Mayo Families Connection has a Winter Carnival every year that is tons of fun for the kids. I always have to work at it so Tim usually brings Ellasen to it. This year I had to work like usual and Tim was out of town so my friend Danielle was nice enough to let Ellasen tag along with her and her daughter. I know she had a great time with them! Santa always sits for pictures at the carnival so I thought it would be fun for Ellasen to see him. Not so much. She was more afraid of him this year than last year. Once she got over the initial shock that I actually wanted her to sit on this man's lap she stopped crying so I could at least hold her close to him for a photo. She did talk to him a little while he helped her open her candy cane, and she finally stood next to him (sort of) and smiled (sort of). She told him she wants a lady bug for Christmas this year.