All-in-all we had a really great Christmas. We got to visit with lots of friends and family.
Jack spent a lot of time happy on the floor when he wasn't crawling all over the place.
Before Christmas there was lots of baking going on... Clara and Nay-nay made chocolate-dipped pretzels. Clara really enjoyed adding the sprinkles.
Meanwhile Memo was working on her world-famous coconut cake!
The worse it looks, the better it tastes. This year was no exception. ;)
Memo, looking good no matter what the cake looks like.
One of our biggest pre-Christmas treats was getting to play in the snow. Richmond had over a foot of snow two days before we arrived. Fortunately the cold temperatures kept it around until Christmas day, so there was lots of time to play in it.
In Nay-nay and Pop-pop's winter wonderland (as Clara called it).
Her attempt at a snow angel.
Snow chunks for the doggies to play with. Notice her hands... tough little girl! (or our snow outing was cut short due to frozen fingers.)
On Christmas Adam Jeekbo (as he's now being called, in addition to Jeekers and Jeeker Squats) had fun hanging with Luc before a last minute shopping trip and later on that evening conducting his first orchestra.
Clara went over to Su-su and Gramby's to spend the morning. They had a great time being pampered by Clara who served them lunch in the kitchen.
Mmm, hotdogs and ice cream... an American classic.
Then it was outside to build a snowman with Gramby.
Back inside reading Tikki Tikki Tembo.
Clara can outlast anyone when it comes to naptime.
T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house...
On Christmas Eve we headed down to the Richmond Children's Museum and met the Schaeffer's to visit with the Legendary Santa Claus! Clara was not very happy about this, she seemed to decide at the beginning of this holiday season that she wanted nothing to do with Santa Claus before she ever caught her first glimpse of him. Whether or not her feelings had changed by Christmas Eve would be made abundantly clear soon enough.
The nice thing about the set up they have going on now is that the Santa line is right outside of the children's museum entrance. So for a mere $16 (child and adult) you can occupy your child (provided you have someone to wait in line for you) rather than drive yourself insane standing in line with them. Clara really enjoyed picking apples from the apple tree.
Santa coming down the chimney.
Things are looking grim.
Bee-bopping per usual with Nay-nay.
Jack hanging with Luc, Carrie, & Anna.
Clara did manage to perk up for the Snow Queen of all people. Who knew? She even checked out her glass slippers.
And finally... Santa Claus!
Not so much. Got a cute picture of Jack though.
Later on, happy in his Christmas duds.
Time out for a quick Christmas Eve comparison, flashback to 2007.
Back to the present, the Zimmerman's and Schaeffer's arrived to celebrate Christmas Eve.
Luke, Clara, and Jack are playing with the oldest toy in the house, the Sesame Street garage that I received 31 Christmases ago.
Santa Baby showing off her glass slippers.
Luc and Jack
Cheese!
Trying on her new outfit from Mooti (aka Pat)
Christmas Pj's provided by Nay-nay. Clara is now officially hooked on nightgowns or as she calls them, her night-time princess dresses.
Jack in his Christmas PJ's handed down from his big sister, Cindy Lou Who.
And I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"
Next up... Christmas Day!
