Christmas 2012

Wow. This is bad. Here we are, exactly one month after Christmas Day, and I am just now getting around to writing about our holiday. Oh well. Better late than never. And, as a result, it is likely to be much more concise.

Our Christmas celebration started the Friday morning before Christmas. Though we have always traveled to North Carolina for Christmas, we still enjoy celebrating, just us, prior to heading out of town. So on Thursday evening, we made sure everything was ready to go -- stockings were stuffed, the tree was sitting atop a pile of gifts, and cookies, milk, and carrots were set out for Santa and Rudolph. Elsa did not seem to question too much why Santa was coming to our house before we were actually reaching number 25 on the advent calendar. This is what the tree looked like that evening (sorry... not the greatest picture):

Elsa asked Santa for a cape, a plush octopus, and a plush kitty with a "bean" in its mouth (very specific... just like one a little friend of hers at Gabriela's has with her on a daily basis). These three items and a set of wooden rainbow nesting cups (for Avie) were sitting under the tree, unwrapped, as this was always a tradition in Jarrett's family, and the rest of the gifts were wrapped (aside from what was in the stockings).

Elsa was thrilled the next morning, first to see that the treats left for Santa and his reindeer pal were devoured, and second to see that her wished-for items were under the tree.

Avie didn't totally "get" unwrapping the gifts, but she tore a little here and there.

And she especially loved the little wooden spoon that came with the wooden toy espresso machine.

Reading the Ladybug Girl book Aveline gave to Elsa.

There was a princess Lego castle (I've totally caved!).

But my favorite gift to each girl was a 5lb heavy baby, handmade by a woman a couple of streets over (Elsa's is purple, of course).

After all the excitement, I was somehow still able to get Elsa to Gabriela's for the morning, and I set to packing, cleaning, and getting us ready to hit the road that afternoon. Jarrett was laid up because of a certain medical procedure, so it was left to me, which, I have to admit, was quite the task. And, in the midst of it all, I actually managed to send the rooftop cargo carrier sliding off the top of the car and into the middle of the street when driving off to take Elsa to playgroup (don't ask). We did eventually make it, though, and we arrived at my parents' house in Charlotte right around the girls' bedtime.

We had a really nice time with my parents and my brother. Mom held her annual Christmas brunch with friends on Saturday morning. Jarrett, my mom, and I took Elsa to the IMAX theater to see The Polar Express (I actually do not really recommend seeing "normal" movies in this setting, but it was fun all the same). And my mom, Jarrett, and I went to see The Hobbit on Christmas Eve (the annual Christmas Eve movie tradition) and then we all went out to dinner and opened gifts together that evening.

Avie and my brother.

My mom's mandatory "Girls with Bears" Christmas photo was nearly impossible this year.

Jarrett, trying out his new gift.

On Christmas morning, we packed up and headed to Kernersville to stay with Jarrett's mom. We spent the day with a much smaller crowd than we're used to -- just Jarrett's mom and his grandad. But we had a nice, leisurely day, and the girls continued to be very spoiled.

Elsa and Grandmom decorated a tree together.

We spent the majority of the day after Christmas with Jarrett's dad, Susan, and Sara, which was also very relaxing and enjoyable. And, again, the girls were surprised with goodies.

Playing Grandad's bongos.

While in the area, Jarrett's mom, Jarrett, and I took the girls to the Greensboro Children's Museum. Both Elsa and Avie had a blast and were exhausted by the time we left.

There were, of course, more Christmas cookies.

And a visit with Great Grandmom Helms too!

To end our Tour de North Carolina, we traveled to the mountains to stay about a week with Tim, Kate, and James. Despite the fact that we all ended up passing around a nasty cold (flu?) virus, we had a really wonderful time with them over New Years, and even got to see snow (albeit a small amount) over a couple of days! Kate and I were able to go out a couple of times and spend time together (coffee, knitting, Mexican food, Le Miserables, dinner), as were the guys. The kids had fun playing together, outside with James's new Stomp Rocket, and inside with playdough and toys. And Elsa and Jarrett went on several adventures, hiking on the land surrounding the house, including one excursion that included snow and lots of cold wind. But it was nothing a cup of hot cocoa couldn't thaw out.

See the little colored spots?

Post-adventure hike.

Teeny, tiny snowman.

New Year's Eve

Stomp rocket!

Our time with Tim and Kate ended with a very special visit from Kate's and my dear high school friend, Val, and Massiel, who was an exchange student from the Dominican Republic (where she still lives) who stayed with Val's family during our junior year. Massiel and I became pretty close during her stay, sharing a couple of classes together, as well as many fun experiences. It was so wonderful to have the opportunity to be reunited with her so many years later. And we were able to have a nice visit with Val, her mother, Mimi, and her youngest son, Carter, all of whom I feel I had not seen in ages. (And Elsa had fun tossing a few Spanish words Massiel's way.)