Merry Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 has been a fun Christmas Season!
Early in November we agreed to have our house in the Christmas Tour of Homes. This is a community event fundraiser, the proceeds are used to buy gifts for local children in need. Our house and Amanda and Josh's house were on the tour. We spent the month of November getting the house ready. I paid a company to hang lights on our house. I cleaned, Andrea and Paula both cleaned on my house! I organized and decorated all month! The tour was December 4, I have never had my Christmas decorations ready that early.
The night of the tour was pretty interesting, we met people from the community, and welcomed many friends and family. I have always loved decorating for Christmas and have collected Christmas ornaments and other items for years. It was fun to share some memories that the ornaments bring to mind with others. I was also proud to show off the house remodel that we did last year. Ron was responsible for showing the pool house, he was a pretty good sport about the whole ordeal.

The Lights

The Bird Tree

The Nativity Stars

The after effect of all the hard work, is having the time in December to attend as many events as possible and not have any stress about getting ready for Christmas.

Sunday night was the preschool Christmas program. This was very special this year, Jackson, Tucker, Violet and Evie are all in the preschool choir! Evie didn't get to attend the performance because she was home sick. I may be a little prejudiced, but my Grandchildren are the cutest, most talented kids ever!

Thursday, we took a group of preschoolers to go see the school version of "The Nutcracker" Ballet. It was a little long for the toddlers, but I asked Tucker if he was bored, and he said no, he liked all of it.
Sunday, we are going back for the full version, orchestra and all. I am very excited about that. I have never seen the ballet with the orchestra. To add to the excitment, I was telling Jackson about the ballet, and he knew the story because they have learned about it in school!
Saturday, I am taking Jackson, Tucker and Veronika to see, "Junie B Jones, Jingle Bells Batman Smells!", at the Children's Theater.
The next weekend, Ron and I are seeing, "A Christmas Story"! at the Rep. This is one of my favorite movies, so I am so excited to see a live production.
We will probably work in a drive to see the lights, maybe visit the Garvan Gardens.

15 and Counting

This mantle hold the Christmas stockings that I have been collecting and adding to over the years. If you were to count them, there are 15 stockings! Next year, we get to add another stocking! Actually, I have alreay added the 16th stocking!
This truly has been a great Christmas Season!