It's Beginning to...

Look a lot like Christmas...

Decorating the tree

Beautiful!

Louisa's first Christmas tree

Ornaments are DELICIOUS.



 Ev'rywhere you go...



It's Santa!!!



We're heading to upstate New York (Lyons) to celebrate Christmas with my family (ALL of it), and so the girls got to open some gifts early in order to save some space in the car!  Needless to say, they didn't mind. 



Presents are fun!  Wait, I'm not supposed to eat the paper?



It should look even MORE like Christmas once we get to Lyons, where they're expecting snow tonight and tomorrow.  Hooray!  Nothing better than a white Christmas.  We're heading out this afternoon.  Fingers crossed that we don't hit any super-nasty weather on the way!

Merry Christmas to you and yours, and if I don't get a chance to post again while we're in Lyons, happy new year!

Preschool Performances

Amelia had not one, but two, performances last week: a mini-recital to wrap up her dance class on Wednesday, and a Christmas concert to celebrate the season with her preschool on Friday. Given her somewhat grudging appearances in the limelight in the past (Ramona is the child who basks in being the center of attention), we were just happy that she was excited to participate.

Due to a cold and the tonsillectomy, Amelia had missed the three previous dance classes, so we weren't sure whether she'd actually want to go/perform, but she did!  She was a little out of sync, but not horribly so (it IS a class of four- and five-year-olds, after all), and it didn't seem to bother her in the least. I love how much she enjoys her dance class. 



This picture makes me laugh -- so cute!



Looking rather graceful

Ballet jump!



Amelia Ballerina





Group hug to end class



Here's a video of the scarf-twirling part of the performance.  Poor Amelia looks a little lost here!

Despite missing a week of school, Amelia was still pretty well-prepared for her school's Christmas concert on Friday, since they had been practicing for weeks.  Her class sang "Little Drummer Boy" -- multiple verses! -- and they all did a great job. 



Amelia's class singing


A video of the the first part of Little Drummer Boy, pa rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum...

 

I know that we're just at the beginning of the spectating part of parenthood, and maybe I won't feel this way when all three girls are participating in several different activities apiece, but right now I'm loving watching Amelia show off what she's learning.

There really isn't much that's cuter than a bunch of preschoolers singing and dancing.  And cherishing the sweetness and innocence of these kiddos feels particularly poignant in the aftermath of Friday's tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. So remember to share the joy of the season with your little ones, and to hold your loved ones close this holiday (and always).



Chad and Ramona at Amelia's Christmas Concert



That's what we're doing.