December 1: Sue, Joe, and Brody Belcher visit for the weekend. We loved spending time with them and watching our good friends grow into a beautiful family. The girls loved "baby Brody" and Sasha still asks about where he is - usually when she is in her high chair because she clearly remembers having to share it with him!
December 8 (morning): We went back to our favorite Sherwood Christmas tree farm as a family (we couldn't go with my sister this year) and chose a beautiful tree. Sasha was out exploring the hillside this year, but I think the girls loved all the chickens they had at the farm the best. As for Sam and I, we liked stopping by Argyle winery and pick up our sparkling wine club box the best. Happy holidays, indeed!
December 8 (evening): After months of planning, my family pulled off a beautiful and very special 50th Anniversary celebration for my parents at the Mac Club in Portland. They were quite pleased and happy with everything, and it was fun to celebrate my typically understated and non-fancy parents in style. We had a beautiful room to ourselves, a bartender, wonderful meal, and lots of kind words and toasts to my parents. My sister, Diane and her husband even flew in from Hawaii just for the party. The night ended at Hotel Deluxe (where they were staying for the night) with all of us toasting cocktails in the beautiful Old Hollywood lobby. We also had a fabulous brunch the next morning there and brought the girls. It all makes me so thankful and amazed that I am part of this big, beautiful family.
December 9: After some minor nagging (like: "gee, I think it is going to be dry today...") "Clark" gets the extension ladder out and puts up our "exterior illumination" as Morgan watches. Little does she know, that she will be expected to help in years to come and learn about the "joys" of holiday traditions!
December 10: We make a spur of the moment decision to go to Zoo Lights on a Monday night, hoping it is as fun and uncrowded as it was when we went two years ago. Wrong. I think it was a furlough day for schools or something, but it was packed. After having to take the shuttle bus from another parking area, shelling out $30+ for the lights and train tickets, maneuvering through crowds, and listening to Morgan cry and scream loudly (with other parents looking on with sympathy and gratefulness that it wasn't their kid) over not getting to stand in the two-hour long zoo train line, we decided it would be the worst holiday moment of the year. Sasha, however, had a ball running around in the dark trying to ditch her family, while tired Morgan sat in the stroller and sulked. (The photo below actually looks like all is well, but I had to take about seven pictures just to get them looking at me and of course the lighted giraffe behind them had flashed off.) Sam and I just laughed and rolled our eyes. Ahh....the holidaze!
December 14: Morgan had her preschool's Winter Celebration. Now that her school has grown, the elementary school auditorium where it is held was bursting with people. Fortunately, we had heard a lot of the songs previewed for us at home. Sasha even learned the words to "Hola, Como Estás?" Morgan did a great job and we were so proud of her. (This pictue is classic: Morgan is near the microphone mostly knowing what is going on, meanwhile another girl is picking her nose and a little boy has his hands over his ears. Classic!)
December 15: SASHA IS TWO! I can say with all certainty that Sasha's second year of life was the fastest one of my life. And that age is my absolute favorite, so it is true about time flying when you are having fun. (Now if only I wasn't feeling sad that it is over.) We celebrated this milestone with a low key party at our house. Sasha loved the attention and festivities, yet was happy and energetic the entire time. She loved playing with her cousins, and her favorite present was new rain boots that she could put on all by herself. As a mom, I will never get tired of celebrating my kids' birthdays (even though they can be exhausting). I am so proud of their little lives and how much they accomplish and grow each year, and also so thankful for healthy and happy kids!
December 16: I had been telling Morgan that she had to be five in order to see the Nutcracker, and this year she was finally old enough to see the full ballet at the Keller Auditorium. The Nutcracker was a huge part of my childhood because of my sister Erica dancing many different parts in it nearly every year as a teenager. I was even in it one year as a soldier, and I will never forget running out onto the huge stage there with bright lights shining down on me. Anyway, between the ballet performances, my mom helping backstage for years and years, and the music that we all have memorized, it was pretty special taking Morgan there with my mom. She got to dress up all fancy and I even curled her hair for the first time. But the best part was looking over at Morgan sitting next to my mom as the curtain rose, the familiar music swelled, and they both looked over at each other with these sweet, excited smiles. I almost started bawling, but focused on just savoring it all. I love those moments as a parent when things come full circle.
December 24: Christmas Eve - Our usual Christmas Eve tradition is to spend it at Sam's parents, but this year we ended up hosting the party because their hardwood floors were all torn up. It was actually pretty fun, being the first time we have had people over for such a big event. Thankfully we had it catered so just the cleaning and decorating was left to us. It was a very fun night filled with great friends and family, and ended with Avery and Morgan singing a few carols, and the three oldest cousins reading "The Night Before Christmas." Very sweet.
December 25: Christmas Morning - Every year this gets more precious and a bigger and bigger deal for the girls. Morgan is at the "prime" age for enjoying it all and Sasha is on her way too. I know that things will change, but I love those moments, as fleeting as they are, of sitting and watching my kids open presents in their Christmas p.j.s with such looks of happiness on their faces. Santa was pretty cool this year because he brought Morgan and Sasha a swing for our basement! The girls love it, and we quickly realized that Morgan does indeed know how to pump her legs....no more pushing her at the park! She was even able to touch the ceiling (yikes!)
After brunch with Sam's parents and sisters at our house, and some down time to chill, we went to my parents for the grand Christmas finale. The girls got to wear adorable matching dresses (thanks, Aunt Kimmy!) and loved seeing all the family, especially the cousins, which included ALL eight grandchildren (7 granddaughters and 1 grandson!) since Tim, Diane, Marissa, and Brenna were visiting from Hawaii. It was wonderful having everyone back together.
