YellowSix

I feel like I've been underwater since Christmas Eve. Very unplugged. The day after Christmas Kurt left for the annual teen winter retreat in Michigan for 5 days. Zsa Zsa was sick. So I've been bunkered in what with the illness and the cycle of snow storms. Thought you'd still like to see what the holidays were like for us.

This was the first time in 7 years that we had a tree at our house. We usually spend the night at Nandy and Grandpops house and celebrate there. But now that the girls are old enough for us not to fear that they'll pull the tree down on top of their heads, I thought it was time to start making some of our own traditions.

We cut down a tree from a local tree farm with the girls in tow a couple of weeks ahead of time. Zsa Zsa was very excited about decorating the tree and would rearrange the ornaments daily.

On Christmas morning, Ava woke up first (unheard of!) and woke up her sister. They walked down the stairs holding hands. We hadn't put any presents under the tree before Christmas so it was a big surprise to see the stacks of gifts along with a new sled.

They emptied their stockings (Zsa Zsa made absolutely sure there was nothing left in hers as you can see). Soon after, Nandy, Grandpops, and Great Nana arrived. We enjoyed some fruit and cinnamon rolls from Hannah's bakery before we started opening presents. In between the opening sessions we had waffles and finished things off with crab cakes and cous cous.

The girls are posing at the beginning of this post with the American Girl dolls they got from Mimi. Ava got Rebecca, a Jewish girl from 1914 who lives in NYC and dreams of a life on the stage. Zsa Zsa got Kit, an aspiring journalist living in the Great Depression. The girls LOVE their new dolls. I'm all in favor except for the part where I now need to dress and undress 4 girls instead of 2.

This last photo shows all the girls watching the Nutcracker with Grandpops. It was quite fun to hear Ava trying to explain the ballet to him and hear what he told her he thought was happening. Zsa Zsa was enthralled and is still requesting, "See the ballaweenas!"

I got Kurt tickets to see the Blue Man Group. But I didn't give him the tickets, I gave him a small jar of blue face paint and tried to see how long it would take him to figure it out. I think it would've been more effective if the jar had been labeled "face paint" as his first few guesses were about the kind of paint (automotive? oil?). He did finally figure it out and is excited for a night out sans kids. My Christmas present? A piano that we have yet to find. Cross your fingers for me.