More Holiday Fun

We had a very busy December.  Here's more:

Trip to the National Harbor for santa and train rides (early December).
School Santa's workshop at school (mid -December)
Neighborhood Holiday party
Holiday concert at school

Holiday pajama cookie decorating and playdate with Charlotte & Mackenzie

Early Christmas with Angela

School Holiday Song Fest

Probably video overload, but hey, I'm a proud Mommy.  And, this was over-the-top cute!

Anxiously Awaiting Christmas & Upcoming Holiday Vacation

The girls tear off a piece of their construction paper chain every morning and count down the days to Christmas.  Along the way, the chains are marked with fun things, like holiday party playdates, songfest at school, arrival of Grammommy, Gramps and Grandpa.  They are so excited.  And, Mommy and Daddy are excited to be off work December 21st - January 2nd.  We will have lots of adult parties and fun with the kids!  Here's what we have going on the next few weeks.  So excited for Christmas!!!  Will resume blogging in the new year! 

Friday 12/21
Open presents with Angela
Grammommy and Gramps Arrive at 4pm

Saturday 12/22
Grandpa arrives around Noon
11:30 Christening and Reception at W Hotel for baby Mason
6pm Party with Hoeys (friends Parker and Avery)

Sunday  12/23
AM play at home / decorate cookies & make Christmas Even dinner lasagna
Leave 3pm Ice skating or Botanical Gardens (depending on weather)
6pm dinner @ Daily Grill
After dinner visit National Christmas Tree
On way home - David takes guys out for beers
　
Monday 12/24
10am - National Children's museum
Rest of day get ready for Santa

Tuesday 12/25 ~ Christmas
Open gifts, eat lots of food, drink lots of wine and enjoy family!

Wed 12/26 ~ Family Leave
Angela's back!
Mommy & Daddy adult time -- Dinner & Movie

Thursday 12/27
Adult Happy Hour

Friday 12/28
Take girls bowling

Saturday 12/29
8pm Adult cocktail party with friends

Sunday 12/30
Nothing planned -- woo hoo.  Probably some working out and movie watching

Monday 12/31
Christmas Eve party with friends + kids. 

Tuesday 1/1
No plans.  Rest, relax, recover, regroup for work week

Wednesday 1/2
Return to normal - boo hoo! 

Growing Up

Annual trip to the airport around Christmas with their friends Charlotte, Mackenzie and Avery  (they are sisters).  Look how much they have grown.  The silver wall is a true indicator of how much taller they are.  Super duper cute.  And, check out how long my girls' hair is. 

Evelyn's First Drop Off Playdate

Evelyn was invited over to play with her preschool pal, Katie.  It was her first drop off playdate.  She had so much fun! What a big girl! 

Video Messages From Santa

Santa sent Evelyn and Sylvia personalized video messages.  Evelyn was so nervous watching hers, she almost cried.  She was so happy to be on the "good" list.  Here are both personalized videos.  Super cute. 

http://www.portablenorthpole.com/watch/mRFnTkohR7ZXwGgQYgI783Q

http://www.portablenorthpole.com/watch/mpNE-rlOBN_6Y7bnGJwydSg

Hilarious

Every night before bed, Sylvia calls for me in the video monitor.  This is the exchange:

Mommy
Yes Sylvia
I have to tell you something
What is it honey
It's a secret Mommy, don't tell
When I'm an adult, can I borrow something from you
Sure, what is it
[here she replies one of the following] You necklace, curling iron, earrings, shoes, purses, dresses
[I reply] of course, honey, good night

She then says
Mommy on the monitor
Yes Sylvia,  it's time to go to bed
When can we go to the beach
This summer, honey
I want to go to the beach, Mommy
[I reply] OK, we'll go to the beach [Now, I really want to go to the beach!]
WHY ARE WE GOING TO ASPEN IN MARCH? 

I'm thinking beach Vac-ay in Feb! 

Thanksgiving!

Grandpa drove his truck (not motorcycle) from Indiana to visit us for Thankgiving.  He arrive late Thanksgiving eve, but woke early to go get Krispie Kreme.  It's pretty much his "thing."  Two dozen of them.  I let the girls have a donut for about 3 days and then they've gotta go.  Grandpa thinks it's hilarious watching them get "climb the walls with sugar."  We had a very nice Thanksgiving dinner after spending most of it outside! 

Hard to Keep Up!

I've lost my enthusiasm for blogging.  We're just having too much fun, well, and I'm a little busy! 

--in happenings the last few weeks ... we've been to a birthday party (no pics taken), celebrated thanksgiving with grandpa (maybe 1 photo!), saw an IMAX of monarch butterflies, had playdates, and just last weekend had a big old party (12 adults and 5 kids).  I likley have a few pictures to upload, but not many. 

Here are some pictures their preschool teacher has taken. She keeps a snapfish link, so these are from the beginning.  Super cute.

http://www.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=5583859017/a=8289532_6730092/invalidateAlbumCache=true/

Other happenings...David is in Latvia, Grammommy is coming this weekend (and again with Gramps at Christmas!), and we have a huge weekend ahead of holiday fun to include Santa workshop at school; visiting Santa, riding a train and going ice skating; going to the nutcracker; and hitting a birthday party!  This month will be a bit of a blur.

Oh yeah, and the girls got an email video from Santa.  HUGE HIT! 

December Newsletter from School (minus pictures)

Dear Threes Parents,

Although our wonderful Thanksgiving holiday memories are still quite vivid in our minds, it is time for our class to begin moving into the magical Christmas time. The classroom has been transformed to a Christmas wonderland with toys, a Christmas tree for the children to decorate, and lots of holiday activities.  Please look at the calendar closely and check your emails for notices of upcoming holiday activities. Most importantly mark your calendars for Friday, December 14^th at 11 am when the children will present their Christmas concert in the sanctuary of St. Aidan’s.  The children will have been working hard on their songs and a child does notice if a parent or someone special to them isn’t in the audience. We will again be sitting in the middle section just like at Halloween. We will dismiss for Christmas break right after the concert.

Prior to the concert, our class will be attending a Nativity Play presented by the Kindergarten Class. Precious and a true reminder of what the holiday season is truly about. We will also have our Christmas party that day. Thanks to the Romley and Talay families for providing a special snack for that day.

Your children were very busy during the month of November and truly are bonding as a class. They are interacting amongst themselves and their imaginations are truly in full gear especially in the housekeeping area and with the little people, puppets, dinosaurs and they love to do art projects as a group around the table at the same time. That is what is all about! 

I enjoyed visiting with each of you during our conference time. Thank you for giving me a bit of your time to share my insight into your child. This is a terrific group of children. Thanks to all who signed up to provide a Letter Snack. The monthly calendar will indicate the name of the family and what day I would appreciate the snack. It would be great if you would consider thinking about the letter and trying to come up with a healthy snack but truly anything with beginning with the letter will be loved by the children. This could be a fun project with your child. They so delight in sharing what snack they have brought in for the class. I will try to send a reminder email to you.

Even though December is a short month we will be busy with Christmas projects and emphasizing the Core Knowledge goals that are attached.  Our letters for this month will be “I” and “J” and the color will be primarily green and of course, some red. 

Music will be a big part of our daily schedule as we learn the Christmas songs and will sneak in some of our curriculum by way of rhythm, a form of counting. If you would like a copy of the Christmas songs so your child can practice at home, please let me know and I will gladly email them to you.  We will continue to work on the concept of before and after, in front and behind, past and present, and work on recognizing the first letter of our name.

Hopefully you and your family will be able to attend the Santa’s Breakfast on the morning of Saturday, December 8^th  that the Parent’s Committee sponsors.  Invitations were sent home a few weeks ago but check your emails for other details especially in ways that you might help.  Hope to see many of you there that morning.

On Sunday, December 16^th St. Aidan’s Church will host their annual Christmas Carol Sing Along at 3:00 pm.  All Day School families are invited for this special event. Also please consider buying your Christmas tree from St. Aidan’s since a portion of your purchase will go to the Day School.

We return to school on Wednesday, January 2nd.  We will be attending the Tiny Tots concert hosted by the West Potomac Orchestra on Friday, January 4^th at 10:30 am leaving the Day School around 10:00 am. It is a fun outing for the children to learn more about music and instruments with familiar songs and an instrument “petting zoo”. As many parents who would like to accompany us are welcome but unfortunately we are unable to accommodate siblings on our field trips. Thank you to those parents that expressed an interest in driving and I will be in touch with more details closer to the concert date.

This month we will be saying good-bye to Tommy Romano as his family moves over the holidays to Colorado Springs where his father has taken a new position. We will miss Tommy but wish them all the best. For the time being the class will remain at 10 students.

Lastly but most importantly, please remember to take time during this holiday season to enjoy your child and family.  Try not to get caught up in the doing but rather take the opportunity to get caught up in the joy of the experience!

A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family.

Mary Olivia

Becky

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:

Saturday, December 1 – Holiday Marketplace and Christmas Tree Sale

Saturday, December 8 – Santa’s Workshop, 8:30 and 10:30

Friday, December 14 – Christmas Concert, 11 am – Sanctuary of St. Aidan’s

                              Class Christmas Party, special snack provide by Romley and Talay families

Monday, December 17 – Tuesday, January 1, 2013 – Christmas Vacation

Wednesday, January 2 – Classes Resume

Friday, January 4 -- Tiny Tots Concert, West Potomac High Schoo1

Wednesday, January 23, 7:30 pm -- Becky McBride, Childhood Nutrition Expert