'tis the season

If you know me at all...you know I love the Christmas season. I usually have Harry Connick Jr Christmas albums blasting by November 1st and the tree and decorations up by the day after Thanksgiving. This year has been a bit of a challenge for me...borderline depressing. All my Christmas music cds are boxed up in storage, along with our tree, decorations, Christmas story books, lights, etc. Last weekend, I finally got in there, dug out our first tree (a 3 footer), and then went to Walgreen's to buy some trimmings. I then bought 2 new Christmas albums, Barbara Streisand (don't make fun!) and Shane and Shane (it's awesome!). Keith has been very understanding through it all, even enduring Barbara.

We have been trying to at least do lots of fun, "Christmas-y" things. So, without further ado, here's some highlights...

Lauren and I joined forces to make homemade baklava. Lauren did most of the ingredient prep work (like clarifying all the butter...hello!). I was mainly called in for assembly. It takes about 30-40 minutes just to finish one pan people! We made 5 pans! Delicate work...a definite 2-person job. Well worth it in the end. Crunchy, buttery, deliciousness in your mouth dripping with honey syrup. Mmmm.


The whole family attended ICE at the Gaylord Texan where we saw Peanuts characters carved completely from ice depicting A Charlie Brown Christmas. It was actually truly amazing...and freezing!!! They have to keep the display at 9 degrees below freezing. Everyone therefore must don a gorgeous blue thermal trench coat before entering, over your regular coat. Isaac fared well, only complaining of being cold toward the end, after he went down the ice slides twice. The last room was a breathtaking depiction of the Nativity. Isaac was thrilled to see all the animals. Afterward, we used hot chocolate and warm cookies to help us thaw.







We tried to visit Santa, but Isaac was only up for a stroll by and a wave. He played it cool though, no tears. Santa did give Isaac a Christmas treat (the traditional miniature candy cane in small plastic wrap that all photo Santas give out.) Ike had never tasted a candy cane and exclaimed with pure joy, "Mmmm, yummy Kismas treat!" after every lick and bite whilst riding in the horse drawn carriage. The first horse Isaac met, a few months ago, was a white horse named Prince. Now, whenever he sees a horse, whether live, statue, or in a picture, he calls it by name...Prince!





Isaac's first school Christmas program was tonight. We arrived early so he and his classmates could put their costumes on. Before I go on...let me say to Isaac's defense, he is the youngest little lovie in this school. They made an exception, allowing him to enroll even though he had not turned 2 by September 1st. (he actually turns 2 this Saturday. if you ask him how old he is, he will reply "two-cember"...since every time anyone asks Keith and I how old he is, he always hears us reply, "he'll be 2 in December".) Several kiddos were already losing it when we got there, but Ike held strong. He was excited about his costume and really liked the hat. However, when the doors swung open and his class led out the procession, he was NOT okay. From that point on he was a bucket of snot and tears, culminating on stage where he clutched Poochie (his stuffed dog) and cried during their entire rendition of "El Burrito Sabanero", a very adorable little Spanish Christmas carol. (click on the title to hear the song) We are proud that he at least stayed on stage the whole time. At one point, the director of the school actually came on stage during the song with a Kleenex to wipe away his snot and tears. Lovely.



Once all was said and done, and our traumatized child was escorted off stage, we stripped off his costume, gave him lots of hugs and kisses, and then took him out for ice cream. He recovered quickly. No permanent damage done. I will have to apologize to his teachers tomorrow and personally thank la directora. I think they'll understand.



He was happy, we were happy. 'Tis the season to be JOLLY!