I've taken so long to get this post together that it seems completely anticlimactic, but I did want to note the celebrations.
The season started with a Santa brunch. XX took one look at Santa and said, "That's not the real Santa." It took only a few seconds for her to come to the conclusion that Santa "has helpers if he can't be there."
Still, she took a photo with him and Mrs. Santa, took part in a lot of craft stations, and had a wonderful time playing with her friend.
We put up our decorations as soon as possible. The window sill doubled as a step stool for XX.
There was a musicale/recital at her violin teacher's home. A few of XX's friends also came to play and sing. Even Red was invited and he did so, joining XX in her first concerto performance.
We went to see the real Santa. I think XX was a little leery, but after one quick glance, she told me, "That's him," and happily went up to chat with the man.
Humans are not the only beings to celebrate. We went to see the zoo animals had their holiday. There were plenty of enrichment activities for the animals with holiday stockings and gifts. XX insisted we see everyone, and we had a great time.
XiaoXiao made gifts and cookies for her friends. She was quite excited about the giving aspect of the season this year. Her ability to keep secrets is not stellar, however, and it went like this: "Mum? This is what I'm getting you for Christmas, but Daddy said it's a secret, so don't tell him I told you." And "I told Daddy what I'm making him for Christmas, but he always forgets so he won't remember by then. So it's still a secret."
Galaxy has turned out to be perfect for us. Red has been a wonderful "big brother," cleaning her face and ears in the morning, and being ultra-patient when she turns and teeths on his legs and ears. I am sure he can't wait until those sharp baby teeth fall out.
Red checked out the tree early and managed to find something Granny had sent for him. XX thought this was good measure of her best bud's smarts.
This time of year, any time of year really, necessitates headgear, of course.
My sisters and their families came over on Christmas Eve.
After dinner, we sang Christmas carols to ukelele accompaniment, courtesy of Suzie, Dave and Steff. Lots of fun! It seems, however, that this was not ideal teen boy activity as Carver and Sebastian declined to join us.
Later, XiaoXiao played a Vivaldi concerto she'd set her sights on for Christmas Eve. Aunt Steff brought her violin and played some lovely gigues. XX was enthralled watching her aunt play so beautifully.
After everyone left, XX begged to open one present and asked if her beloved dogs might also open a gift. We gave in and let them all open one. XX was thrilled, though Red was somewhat less so, with a traditional Christmas Eve present ...
... pajamas, and matching to boot.
XX woke just before midnight Christmas Eve so we checked Santa's progress on the Norad site. She saw he'd visited her cousins, Kira, Copelan and Lian and also her best friends, Kyra and Liam. He had not yet reached us, so she went back to sleep. At 5 she woke again to check and saw he'd been here, and even to one place in Antarctica and a few places in Greenland. This reassured her and she fell back into a sound sleep.
Before we knew it, it was New Year's Eve. We rang in the "Noon Year" with visiting friends ...
... and XX lost a tooth. A perfect "Out with the old and in with the new."
Happy 2013!
