Christmas Festivities 2011

Christmas festivities are in full swing! We've been so busy with the yuletides and noels and ho-ho-ho's that we haven't had a chance to update the blog blog blog.

So in a nutshell, this is what Katie has been up to so far this Christmas season:

• Saw the Capitol Christmas tree when it made a stop in Del Ray.  Katie signed a card for it and her signature appeared in a photo on our local Patch website (click here to see it on the bottom right of the photo).
• Had tea with Santa at the George Washington Masonic Temple (the tall tower down the street from us) where Katie got her picture with Santa and made a gingerbread house.  Peter cried when he saw Santa.   
• Went to the lighting of the Del Ray Christmas Tree
• Watched the Alexandria Scottish Walk (Christmas parade) with her old neighbors Cooper and Sophie.
• Picked out our Christmas tree and decorated it (and put it up again when it toppled over in our living room).
• Went to a performance of the Nutcracker.
• Made a gingerbread house with Nancy.
• Ice skated with Santa at Fairfax Ice Rink.
• Passed a hockey puck with her Dad on the ice for the first time and saw a holiday figure skating show at the Kettler Iceplex (where the Caps practice).
• Rearranged our house by moving the dining room to the living room and the living room to the basement and basically threw away the basement.
• Went to two birthday parties.
• Participated in her school's annual Mitten Tree Chapel celebration of Christmas.  
• Had a fun night with her Aunt Sue while her Mom and Dad went to a fancy holiday party at the Willard Hotel next to the White House.
• Had pictures with the real Santa at Pentagon City Mall.  Peter delayed his crying long enough to get a few good photos in.

The scary thing is that we still have a lot of things on our to-do list including visiting Santa, going to a Christmas show at National Harbor, and driving around to look at the crazy Christmas lights.

Some photos are below.  Lots more are here.

Katie working on her gingerbread house.


At the lighting of the Del Ray Christmas tree.


The Alexandria Scottish Walk


Katie and Sophie


Cooper walks with his grandfather in the parade while wearing an authentic Scottish kilt and beret.  The guy behind him opted for sweatpants and a sweatshirt.


Peter enjoyed the parade too.


Katie and Theo at the parade


Katie with Cooper and Sophie


Santa played bagpipes in the back of a convertible.


Katie naps on our new couch.


At the Nutcracker.


Peter in his Christmas outfit


Katie strikes a pose while Peter strikes the table.


Waiting for the pizza man to arrive.


The kids in their Christmas outfits


Working on the gingerbread house.








Katie shows off her Christmas socks.


Katie at the "Skate with Santa".




The Mitten Tree Chapel with Pastor Sara at Katie's school.


Working with glitter.  Note: big mistake.


Posing in front of our toppled tree.


Katie tries her hand at ice hockey.