'Tis the Season, 2012

DC is a great place to be during the holidays.  It's decorated beautifully and there's lots of things going on.  This year was a little different because Katie gets out of school later and it made it harder to squeeze in more fun Christmas activities during the day.  Maybe next year she'll drop out for a few months so we can do more stuff.

Despite Katie's insistence on book learnin', we managed to do a lot of fun things.  We went to the Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk with our friends Randy, Nikki, Cooper and Sophie.  Then we went to the Del Ray Christmas Tree lighting, got our own nice Christmas tree, went to Zoo Lights at the National Zoo, saw the great trains and trees at the National Arboretum, and saw the US Capital Christmas tree.

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Katie and Sophie at the parade.


Mr Cool wears his sunglasses upside down.


Katie and Pete cheer as Alabama scores a late touchdown to beat the dreaded Georgia Bulldogs.


Zoo Lights at the National Zoo


Riding the zoo's new carousel.




Watching the apes get ready for bed.  Seeing them put the baby ape to bed was pretty neat, but unfortunately didn't convince Peter to sleep all night.


Hugging a panda with their friend Olivia.


Watching the great train displays at the zoo.


Katie at The Nutcracker at the beautiful Warner Theater near the White House.


The Nutcracker and the nut.


Singing Christmas Carols at the Del Ray tree lighting.


The Del Ray Christmas Tree


The luminaries in our neighborhood.


Making a yummy gingerbread house


Peter volunteers as a taste-tester.


Watching Christmas shows on tv with Rusty.


Getting in a leaf fight after school.


Watching a train at the Arboretum near the Capital.


At the Arboretum


Visiting the huge US Capital Christmas Tree.


Standing in front of the platform being constructed for Obama's upcoming inauguration.


Katie shows off her missing front teeth.


Much to our surprise, Peter has mostly left the ornaments alone... so far.


Ready to slide.