So This is Christmas

Being in Southern California for Christmas offered no shortage of Christmas "Holiday"-themed activities for us to do...this was a Holiday Party at the Discovery Center.  The kids got to make racecars out of edible items and actually race them down a ramp.

Sam's was the first one done...

Evan's was most carefully built...

and Annie's was actually the fastest, due to the random stack of cheese crackers she insisted on adding.

Evan was adorable in the kindergarten Polar Express performance.  They did a good job making a totally PC performance while still retaining the essence of a Christmas play.  Evan stole the show with his spot-on motions and creative hip movements during "Mele Kalikimaka".

The kids wore their jammies and had hot cocoa and cookies in the classroom afterward.  Parents wore their video cameras and politely shoved past each other in order to get the best pictures or secure cocoa for their child.

Evan and our next-door neighbor, who is also in his class.

Sam's class party--Winter Party is what it was called.  But there were still candy canes and melted snowman snacks and presents and finger-painting and all things Pinterest. 

My parents' friends invited us to take a boat ride through their neighborhood, which is built on man-made canals in a very nice part of Yorba Linda.  It was really nice and fun! 

Christmas Eve...opening a few presents after the service at church

Eating dessert in new jammies 

Christmas Day dinner...with my delightful children and all their good manners

No really, we've been working on table manners since we eat at a nice dining room table in my parents' formal dining room most nights. 

We even had fancy jello salad served on a lovely lettuce leaf garnish (see Mr. & Mrs. Claus salt and pepper shakers in the background?  It wouldn't be Christmas at my parents' house without them!  Oh, and you see my daughter in the back of the background with a spoon on her nose?  Yes, manners, I said.)

Never mind, I give up.

Random photo that turned out to be awesome during a spontaneous excursion to the park...hopefully a new tradition for Christmas Day, especially in a warm climate!

Opening a present that is shaped like a Wii game...

...little brother trying to retain gift-opening designation from older brother...

Older brother prevails and yanks paper off...

But no time for pouting, Yes!!! Lord of the Rings for the Wii!

More present opening and nose picking.  It's a lost cause, people.

The back row participants who make jokes and have a common knack for saying what a present is before the recipient has opened it.

Here's Jeremy, pretending to be surprised while opening the gift he bullied his 5-year-old son into revealing at least a week before Christmas.  That's how he enjoys Christmas gift-giving and I've decided to appreciate it as part of how we celebrate Christmas...I can even admit that it's become slightly endearing but hope it's not genetic.  Isn't this kind of what family Christmas celebrations are all about anyway?

Family Christmas celebrations are also about the decorations we laugh at but would miss if they weren't there every year.  I think my mom made these with fabric and a lot of schlack back in the 70's cuz that's what all the crafty moms were doing that year or something.

The peace and quiet of the dinner cleaned up and the kids playing with their new toys (no more waiting or being told to put on their Christmas finery...just relaxing and enjoying...possibly the best part of the day and a strong defense for giving the children new toys (or just bubble wrap))

I was laying on the floor of my parents' front room and just wanted to capture the memory.  This is the house they lived in when I was born...and I think the holly garland has been on the bannister every Christmas.  The only thing missing in this picture is my dad sitting in the swivel chair in his den.

So This is Christmas...familiar decorations, familiar people, the same jokes and stories told, the warmth of smiles, staying up too late to wrap presents, colored wrapping paper strewn all over the floor, the nostalgic Christmas decorations (including the one with the candles and the angels that spin around and ting the little bells above the flames...you know which one I'm talking about?), and maybe a few new touches that represent our family as we develop our own unique traditions...

Bat-Snow-Man (made out of trash bags, dirty laundry, a carrot from Annie's play kitchen food, and a baseball T for support.  We changed his costume every few days, but he was mostly Darth Vader or Batman.  Go figure.