Holiday Round Up

Ah, the holiday season.  We really had a good one.  I felt relatively on top of everything this year, and more importantly, was willing to let go of what didn’t get done.  

We cut our own tree down this year.  We've always had a real tree for Christmas, but usually out the local lot.  This year we ventured out with my parents and brother and his family to a nearby tree farm.  Frank thought it was too much effort because he had to cut it down.

Meredith and I also went to make gingerbread houses with the ballet girls again this year.  It was super fun again, and so great to go and make the house at the cooking school and leave the construction and mess for them to clean up!

The one thing I wanted to be sure to do this year, which I’ve wanted to do for several years, is go to the zoo lights.  We made it, they were lovely, and it was a great family night for us.

Meredith did the requisite Christmas Program at church.  We have changed churches so this is our first year with the new church, and the children’s program is big, so she only had to get up and sing one song with the rest of the K-5 kids.  Success.

She’s also participating in children’s choir, and sang a Christmas song, Jesus is Alive, that I had not heard, which I am now slightly obsessed with.

The one challenge of this season for us was finding her ‘big gift’.  I was all set for a kitten.  She wants a kitten, mostly.  There’s still some hesitation there though, so I wanted to be really sure she was ready.  We journeyed to 2 animal shelters to hold some adorable kitties.  Big.  Fat.  Fail.  She was so freaked out by the dogs in the shelter or the amount of cats in one confined space the poor girl stood in the middle and cried “I’m not ready!  I want to go home!  I’m not ready!”  Had I just brought the cat home we would’ve been fine.  Next year, next year…

The other item on her list was a piano, which we were too close to coordinate the logistics of finding and moving a used piano, or the finances to buy new.  

We went with a good back up plan- an American Girl Doll.  She has one, and she likes her.  Her aunts and uncles purchased that doll, so it was our turn and Julie entered the scene.

Then, THEN I found out that a certain concert was coming into town in July.  A certain Justin Bieber concert.  Oh boy.  The girl, she loves that Bieber.  I was finally excited about her gift, so I got her 2 tickets and we’ll go in July.  She did the requisite squeal of delight when she found out.  I’m a Bielieber too.  What can I say.  I saw his Never Say Never movie and it was good!  Her first concert and I’m sure we’ll have fun.

We spent time with both sides of the family, and lots of fun with the cousins.

And some time at home relishing in the wonderfulness that is Winter Break-where Frank and I work we are closed from Christmas Eve through New Year’s.  With Pay.  Not Vacation time.  Score.  We played with toys, and ended up with a good dump of snow.  Meredith got to try out her new sled, and Frank shoveled most of the neighborhood – ok, 3 driveways since 2 of our neighbors were out of town.

Now it’s 2013.  I’m so, so thankful for my first grade girl and cherish her every day.  I can’t wait to see what the year will bring.