City Park... and ICE SKATING!!!

On our Christmas Eve, we headed into New Orleans to see the Celebration in the Oaks.

Do you remember Marion's visit with Santa this year? Well, she wasn't a fan of Cajun Santa either...

The girls were so excited over this one, Rapunzel is the princess of the moment with her new movie, Tangled.

How gorgeous is this oak, wrapped in lights?!

This rocking horse is a favorite of mine.

We did it! First time for both of us!!!
Grace was nervous to try ice skating, but so proud of herself!!! On Christmas day, we were watching a professional ice show on t.v. and Grace told me she was just as good as they were :)

Lewis Lights

The Lewis Lights, a very special Christmas tradition!! The Lewis family puts on a FABULOUS light show each year in honor of their deceased son who loved Christmas. There are so many wonderful, hand-painted cutouts, and oh-so-many lights!!

Snow White is Grace's favorite!

My favorite... the elves are actually INSIDE a hollow tree!!

Christmas Morning... Santa came early!!

Jeremy has the bad end of the schedule this year, so we talked Santa into visiting our home a little early this year.

After Santa's delivery!

This was the first time Marion really was excited about tearing into the presents!

Grace finally got her Easy Bake Oven! She was crushed last year when she didn't get one, and it got worse when she saw that her older cousin did! I didn't think she was quite ready last year... really don't think she's quite old enough still this year... but she is thrilled :)

Marion loves her car!!

Zhu Zhu Pets... hey, they beat having the real thing!! Both girls have spent hours playing with these cute electronic hamsters!

The girls LOVE their new rides!! Marion is great at hitting the gas in high speed, but doesn't attempt to steer at all. She floors it, and then smiles and waves until she crashes into something!!

A little help from Big Sis!

Sweet Sisters

School Parties

We had such a busy last couple weeks of school, I'll break it down for you...


Last Wednesday evening- Christmas Performance

Grace is in the lime green dress, last child on the right of the bottom row.

Wednesday - Christmas Around the World at Sacred Heart

Every classroom represented a country. The kids toured each room and learned about the Christmas traditions of its country. Grace's room was France. We did a live nativity, a presentation on French traditions, and each child made a yule log (a swiss roll with chocolate icing and candy decorations!)

Grace was Mary in the living nativity!

Grace telling Meredith about France while she makes her yule log.

Her classmates are so sweet!! They are always like this :)

Getting her passport stamped to get on the Polar Express!! This room was America. It showed the customs we stole from other countries mostly... and a few that are our own ;)

Germany!

Mexico, making a pinata!

Sweden, this one was fabulous!!

We are so blessed to have such an awesome school!! It was such a cool day!!

Thursday- Marion's Christmas Party at Mom's Day Out

It was Marion's first school party!

Daddy even came to make it super special!

Marion loves her Mom's Day Out teachers. She cried when the party was over because she didn't want to leave them! That didn't make me feel too loved ;(

Friday- Grace's School Party

I am Grace's homeroom mom, so I put some work into this party... it went well!

Such sweet kids :)

They decorated Christmas tree cookies for dessert... they loved it!

Merry Christmas to All!!

What can I say... I guess she knows she's been a little naughty this year ;)

is this torture???

We skipped the trip to see Santa at the mall this year. I just didn't think it was necessary to put her though this again!!

Grace getting some good one on one time with Santa, trust me, she had no competition!!

Marion did like the toy he brought her, a cool remote control puppy!

Grace liked hers too, a Tangled Tag book and a new Ken doll!


I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2011!!

Luminaries

Our neighborhood has a Christmas tradition of luminaries. Everyone puts out white paper bags with tea lights- it is just gorgeous!! There is a horse drawn carriage to give everyone rides too!


And we have a tradition of our own... SMORES after!! I was warned by my dad and Jeremy that this pot was aluminum and may melt with a fire in it, but I went for it anyway! It worked great (no melting!!) Nothing ventured, nothing gained ;)

Clyde

The start of our Christmas season was marked by the arrival of our elf, Clyde. Grace just adores him, and mourns him every year when he leaves for the North Pole :)