Christmas Eve

We saw Santa three times this year. After he first appeared at our church party early in the month, Ethan turned to me and with a skeptical looked asked, "Is that really Santa?" I told him that the old man with an attached ivory facial hair was just one of Santa's helpers since Santa has sooooo many kids to visit.

A couple of weeks later, Santa rode through our neighborhood on a fire truck and threw candy to the kids. Before his annual ride though, Santa sat in front of the first truck to talk to the kids. Ethan told him what he wanted and, despite that Santa's real dark mustache peaking out from underneath his fake white one, Ethan seemed to be trying to convince himself that this was, in fact, the real Santa. I didn't argue with him.

On Christmas Eve, we decided to head down to the White House and visit the big guy at his special little workshop on the Ellipse. Of course, this time, Santa had a real beard and mustache and these translucent blue eyes. He seemed really exhausted and though I was put off by that at first, I think the kids read that as genuine. Santa is, after all, the busiest man on Earth... at least at this time of year. Ethan even commented on how his beard was really stuck to his face. I think they were convinced this time.

 After seeing Santa, we walked around the National Christmas Tree, which was, sadly, pathetic. It was really nothing more than an enormous shrub weighed down by a net of lights. In the Nation's defense, I believe the real National Christmas Tree is down by the Capitol; but I guess I expected a little more from the Obama family. ;-)

 By far the best Christmas tree was inside the Botanic Gardens, which we visited later that day. The displays there are always amazing. This was the only photo I took, unfortunately, but if you ever visit the District during Christmastime, don't miss this.

Hope your holidays have been...

What couches are really made for

This is what it looks like at my house most days: kids and cushions flying all over the place. Good thing I don't have the guts to buy a new couch.

I wanted to try a little photo shoot with Christmas lights - an idea I got off of Pinterest (they should really start paying me for how much I rave about them). Of course I don't know what I am doing so the photos are pretty grainy. My kids are cute though!



The Farm

 When October rolls around out here, "farms" become little carnivals. Admission is $10 to $15 each and you go inside to pet and feed live animals, take hay rides through haunted forests, ride slides and get photos behind wooden facades.

 On the hay ride Ruby said, "Look, it's Jesus!"

 I barely got a photo as the wagon rode past "Jesus." Who knows? Maybe he would have looked like that had he come across the Atlantic on the Mayflower and lived longer than 33 years.

She was not a fan of the odor coming from the cow stall.

 My kids were tolerable, at best, of the goats. Check out Ethan's reach to pet the animal while keeping a safe distance from it. I thought the little goats were adorable.

Ethan wasn't so sure about going down this one (but made us go do it again once he finally tried it).



Halloween 2011

I would write about how awesome our Halloween was this year but the photos do it justice.

Ruby's Two day

A while back my good friend thought it would be cool to have a party for Ruby's second birthday and call it Ruby's Two day (you know, sounds sort of like the restaurant). She's pretty clever, my friend. I thought that was awesome so I threw a shindig to celebrate our little Ru finally reaching two years. 

p.s. Yes, the pinata is, fittingly, a ruby. It was lovingly created by Ryan and was a huge hit.