December 2014

Treats for Rita's teacher's baby shower

Two sweet little faces

Santa stopped to talk with Ellen after his lunch break.  So special.

 

Grace and Rita's Sunday School class

 

We went to the police station to get out of a parking ticket (it was waived.)  When we got there, we saw some friends from our school (so random because they live in Maryland!)  They had found a diamond ring at the gas station and we happened to be there at the same time.  The police officer gave us a tour of the entire forensics lab.  It was great! 

This year was Sam's turn to the to the Ritz Carlton to make a gingerbread house.  Grandma also happened to be visiting so we invited her to come along!

Sam and his best friends from school...

 

Candy!  A dream come true!  Notice all the boxes in the background.  That is how they wrapped the gingerbread houses after the event for the children to take home.

December 2014 Events

Happy Birthday to Nate and Ellen - December 10th!

Ellen's first American Girl Doll - she picked out a Bitty Baby!

Sam and his teacher Miss Hine at the Christmas Concert

Me and my dear (pregnant) friend Jiyeon

 

Christmas Choir at Church

I took the kids (plus Sam's friend Carter) to a near craft place in Bethesda on a Snow Day. 

They loved it!

The kids singing for the Christmas performance at CBS.  It is hilarious because all of the kids are distracted during the performance and walk off stage, etc.  Clara sat for the whole thing.  Ellen did great.

The girls and their buddy Brooks.

Family Christmas Events

I try to take the kids to a Christmas event or two during the month of December.  I took the younger girls to a theater performance located in a old renovated prison-turned-art-center.  It was so fun for them to watch.  The theater is geared towards children 5 and under so they were entertained the entire time.

We also took the kids to a family sing-a-long at Wolf Trap Performing Arts put on by the Presidnents Own Marine Corp Band.  It was super fun.  I brought hot chocolate, whipped cream and bells for the kids to jingle.  It was freezing and rainy but we sat inside and made some memories.  Everyone walks out of the large barn singing Silent Night and holding candles.

Christmas White House Tour

I snagged tickets for our crew to tour the White House in December.  It was a horribly rainy day but it was so worth the effort to go.  Nate and my brother Brian had to work so Alayna and I took the kids with Nana and Papa.  Strollers and diaper bags were NOT allowed and there is no parking... so we were in for an adventure.

 

Papa was in charge of holding Marta in the Baby Bjorn carrier.  It worked out great because she was toasty warm and even too a nap!

I didn't want to forget some of the decorations.  This was the Christmas tree outside the entrance and I thought it was so pretty to see the logs dipped into gold paint.

Once inside the White House, we had to wait by the entrance for about 30 minutes because when we registered through our Congressman, I gave the wrong birthdate for Nana and they had to question her and run her information through a computer.  

Clara was in my backpack during the entire visit but my back started to hurt so I let her down.  When I put her down in the hallway, she bolted!  I had to chase her down but the Secret Service agents stopped her for me on the other end.  

 

 Andrea:  the walking diaper bag

I thought these ornaments were really cool.  It was sliced wood with glitter on the edges and writing in the middle.

Papa with his favorite president in the background.

This was hilarious.  We were the last ones on the tour and the Secret Service agents were pushing us through because a helicopter was about to land.  But, my mom had to ask the agent advice about her new Iphone.  Alayna and I were dying laughin.

What a fun and happy crew!  I am so glad I pulled the kids out of school and made this happen.  It made for some great memories.