It's a holly, jolly Christmas!

After a wonderful Christmas Eve, Evie was the first to wake Christmas morning and rushed to check out the deliveries from Santa. She got her special wish for a Butterfly DreamLite! That Santa, he always knows exactly what she wants!

We finally woke Ellie up an hour later to get her special gifts, a new wooden crib and a feeding set for her babies.

For Christmas lunch we were joined by the whole family again!  Dia looked pretty in pink and had fun playing with a new slinky.  

Ellie cozies up to Opa and reads "The Wheels on the Bus". 

 

We forgot one gift for Ellie last night, so the girls tore into the gift wrap with Ba. 

Ellie was later delighted with her new doll, which looked just like her! 

She also loved her stringing beads which made an impressive necklace. 

We pose for a group shot on the stairs, all smiles!  Merry Christmas, everyone! 

Stille Nacht, Heilige Night at the Foelsche's

It was Christmas Eve, which means it was time to celebrate at Ba's and Opa's house with some of our customary traditions.  Who greeted us at the door?  Why, it's Dia and Ba!

Uncle Karl, Aunt Amy and Dia pose for a family picture by Ba's beautiful tree.  

 

The girls (clearly the majority) rested on the couch while the boys set up the cameras and clicked away. 

Ellie cozied up to Ba. 

 

Our family portrait, Christmas 2012.  

 

What a great photo of the grandparents with their little bundles of joy! 

 

We made it, with eyes still open (barely) after a week of moving, unpacking, and Christmas decorating!

 

Then it was time to light the candles and have the kids walk to the Christmas tree singing "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht". 

 

 

Evie as the oldest takes the lead. 

 

 

Present time!  After quickly ripping through her gifts, Evie played Santa and helped Opa unwrap a book of science experiments to do with kids! 

 

After dinner, the three girls played a duet (triplet?) on the baby grand piano.  Some budding pianists here!  What a lovely night to remember! 

Rolling into the Botanical Garden Station

Over the holidays we were delighted to have Uncle Karl, Aunt Amy, and Dia come visit us.  On Sunday, we went to check out this year's train exhibit at the Botanical Gardens.  New this year were some topiary animals like this bear (I think).  

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Ellie, Dia and Evie check out the cool turtles and pet their mossy shells. 

Dia and Aunt Amy were all smiles as we entered the room full of trains - this year the theme was a fairy kingdom and there were many adorable little tiny fairy rooms, castles, and even a dragon to admire. And, of course, Thomas and Emily were there too - and Thomas even winked at Evie! 

Phew! What a busy week, but we're ready for Christmas!

We started the week with a special recital at Evie's ballet class on Monday. The whole family was in attendance which was quite a treat!  Evie choreographed her own routine without any practice, and was pretty impressive!  

 

Later the girls donned red noses and reindeer antlers for their Christmas number. 

 

Later Ellie was victorious in obtaining a candy cane treat for herself.  

 

Evie got a big hug from Daddy after her performance.  

 

... and a special rose from Mom! 

 

After the recital, we went back to the house to say goodbye to 412 S Columbus one last time!  Thanks for all the wonderful memories! 

 

By the end of the week, we were all settled into our new home and had started to decorate for the holidays - finally!  Both girls helped mommy put together the German carousel in our new dining room. 

 

Uncle Karl, Aunt Amy and Dia arrived on Friday, to our delight!  Dia was so happy running around and playing with her cousins.  

 

Later that night the girls got very involved in decorating the tree (unfortunately, four days before Christmas is not the most ideal time to find a tall tree, so we had to make due with what was left at Home Depot).  They especially loved Mom's favorite 12 Days of Christmas ornaments. 

 

Ellie was very determined to be the one to hang up this ornament. 

 

On Saturday morning, Evie had her last gymnastics class with friends Greta and Ava.  

 

Here she is letting loose on the rings! Now she's an expert at the rings at home as well. 

Evie Debuts the Reindeer Pokey Song

Today Mommy, Ba and Opa were thrilled to attend Evie's Holiday Sing at her preschool, even though we were seated all the way in the back!  But we sneaked up front and got to see her sing three songs: Little Drummer Boy (she even had a drum), Twinkle Twinkle Little Lights, and the Reindeer Pokey dance. It was a stellar performance - no stage from this little girl!

Evie and her friends proudly wear their antlers while drumming and humming along.

 

You put your reindeer paws in, you put your reindeer paws out, you put your reindeer paws in, and you shake them all about! 

 

 Once more for the cheap seats in the back! 

Later Evie shakes her fuzzy tail for Mommy.  

 

Then we took the kids to City Hall Square where they made poor Ba and Opa chase them all over, little mischievous girls!  

 

It was then Ellie's turn to take the stage and demonstrate her dance moves. 

 

The girls finally took a break to take a lovely picture with Ba and Opa, Evie still sporting her red Rudolph nose.  

Ba and Opa treated the girls to some yogiberry before we headed home.  Evie loves her rainbow sprinkles while Ellie prefers chocolate sprinkles.  Evie also had to teach her little sister how to share, quite nicely. 

Lucky Evie (and later Ellie) got to ride home on Opa's shoulders. It was a little challenge keeping her sticky candy cane fingers away from Opa's face, but in the end they managed ok.  What a lovely afternoon!  

Nutcracker Season

Evie and Mommy attended the Ballet West performance of the Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center on Sunday.  Evie enjoyed the bear and ballerina wind-up toys the best, but got a little scared when they brought out and fired a cannon during the King Mouse fight.  She also liked the little kids coming out of Mother Buffoon's dress. 

Evie takes a bow in her shimmery pink sweater after she practices her piroutte in the Kennedy Center hallway. 

I've come to view the tapestries!

*Whenever Mommy thinks of a Scottish accent, she thinks of Harrison Ford in the third Indiana Jones when he arrives to the castle where his father is being held prisoner by the Nazis.  Anywho,this year we had lovely weather to enjoy the Scottish Walk.  There were plenty of kilts, bagpipers, and cute dogs in sweaters to keep us very amused the entire hour... although Ellie looks a little suspicious. 

...But she quickly became a believer after receiving a lollipop. She was not going to let that sucker go.

Evie proudly waved her Scottish flag.  She was super excited about seeing some of her friends from preschool in the parade!

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll pop?  We may never know... soon after this picture, our little angel went down for a nap in Daddy's arms, lollipop still firmly in grasp.  Woowee was she mad when she woke up and the lollipop had disappeared.  Thankfully Evie had saved another one for her and was willing to share. 

 

Santa rocked the bagpipes!  Another great Scottish Walk!