Bill and Amanda: Christmas 2011

Christmas is becoming one of my favorite times of the year. And I think that is mainly because we have children now. So this blog is to share some of my favorite holiday activities.

I have a group lesson at my house for my piano students every month. And they are usually themed around the current holiday or season. I can't speak for my students, but Marie and I have a lot of fun. In the picture above, we're making Christmas tree ornaments by cutting out music printed paper and folding them. If you look at the center of the table, you have an idea of what a finished one looks like.

Here is one of my students holding up our snack that we made. We had hot chocolate with snowman marshmellows. I got the idea from the holiday Martha Stewart living magazine and tweeked it to what I had on hand. This student did a better job on her's than I did on mine! These were a lot of fun to make.

This is a picture of our governor's mansion all decorated for Christmas. At least once a week in December, and additionally on Christmas Eve, we love to drive around and look at Christmas lights. They are so pretty! And people can be really creative. Marie really enjoys looking at them too.

Every year the Lutheran church down the road has a live nativity. I had never been to one until 3 years ago, and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite things to do at Christmas. What a wonderful and tangible reminder of why we are celebrating Christmas. These 2 little angels attached themselves to my little angel during a couple of the stations. Although Marie doesn't fully understand the meaning of Christmas now, I'm hopeful that she will in the next few years.

This is Marie's preschool class during their Holiday performance. They were all so cute, but of course I thought Marie was the cutest! She kept looking at us and waving and nodding her head. She was so proud to show us everything at her school.

Here we are at Christmas Eve. Someone looks ready to open some presents!

Marie is thrilled that she got a game of her very own! (Thanks Liz!) Santa had planned to give Marie the same game, but instead gave it to another child since Marie already had one.

You can see what Pippin thinks about the whole gift opening time.

Finally Christmas morning!!! This was the first year that Marie was excited and looked forward to opening presents on Christmas morning, and it was so fun!!! I can't wait until Jacob is old enough to get excited about Christmas too! Speaking of Jacob, he was asleep while we opened gifts on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. But rest assured, he did get his share of presents.