Preparing for Santa

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies!" - Francis P. Church (From the New York Sun, September 21, 1897)

Colin knows that Santa is coming tonight and he is STOKED!  He also knows that there are a few things that needed to happen before Santa's visit.  For instance, we were going to go see the Christmas Tree in DC and hang out with some of his cousins (which is so exciting in itself), and we were going to open some gifts sent from Grammie, Pi-pa and Mi-ma (Oregon).  We also needed to bake Christmas treats for Santa, buy carrots for the reindeer, and watch some Christmas movies (Charlie Brown & The Polar Express).  He has been pretty patiently waiting and enjoying all of the Christmas traditions that have unfolded this year.

On Thursday, Colin and I spent the day together.  My little helper baked sugar cookies, oatmeal chocolate chip and fudge with me!  It was a lot of fun.  Although, he did try to lick EVERYTHING and eventually my cookie area turned into his car track, but it was still a lot of fun.

Colin using the cookier cutters



Colin's cars

Last night we headed to DC with our nephews and Aunt Wen Wen to look at the Christmas Tree at the White House and Capitol.  It was freezing, but beautiful!  Colin loved it!  He always loves hanging out with Aiden and Alexei, but he also loved the trees and all of the trains set up around the biggest tree.  They even had Thomas and Percy trains this year!  Colin freaked!

The Capitol Tree

The Capitol

Colin all bundled up!



The tree by the White House - it is surrounded by trees from each state and territory.


We decided to make Christmas Eve the day we open gifts from my side of the family.  Colin loved everything.  Thank you Grammie, Pi-pa and Mi-ma.  Colin has spent all morning playing with his new toys.  I was able to catch his reaction to some of his gifts on our new Flip!  The Flip is a great thing.  It is perfect size (small) and plugs right into your computer (easy to load) and takes great videos.  Love it!

This has been such a wonderful holiday season!  Colin is at such a fun age. 

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family!  I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday!  Thank you everyone for the Christmas cards, gifts, fb comments, etc.  We love you all and miss you! Wishing everyone a happy and safe conclusion to 2010 and an amazing New Year!