Christmas Pageant

This was our third year participating in the Christmas Pageant at church. Every year has been a lot of fun, and the kids just love it. It's always amazing how it comes together in the end, and it's really a lovely service and a very touching pageant.

The first year, Clara was just over a year old and we were the Holy Family. It's all a bit of a blur, but I remember feeding her M&M's to try and keep her from crawling off my lap. Lee was an angel that year, and Aunt Lee was also an angel. It was very fun, although quite a big role for our first year.

Last year, Lee and Clara were both sheep, and Bridges and I were both shepherds. At least, we think we were. We can't clearly remember it as we talk about it now.

This year, Lee and I were angels, and Bridges shepherded Clara as a sheep.

We had dinner for everyone before the pageant. This year was great as I managed to plan a relatively simple dinner that was very tasty. We had a glazed spiral ham with a port cherry sauce, a cauliflower gratin with leeks and gruyere, and wonderful buttermilk biscuits. Bridges' mom contributed curried carrots. For dessert after the pageant we had crackers and cheeses and port and creme brulee. It was all very yummy. I need to remember that menu.

Christmas Day

We started Christmas Day at our house. My parents had stayed the night, so they were there for opening up stockings and breakfast.

We didn't get the kids much this Christmas. I got Lee a skirt and shoes I thought she'd love, and other than that they both got puzzles, books, and things like that. Santa brought Lee the Little Ponies that she asked for, and for Clara he brought some Polly Pockets (since he didn't have a set of witches that turned on, which is what she requested).

When the morning activities had wound down, we packed up and everyone drove to New Castle, where we did more gift exchange. Grammie and Gramps brought back these cool pictures from their trip to the Himalayas. The dragon was for Lee and the tiger, of course, for Clara. They're hanging in our dining room now.

Dave came over for dinner which was unexpected, but we were glad he was there.

We spent the weekend in New Castle, and as I recall it was very rainy, so we spent a fair amount of time in the den playing games. We also watched The Changeling, which was somewhat creepy but not as bad as I feared. I didn't really like Angelina Jolie very much.

Gingerbread 2009

Lee wanted a castle this year.

The Castle in Progress

The Decorating Phase

We even bought little votives that we stuck inside, so the butterscotch windows glowed when it was dark. It was pretty neat.

Clara decorated her own little house with Daddy's help.

Aunt Lee was here for the decorating and had her own house too.

I must remember to start this more than two days before Christmas next year.

The Caswell Christmas Celebration

This year, our pre-Christmas get-together was held the week before Christmas at Dave's house. We had lasagna and salads and ice cream and Christmas cookies for dessert.

The girls made presents for some people (there wasn't enough momentum to get everyone). Lee and Clara both made ornaments from Perler beads, and Lee also made some potholders. Here is Deb with her potholder.

Linda gave Dad this awesome hat.

Dad made this ferry complete with fifteen little cars and trucks. The girls loved it, especially Clara.

One of the gifts from Liam's grab bag.

Christmas Dresses

Christmas Photo 2009

Playing in the Snow

Kitty

This is a cat, whom my kids originally call "Kitty," who lives in the neighborhood and visits us periodically. She's a great cat, full of energy and very tolerant with the kids. She's very curious, and has gotten into our house a few times. We thought for a while she might be a stray since she doesn't wear a collar, but then an email went around the neighborhood. It turned out we weren't the only family she was visiting, and there was at least one that wanted to adopt her. But in the end, someone claimed her, so now we just play with her when she visits and then she goes on her way.

Clara's Birthday

Clara turned three! Wow, the baby years seem a long time ago.

We started with balloons and presents, and waffles for breakfast.

This felt like a flashback to either Princeton or Halloween, but the inspiration behind the orange and black theme was actually tigers.

A Marble Run

A New Tiger for Clara

We spent the morning at the Children's Museum, which we hadn't visited in years.

Clara especially loved the room with all the golf balls.

There was this cool screen with butterflies that landed on you if you stood still,

and lighted tangrams,

and a great new climbing structure that was new to us.

Afterward we went to Flour Bakery for lunch, and it was great, although both kids were tired and I ended up leaving because Clara was in tears and disturbing the business lunch crowd. Lee had a few moments, as well. Here's one of them.

Love That Face!

That evening we had family for dinner (both sets of grandparents and Aunt Linda), and ate the tiger cake.