'Tis the Season

Happy December! Although really, our December got a jumpstart with Christmas in Seattle. The snow continues here in North Dakota - on Tuesday we had "blizzard like" conditions. I am inspired by Maggie's blog topic of Christmas traditions that she hopes to pass on to Juliet (Cheryl and Randy's friend and Bear's girlfriend). Here are ours:

1. Christmas music all the time starting the day after Thanksgiving (per Brian). This year we started BEFORE Thanksgiving.

2. Getting our Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. We got our tree yesterday and it's beautiful. Seven feet tall and she's a really full and wide tree.

st. petersburg, russia july 2007. we spent all this money there, so we got free shots of vodka. wow. what a deal.

3. Procuring Christmas ornaments from our travels. Decorating the tree takes an extra long time because there's a lot of reminiscing that occurs. For example: "Oh! Chilly! Here are your Russian ornaments...did you buy them at the same store where you spent all the rubles on caviar?" "Isn't it odd to think we ended up at the Eiffel Tower and in France by mistake?"

very serious about decorating

4. Lilly's own personal tree. What was once our porch tree has become Lilly's bedroom tree. It's the perfect size for her and she had a lot of fun decorating it. It's covered in all of Brian's old "little kid" ornaments. The tree serves as a nightlight and she loves waking up and seeing it in the morning. Sophie the Giraffe has made a reappearance as the tree-topper.

Lilly's finished tree

5. A White House Ornament each year Christmas is spent in D.C. (for Lilly) Auntie Risa surprised Lilly with this gift last year when we had Christmas out East and she said she'd give Lilly a White House ornament every year it's a D.C. year.

6. Krumkake. Norwegian Christmas cookies that Brian has mastered baking. We have a krumkae iron and Saturday and Sunday afternoons in early December are spent making these cookies. They look like Italian pizzelles, but are rolled up in a cone shape and taste so much better. Brian makes cinammon flavored and chocolate krumkakes as well.

7. Hallmark Ornaments. Since our college days, Brian and I have always gone to Hallmark and picked out an ornament for each of us and then a Santa. (Santa of the year was a free ornament when you bought two). This year Lilly can choose her own ornament and we'll get a Santa. (Times are tight - Hallmark doesn't give out free Santas anymore!)

not performing in Seattle. (not bc of stage fright, but cranky and tired)

8. The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is performed in Grand Forks by the traveling Moscow Ballet in early December each year. This is a tradition to happen in the future, maybe when she's 4 or 5. Part of me was hoping that if we took her to this year's performance, she'd be excited to perform on stage in her dance recital next week. Lack of attention from a 22 month old dettered us from buying tickets. Although, Brian and I both fell asleep during the first act when we went to see The Nutcracker in D.C. and we were 19 and 20. 

9. A Visit to Santa's. Last year's visit to Santa at Columbia Mall left much to be desired. We went on a whim, so Lilly wasn't dressed up or even in Christmas colors. She was unhappy and scared of the Santa who looked very mean. This year, we're hoping for a better photo.

10. Tom & Jerrys. Brian's hot toddy of choice during the holiday season. A warm mixture of eggs and sugar and brandy and rum. Delish. Brian makes his own batter.