Christmas Day

 

        


                     
                                        





 


            

Official Events

You might have been wondering what happened to our Marine Corps ball this year.  Well, it was delayed by almost a month because the unit was returning from their deployment and/or on post-deployment leave for the majority of November.  So, on December 7th we finally headed down to San Diego for our ball, with the kids in tow because they provided childcare at the hotel.  The childcare portion actually worked out really well, BUT we hit a bit of a snag when we got all the way down to SD and Jake discovered that his Captain’s bars were back here at the house.  Consequently . . .

This will have to serve as this year’s “official” Marine Corps ball pic.  Oh well, that’s just how it goes sometimes!

   
We did get a few shots around the hotel: the view from our room, an impressive display of the hotel in gingerbread surrounded by a good-sized gingerbread village, and Naomi with her little backpack taking in the grandeur of the lobby.

          
You could look down from our room and see the pool, so of course the kids wanted to check that out in the morning.  Then there was a fine view of Coronado Island from the balcony, which inspired a quick driving tour before heading home.

                           
On the left, that was the view from the hotel.  On the right, you have the famous Hotel del Coronado; it’s been featured in numerous films including Some Like It Hot (Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis).

Another official-type event, Jake took over command of Charlie Company, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion (CEB).

          
There was a lovely little ceremony and a few brief remarks from the new CO.  For the record, yes, he did remember to thank his wife this time around.

More mandatory fun: the battalion Christmas party.  The unit is sponsored by some ritzy town on the outskirts of LA, so Santa was able to give out much nicer toys than what we are used to receiving at these things.  Our kids appreciated the toys, but weren’t so sure about Old Saint Nick, hence it became a family photo-op.

Christmas pics up next!

Getting Crafty

   
                        
I put this together at the end of the Christmas season last year and I am so extremely pleased with how it looks and what it has inspired.  They are little bags and each day gets a note with an activity on it.  We’ve done all sorts of things like baking cookies, decorating the tree, doing something kind for a stranger, reading a Christmas book, eating a candy cane and making crafts.  As a strictly non-crafty mom, we’ve done far more this month than we ever have!

This masterpiece is entitled “Harbor at Dana Point”.  You can see it, can’t you?

                         
These wreaths were lots of fun and turned out really well, I thought.  They’ve been hanging on the kids’ bedroom doors all month.

I tried some paper snowflakes with Logan but, predictably, they turned out like this.

                      
So we stuck with mine for this year.  We have our magi in a separate window since they are coming from far away.

                       
We even made our own nativity stick puppets and Logan put on a little show for us.  Naomi wasn’t really into that one either, and decided that Baby needed a story instead.

Jake’s been in the crafting mood too and has spent almost the whole month in the garage.  The only finished piece so far is this castle that he “helped” one of his lieutenants make for the general.

                              
We’ve had some bathtub creativity . . .

and lots of your average, everyday cuteness.

Logan had his first little church performance, singing Angels We Have Heard On High.  He was that kid that just stood there (even though I know he knows the words) and looked around at all the other kids.  It still makes me smile!

     
It was so much fun to have both the kids help decorate the tree this year.

                                     
Here’s the finished product.  I did help both the kids make Christmas ornaments but apparently haven’t gotten a picture of the results, so you’ll have to use your imagination--they are of the pipe cleaner and bead variety.

        
Jake put the lights up on the house (front and back).  Don’t they look nice?

                         
Another of our advent activities was a funny Christmas photo shoot.  Logan is playing you “Jingle Bells” and Naomi went with a “Deck the Halls” theme.

Christmas love!

A very merry Christmas from us to you!

From ALL of us!