Winter Festivities

December was a delightful flurry of appointments, performances, and festivities.  Here are some of them - in inexact chronological order.  Videos to be posted separately.

Once again, Lucy's preschool held a Christmas performance at Holy Name Church.  Once again, the parents stampeded the altar.  I gave up and didn't really worry about taking my own photos or videos. Thankfully, some other parent who's a pro did and here are her pictures.

The cultural experiences continued from there. Tommy and Clara joined Grandma and Aunt Sara for a performance of "Peter and the Wolf" by the SF Symphony as well as ice skating downtown.

Grandma also took Tommy and Marco to Gilroy Gardens for a nighttime adventure

 Tommy & Mama enjoyed the SI Orchestra and Jazz Band concert.  Backstage, Tommy chose his instrument. (actually he says he wants to play saxophone, which is probably a better fit)

Lucy, Daddy, Mama, and Grandma took in The Nutcracker at our dance school and Lucy got to see Miss Samantha and Miss Jessica perform.

Back on the home front, Lucy received a brand new bed for her birthday/Christmas and while he room was empty, awaiting it's arrival, she jammed on her guitar.

We also took advantage of our hopes that this bed would be in place for the next 10 years or so, to leave her 4-year-old mark on the wall behind it.

... and then it arrived!

Junior Giants seems to be the gift that keeps on giving for Tommy as he got invited to an event at AT&T Park in December!  While Joe Montana and other celebs were there, this was the only photo op Tommy got.  Here's Tommy, Jamison, and Leo with Gigante - the mascot of the San Jose Giants.

 and one of Tommy's souvenir's from the evening...

and of course, we visited Santa!

Tommy's school had a performance at a local high school theatre so Tom and I lent our skills running sound and lights.

Tommy and Lucy both had a performance for their musical theatre class.  Lucy's class performed "Frosty the Snowman" and Tommy's class performed "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas."  Both did a great job and had a lot of fun up on stage.

First they practiced at the studio and learned how to use microphones properly.

 

Then they had a dress rehearsal onstage.

After a great field trip to City Hall in November, Tommy wanted to go back to see the Christmas Tree and play tour guide to Nana, Jennifer, and Lucy.  The tree's theme was "Tree of Hope" and it was covered in paper cranes.  Tommy loved it and made us all go back again this week before they took it down!

He left a message of hope in the guest book

Explaining to Lucy how to stand in the center right under the dome.

Finally, it was birthday time.  So we decorated the birthday tree to celebrate Lucy turning 4 years old.

 We wrapped up 2013 with a haircut and the lady at Supercuts even used the blow dryer, which straightened Lucy's curls.  We'd never seen her hair like this (and it didn't last!)

it was an exhausting month!