Christmas Morning

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

When all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

(Except for Pop Pop and Kariana who were sprinkling reindeer food on the lawn)

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

(Cookies and milk were left as an extra incentive)

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter!

(And, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a purple bicycle!)

I am $#&*@ years old?

I turned the big 40 this month so Tobin and I set off on an adult weekend to celebrate in San Francisco. We stayed at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill and had a relaxing weekend. We visited Aunt Kari, Uncle Eddie and Baby Annika (35 weeks in Aunt Kari's tummy). Kariana stayed with Grandma and Pop Pop and apparently didn't even miss us. Here is a picture of us in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel.

Breakfast with Santa & The Purple Bicycle

Kariana had breakfast with Santa a few weeks before Christmas. It's an annual event at St. Mark's School and this year Kariana was eager to sit on Santa's lap to let him know what she wanted for Christmas - a purple bicycle!

Sending a letter to Santa's workshop at the North Pole.

Intrigued by Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Posing for a picture in Santa's sleigh.

The Christmas tree is all decorated but where are the presents?

Christmas Angels

Kariana participated in her first Christmas pageant at church on Sunday morning. After a long three hour dress rehearsal on Saturday the kids were finally ready for showtime. Kariana was an angel. I'm fairly certain Kariana and her other little angel cohorts did not understand the message behind the story. As the older kids practiced their lines in the church, the angels and shepherds (mostly preschoolers) watched Ruldoph the Red Nosed Reindeer and How the Grinch Stole Christmas in the room next to the side chapel. They snacked on cookies and fussed with their wings and halos. There seemed to be a lot of three-year old drama related to wings and halos while they waited for their big apperance. But when showtime came all of the girls looked like sweet angels sent down from heaven above. If you've ever had a three-year old, you'll appreciate the irony! Tis' the season!

Trick-or-Treating

I was amazed how quickly the girls caught on to trick-or-treating this year. Each of their personalities really came out. It wasn't long before Kariana and her two Sophie friends were running from door to door holding out their trick-or-treat bags. Of course Kariana was leading the pack in her pirate costume. She was ten steps ahead and yelling back at her friends "come on girls." Ballerina Sophie did a great job keeping up with her, but Princess Sophie had a slight disadvantage in her antebellum dress. The candy distributors couldn't resist the faces of these three little girls and most everyone gave them each two or three pieces. When it was time to go home the girls looked in their bags and Kariana said "but it's not full yet!"

Pink Pirate Birthday Party

Party set-up is ready.

Kariana is 3!

Grandma helps Kariana cut her pirate birthday cake.

Kariana and her friends enjoying hot dogs, cake & ice cream.

One last jump in the Pink Pirate Castle before bedtime.

St. Mark's Pumpkin Patch - Oct 2011

Kariana and her friend, Sophie, at the St. Mark's Pumpkin Patch.

Leg Kicks

Kariana has been enjoying the fall weather by making laps around the block on her scooter. I'm probably biased. Watch Kariana's right leg on the straight away. Is that not the cutest?

First Day of Preschool

Kariana started her first day of Preschool on Wednesday at St Mark's Episcopal. It was without event but I have to admit we cheated a bit. Kariana's Preschool 2's classroom is the same room she plays in at "Junior Church" while mommy & daddy attend "Big People Church." In other words, her classroom is also the nursery school room for the Church so she's already familiar with it.

I worried Kariana would not understand the difference between church and school, but she seems to know she's going to school and that it's a big deal. We walk to school and fall in line behind other kids in the neighborhood headed in the same direction. She's very talkative along the way and understands that these bigger kids go to her school too. She tells me when she gets bigger she can play on the "big kid" playground. For now, the preschoolers have their own playground in the courtyard next to their classroom.

Kariana didn't seem phased by her first day of school, but mom wasn't prepared for all of the other screaming two year olds. This shouldn't have surprised me, but I was so confident Kariana was prepared for her first day that I forgot to take into account there might be other kids who would not be so happy that their mommies were leaving them behind. Kariana came home saying that the "babies were crying" and "one of them threw up." The babies meaning a few of the younger two year olds and the one that vomited did it two days in a row. Great! Hopefully next week the classroom will settle down a bit.

Oregon Trip August 2011

Oregon in August seems to have become an annual trip for us. A few days on the Oregon Coast, a day at Triangle Lake and a few days back in Portland. We cover alot of ground and get to visit with family and friends.

Kariana with Aunt Kari and Grandma Carlson! Nothing but sunshine and 70 degree weather. A far cry from the 100 degree weather back in Houston.

The whole gang on the beach and a break for ice cream - chocolate, of course!

Chasing waves and two beach bums!

Triangle Lake with the whole gang - Great G&G Carlson, G&G Carlson, David & Flavia, Trevin & Melinda and cousins Britta & Michaela, Emily & Leif with Ava, Lars and Anna, and Aunt Kari & Uncle Eddie and baby-on-the-way! Yes, Aunt Kari is pregnant! It was a full house.

A visit with Great Grandpa Wilson

Portland Rose Garden