Photo A Day Dec 1-25, 2012

What a December we had! I am so grateful for all the different things we did! What is particularly impressive about all the smiles in these photos is how sick Taelin really has been for most of the month in some fashion.  We didn't completely follow my plan, partly because of illnesses, but that is ok.  I don't know how I will end up putting together my December Daily book this year.  I have pictures from most of the things we did and if not pictures, the stories for sure that I can tell.  Last year, I only did one photo for each day but I think with the pictures I took this year I will end up doing something different.  I have some time to think about that though and I am sure there will be a post about that whole thing in the next week or so.

For the purpose of my Something A Day challenge, I picked the photos that in a lot of ways overlap but might not necessarily tell the whole story.  Think of it as a little sneak peek into my December Daily.

dec 1, 2012

dec 2, 2012
tree hunting

dec 3, 2012
making snowman ornaments for family 

dec 4, 2012
shopping for the fire department toy drive

dec 5, 2012
Christmas coloring book

dec 6, 2012
Santa letter dictated
(what you are missing is what is on the back which says,
"I Love You Santa! Taelin". She wrote her own name.)

dec 7, 2012

dec 8, 2012
It was a tinsel year at our house. 

dec 9, 2012
gingerbread house decorating party
I think she ate more candy than what ended up on her house!

dec 10, 2012
helping get outside lights ready

dec 11, 2012
handprint Christmas tree

dec 12, 2012
preschool Christmas program

dec 13, 2012
I love snowmen!

dec 14, 2012
wrapping presents

dec 15, 2012

dec 16, 2012
Taelin and I went together but only stayed until intermission

dec 17, 2012
wrapping more presents

dec 18, 2012
Her Christmas 2012 Hallmark ornanment

dec 19, 2012
My gingerbread house.  Consider it checked off the list!

dec 20, 2012
She got a letter from Santa about her visit on the 15th!

dec 21, 2012
Making peanut butter fudge for Daddy!

dec 22, 2012

dec 23, 2012
adding a few sprinkles

dec 24, 2012
Soldering the light for Taelin's work toolbench

dec 25, 2012

The Nutcracker

For some reason, still unknown to me, I have wanted to see The Nutcracker since I was a little girl.  I must have seen something during the Macy's Day Thanksgiving parade one year or maybe it just seeps into your being when you wear ballet slippers.  Whatever it was, I have wanted to go for years.  I think one year I may have hinted to Joe that I would like it for a Christmas present but now that I know him better it was kind of foolish for me to think that he would purposefully go to the ballet with me. If I would have outright asked him he would've gone, but that's not what I did.

Well, this year is the year that I finally made it!  A dear friend agreed to go with me and we went to an afternoon performance.  We had a great time out at lunch first and then I got lost in downtown Portland trying to find a parking spot.  Once I figured out where I was going, we got to the auditorium and found our seats.  I purposefully chose a performance with a live orchestra.  I have to say that my heart was a little homesick as a heard the instruments warming up. (maybe something to do with my clarinet needs to go on my next 101 list...)

The performance was absolutely wonderful.  I think my favorite scene was the one right before intermission.  The effect of the snow on the the floor as the dancers performed...it was amazing.

It was over before I knew it.  There were quite a few families there and lots of little girls in Christmas dresses.  I am going to have to restraint myself to not take Taelin earlier than she would appreciate it; she is certainly too young right now.  But next year?  Maybe....