Christmas eve, morning and day

A morning guest right outside our window. This Red-Bellied Woodpecker chases all the other birds away and clearly dominates the place until a squirrel comes.

At Mount Vernon, residence of the first president of the US, it was all about a camel. Hosting an exotic camel for the holidays is a long-standing-Mount-Vernon tradition; George Washington rented a camel to entertain his guests every Christmas. We loved petting this cuddly, soft giant. Getting a bit closer.And then way too close ;-)We also enjoyed visiting the third floor of the house--open only in December--and learning the roots of the twelve days of Christmas: there's twelve days between Gregorian-calendar Christmas and Julian-calendar Christmas. This is one handsome Mount-Vernon-model gingerbread house made by the former White house chef.

In the children's room Sonia tried to be Jacky first then she tried being Patsy

then Mrs Washington

and then why not George Washington himself!? Poor papa had to play Mrs...

We watched how real chocolate was made by hand. The Washingtons are said to have drunk hot chocolate every morning. Kids couldn't have any because it was too strong but they were aloud some diluted beer...

At night we burned a fire and had our traditional Christmas story with Handles' Messiah. This time we used Nana's creche. Sonia has been playing with it so when the time came we couldn't find Mary... plus the set didn't include Joseph. Jeremy had to improvise but it turned out lovely.

Santa worked hard into the night. I sewed polar bear car blankies for Feo, Sonia and PJ pants for papa. At about midnight while finishing up PJs, the scissors went right through my left pointer and we had to visit ER but we were back at 3 am.

The morning came and we all went to see if Santa ate his cookies... Sonia left them on the computer desk (to hide them from Mischa) and there were two left with huge bites in them... reindeer bites!

We spent whole day playing with new toys and enjoying our Christmas at home. Little Feo's first Christmas and his big stocking ;-)

Mischa the reindeerMischa is a free dog

Polar bear scarf and car blanket I made for Sonia... she was thrilled and couldn't wait to use them.

Feo needed this car seat blanket... it was so easy to make and I use it every day!

Jeremy in his polar bear pants playing harmonica.Thank you, mom for yummy nuts and Irina for a hand-knit wool sweater for Feo!My mom sent us presents that left me in awe... the wrapping was not of my moms making ;-) Mike did all the work and it made our tree so much more beautiful.

Feo caught smiling...My fave morning shot of papa and Feo

Sonia joined a photo shoot when she saw how much work it took to get Feo to smile on camera.

Next morning everyone was ready to head out of the house... to see trains at the National Botanic Garden, shopping at H&M at a huge Potomac Mills mall and then dinner at our friends house.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

On Friday night we went to see the lights at DC Temple and to enjoy a Musical Christmas program. Our friends Valerie and Mary Beth played flute and violin in the orchestra. It took us two hours what should have been fifty-minute drive but the children and I made it (Jeremy rode metro from work). We also got to see an orchestra pit. Then we enjoyed company of our friends. and beautiful Christmas trees decorated with dolls donated by different embassies. Here is a Russian doll and two adorable children ;-) Second performance was cancelled that night because a snow storm was approaching.

I thought to myself "what a big deal? I am not scared of two inches of snow!" We lingered a bit longer looking at lights and a beautiful creche.On the way back we caught the beginning of the storm and were lucky to travel behind a snow plow the whole way back.

Then Saturday morning we woke up to a snow wonderland. It snowed whole night and kept snowing whole day. Sonia and Feo were sick with fevers but Sonia dared to step outside to ride in her sled for about ten seconds. Snow piled up into her nose and mouth and she was back inside rather quickly. Jeremy kept shovelling the snow whole day and even at night.

This storm set the record for the month of December since 1910. An Ice Skating show we wanted to go to got cancelled; so was the ward Christmas party. Buses, trains and even an airport came to a halt. It was peaceful and quiet outside. Only Mischa was disturbing the neighborhood with his romping and snorkeling in the snow.

Sunday church was cancelled and we had one of the best brunches ever... no hurrying and no being late for the first time seems like. Then we did unthinkable.. we packed both kids, sick and half way sick and went onto an adventure to Huntley Meadows. Feo was tucked into Sonia's pink snow suit... poor boy. When he is of age, he will tell me "No more pink!" Sonia's jacket was still missing but she kept warm in a long sleeve shirt, turtle neck, fleece shirt and rain coat plus a warm cover in the sled. I wore Jeremy's snow boots from Russia and he wore his summer shoes. Off we went into a land of true magic.

Sonia's head was barely above the snow. She did well in the sled managing to fall out only once, being bumped into by Mischa once and then kept smiling.

At some point Sonia wanted to walk... "the snow is crunchy" she proclaimed.

At home we warmed our cold hands and feet by a fire, had squash and sausage soup for lunch and took naps... a perfect day if you may. And it just got better--all government offices are closed tomorrow so Jeremy will be home.