Page Family Christmas 2010

This Christmas we decided to take it easy and stay home during the vacation.  The children were out of school for two weeks and Freddie was off of work for a week and a half and it was heavenly to have everyone home and have nothing to do.  There were lots of lazy days filled with after 8am wake ups and all day pajamas.  I cooked and baked (homemade biscuits and "the" caramel cake, for example) all the while listening to Grace Church sermons which, come to find out, have become very relaxing activities for me to do together.  Freddie and I had a lot of quality time together with each other and with each of the children.  There were lots of movies watched, songs sang, books read, tea parties played and presents opened.  Snow started falling on Christmas Eve and we woke up to a blanket of white snow covering the city on Christmas morning.  We shared a delicious Christmas dinner filled with good southern American food (including REAL smoked ham... imagine that!  If you have time... you should read about the Thanksgiving 2009 ham debacle) and lots of laughs with some fellow American expats.  Move over Griswold Christmas Vacation...  If a Christmas movie could be made about the Page Family Christmas 2010... it would become a classic... albeit with a lot less fried squirrel and blown up septic tanks.

It was a very Merry Christmas.

Sporting the brand new fancy smancy sequin purse... and check out those cute baby toes in the corner.  I could just eat 'em up!

 

 I have my first brand new ceramic tea set.. this is gonna be fun!  Not really sure what Mommy was thinking when she chose glass over plastic...  Hmm...

Ooohh... makeup and glass... it rocks having an older sister.

 My Little Cindy Lou Hoo

 Sophia's First Bike

 Daddy took the girls on a date and brought back a dozen roses for Mom and one for each of his lovely little ladies.

And... Memories....  

Page Family Christmas 2009

Happy Christmas Eve

 Emily Claire

 Friends

 J-Bird...  waiting for his big moment on stage.

 Sisters.

 Love her!

 My Sophia - Our bright and shining star.

 The Shepherd and his Sister.

 Tai Chi Shepherd

 He was SO proud! (Not half as much as Mom)

 Stopping the procession for a photo opportunity..that's our star!

 Opening the traditional one gift Christmas Eve....  The excitement is building!

Merry December 7th!

I needed to take a current photo of my three angels so we turned the opportunity into a family photo fun shoot.  We hope you are all enjoying the holiday season!

 Emily "I'm a puppy dog" Claire and her two silly sidekicks.

 

 Check out the leg warmers!!   I love them!!  Hello 80s!

Let it Snow!

 

Raindrops on roses and

Whiskers on kittens,

Bright paper packages,

Warm woolen mittens

Silver white winters that melt into Spring (hopefully before June this time!)...

These are a few of the Pages favorite things!

(My Favorite Things - Sound of Music:  

Also, song of nostalgia from my childhood... gladly passing along the memory to my little ones as their nighttime lullaby - however, no so sure their ears are so glad)

We have been enjoying a Winter Wonderland here in France this week.  Well, "enjoying" might be a strong word for me... but the kids have definitely enjoyed throwing snowballs, making snow men and becoming snow angels.  The snow days definitely make a break in what can be the mundane of life and everything seems to be more exciting.  It doesn't hurt that Christmas is coming!  We started our Advent calendars last night and are going to start our Jesse Tree readings tonight.  I love love love this time of year!  This weekend we will be making our annual visit to Place de Jaude to ride the ferris wheel and gaze at the giant tree and on Saturday we will be decking the halls... I am so looking forward to making new memories with the family this year.

Happy Holidays everyone!