Christmastime Memories 2011

• Checking out Opryland Hotel's holiday decor at Thanksgiving with the Brown clan
• Anna's 911/ER episode at midnight to ring in December
• Getting the house decorated so late in the month
• Anna, at 3, coming alive to the season and all its details
• Anna's first little singing performance with MDO - she only stared and messed around
• The kids really getting excited and participatory with our Jesse Tree
• Catching our first 2 winter mice in the air vent again ... Chewie tipped us off
• 3 Dirty Santa Exchanges in one weekend
• Josh and kids did Chad's Winter Wonderland, Train Show, and Gallatin Parade
• Christmas for me/Josh:  New tires and new insulation under the house.  Ho, ho, ho!
• Making many muffins and cookies with Anna
• Skipped Lionel trains and gingerbread house, but doing Jellystone Park's light show
• Watched Polar Express - 9 times total ... with one more viewing planned this week
• Noah gets The Nutcracker stuck in his head after watching it in Music
• So we purchased several different versions of the Nutcracker ... only kept 1 of them
• Anna asked Santa for a princess keyboard and make-up
• Noah asked Santa for Ninjago characters and a Mater
• Hearing from Tania several times
• Noah's Polar Express Day at school
• Taking the kids to their first hockey game
• Knitting and crafting for gifts:  blanket, necklace, 2 chargers, 3 scarves, keychain
• Josh only had 3 days off for Christmas instead of the 2 wks we're used to
• Finally getting wreaths up on all the windows with but 5 days to spare - so pretty!
• Getting almost ALL the kids' gifts from GTP instead of shopping retail
• Seeing Jack again (8 mos. old) and that contagious, happy smile of his
• Noah getting Christmas mail/spending money from Tania
• Noah's favorite gift this year:  Imaginext castle that Santa surprised him with
• Anna's favorite gift this year:  "Aww of dem" she says with long sober eyes
• This year's Christmas card ...