A Little Extra Christmas

New Year's Eve Day was our much-anticipated trip to see the WV Qualters. Maya was so excited to see her cousins, she kept letting out squeals of joy during the drive up. We hadn't seen Mark and Erin since the marathon in October... they had spent a few weeks in Hawaii and then spent Christmas with Erin's parents. So it was with great rejoicing when we were all together again. To add to the happiness, Uncle Matt was visiting from Massachusetts. The three Qualter brothers together always ensure a rollicking good time.

So hard to get a focused picture of all three girls looking at the camera!

See!

They snuck away for a make-over session in Peyton's room. Thank goodness this mostly entailed putting on layers and layers of Lip Smacker lip balm.

There was a small amount of gift-opening. Maya received a set of magnetic wooden dress-up dolls. A Super big hit!

We're all eagerly anticipating the arrival of another Qualter girl in March; Erin is pregnant! So 2012 should be off to a good start...

Post-Christmas with Nana and Pops

We were lucky to have Nana and Pops visit for a couple of days. Despite the short amount of time we were able to pack in a trip to the Arboretum, dinner at the Lebanese Taverna, a visit to the DC Temple to see the lights and creche exhibit, lunch at Eastern Market, some playtime at National Harbor, and even a little relaxation time. Here are a few moments captured on film:

A lovely way to end 2011!

Christmas Joy

At about 7am this morning, a sleepy voice said sadly, "Santa didn't come."

"Why do you say that?" asked Mike.

"I didn't hear the clip clop on the roof." she answered.

"Maybe the reindeer were really quiet." Mike suggests. "Let's go downstairs and see if Santa left anything."

And her eyes brightened up as she noticed her stocking bulging on the banister.

I love the joy little kids have on Christmas morning!

Despite the fact that we tried not to make this a Christmas about presents, there were an awful lot of them under the tree! Maya received some wonderful gifts and was overjoyed by all of them. She wanted to open each one and play with it right away... which meant we made ice-cream with her new ice-cream maker, tried to look at the stars with her telescope, listened to various bird calls in her new book, etc. And Mike surprised me with a new Mac Book Pro. And a trip to NYC. And a BlendTec blender. Wow.

After we ate breakfast we prepared dinner so it would be ready by the time we got back from church. The service was abbreviated - only sacrament meeting - and I sang O Come All Ye Faithful. Afterwards we had the Marchenas over for dinner. Whole chicken, roasted veggies, tabbouleh, salad, bread... oh, it was lovely.

A very happy Christmas indeed.

Somehow, not only for Christmas

But all the long year through,

The joy that you give to others

Is the joy that comes back to you.

And the more you spend in blessing

The poor and lonely and sad,

The more of your heart's possessing

Returns to you glad.

—John Greenleaf Whittier

Home for the Holidays

This year I insited that we stay home for Christmas. This in the hope of preventing travel stress and ensuring the ability to celebrate in our own unique way. And though we miss the big family gatherings, it has been wonderful being in our own place and creating our own traditions.

Oh-so-much music around here - piano playing, singing, listening to CDs... it's been so festive!

We love baking and making our own bread. Here is Maya kneading some chocolate bread.

Christmas Eve brunch to be shared with our neighbors. On the menu: veggie fried rice, carrot cake oatmeal (thanks for the recipe, Em, it was DELISH!), the aforementioned chocolate bread, and fruit. Unfortunately our friends were over an hour late... so the food got a little cold...

Baby Christopher enjoyed playing piano with us.

Our neighbors Rossy, Christopher, and David.

After brunch we headed to Eastern Market to enjoy the crisp winter air. I love Christmas in the city!

Maya helped me wrap gifts.

Mike and Maya made Polish pierogis, a tradition in the Qualter house.

They were delicious!

Maya has been loving this Christmas season. Before falling to sleep she whispered "Mom, I can't wait for Santa to come!" Alas, it seems as though Santa has won out over baby Jesus... but just barely, I think. Someday she'll appreciate those spiritual gifts. For now, the promise of Lincoln Logs under the tree is just too alluring!

Merry and Bright

The Shortest Day

It seems the sun hasn't been around much the past few days - gray and rainy. I can see why the ancients long ago would participate in elaborate rituals to call forth the sun on these long winter days. We honored the winter solstice this year, too. Lantern walks, gathering with friends, and hunkering down in our warm home with each other; we made up for the lack of light by creating our own.

Mike and Maya made the two lanterns above for a Lantern Walk with Maya's class.

Today we gathered at Helen's home for some crafty goodness to celebrate the return of the sun. Pomander balls made the room smell amazingly comforting and fresh.

Though I was trying to avoid any more sugar this season, I let Maya join in the cookie decorating. Alas, she was licking the icing off her hands and bouncing off the walls a minute later.

Then the girls dipped their own candles in melted beeswax.

Alice and Vivienne show us their masterpieces.

A candlelit walk through the neighborhood closed our festivities.

And then, after dinner, we completed our comforting nighttime routine. Hot bath, brushing teeth, and cuddling in bed while we read some books. Then, lights out and she cuddled up next to me, her finger esconced in my belly button. Within a few minutes her breath had evened out and she was asleep. The rain pattered on the skylights above and all was peaceful and good. Even on this, the longest and darkest night, we are warm and filled with light. No wonder celebrating Christmas during this season feels so right!

Happy Solstice to you. Hope you are able to find moments of light and warmth on these dark nights (which from now on will be getting shorter and shorter!).

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Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.