So this is Christmas

Christmas at home.

Christmas with the Weidners.

Christmas with the Jones'.

Christmas!

The Eve

Who is excited that Christmas is tomorrow?

These guys.

Christmas Traditions

We've come to expect certain things from the weeks that every year lead up to December 25th.  It's nice having traditions.  We are glad to have things for Aiden (and soon Brady) to anticipate and look forward to.  One event that's been a mainstay of our Christmas season the last few years is Aiden's Christmas preschool concert.  Although this is his last year at Preschool in the Valley I'm sure we'll have many more years of his school concerts to enjoy. And of course, before we know it, it will be Brady's turn to step into an angel costume and take his turn belting out Christmas carols in front of hundreds of eager preschool parents.  The tradition continues.

A rapt audience.

Aiden and "The Buddies."

Teacher Mindy.  In Aiden's eyes there may never be an equal.

Our other big Christmas tradition is our annual pilgrimage to the wintry wonderland of downtown Philadelphia.  As the boys get older we hope to incorporate more varied activities, but for know we keep things pretty simple.  Half of the fun is getting to spend the night in a swanky downtown hotel (complete with much playing and swimming in the indoor pool.)  And the real hub of the action is at the center city Macy's where we go to see the Christmas light and organ show, walk through the Charles Dickens Village, and last but not least: visit Santa.

Trimming the Tree

Given the fact that Aiden is head-over-heels for any type of Christmas decorating, and the fact that Brady is head-over-heels for anything that Aiden does, we found ourselves yesterday with a Christmas tree to decorate and two very eager helpers.  Fortunately, collateral damage to fragile ornaments was kept to a bare minimum.  We even thought to snap a couple of pictures (and post them to the blog in a timely manner. Progress!)