Christmas Past ~2006

Christmas Card 2006.

Photography courtesy of my dear friend, Elissa. This card is from Tiny Prints and I loved it. It did not scan well because it was a nubby linen type cardstock.


Our annual photo with Santa. This one was completely impromptu. My step father passed away about 10 days before Christmas and we were in Pennsylvania for the funeral. We happened upon a place up there with a great old fashioned Christmas shoppe. Santa was there. As you can see, my boys were not dressed as I normally dress them for a visit with Santa. However, they adored this Santa. He was so warm and genuine. Since, there were not many people there, he spent a lot of time talking to them. In fact, Will asked if we could drive the 6 hours to visit this one again.

These two photos are right before we are leaving for Christmas Eve Mass.

After Mass, we went to a live re-enactment of the town of Bethlehem and the nativity. It was really amazing.

Hanging the stockings with care.


This year Will's nutcracker was an entemologist. Will was very interested in collecting butterflies. I could not believe it when I found this nutcracker with the butterfly net and the ladybug. Will used to ask me everytime he saw a ladybug to go check the CCAA website to see if we were matched yet. Harry's nutcracker is a Santa soccer player because he loved soccer!

Again...reading the story if the birth of Jesus and Twas the night before Christmas. I cannot beleive it but I don't even have Christmas PJ's on!

Will's teacher made him a butterly collecting case. That was so sweet.

I guess since Santa brought Will Comet's antlers last year, he thought Harry ought to have some too. So, Santa left a nice letter for Harry with Prancer's antlers this year. Harry has the antlers in his right hand. If you click to enlarge, you can acutally read the letter.


Harry's favorite gift was the air hockey table he discovered in the playroom.

This year we drove up to my Mom's house immediately after opening our gifts on Chrsitmas Day. My step father passed away shortly before Christmas and we wanted to be there for her. This is cousin Ashton at my Mom's house.

Cousin Ashton hugging Uncle Dave (with Mimi and Will in background).

On the 27th, we took the train up to NYC to see the sights and take the boys to see The Lion King on Broadway.

At Toy R US with the giant ferris wheel in the background.

Most of our adoption group lives in Pennsylvania near my Mom and my sister. So while we were up there, many of us met for the first time. We had no idea how our lives would change in the next year!


When we came back to town we had the second annual family talent show with our dear friends. All of the children perform.

This year, Dave even played guitar.

The first few posts on this blog are actually of Christmas Eve and Day 2006. They are in January 2007 archives. But, I decided to do this because I did not include the card or Santa photos there.

I feel giddy with excitement today, Christmas Eve. I really feel like a little kid. I simply cannot wait to share all of our little Christmas traditions with Kate. I cannot wait to hold her squirmy body at Mass this afternoon. I know that I will be thinking of the years I dreamed of her being in our family. I cannot wait to put the peanuts in their matching Christmas pajamas. I cannot wait to hang her stocking tonight and read to her and the boys the stories we read each Christmas Eve. I cannot wait to see her open her presents tomorrow morning. I know that we are celebrating the birth of our Lord. I feel so blessed this year and I really cannot contain my excitement.

Merry Christmas!