Christmas Morning is the Best!

The kids had fun opening their presents.  Zackary got to practice guitar with his uncle who is very good at the guitar.  We had Baba and Jedo over as well for Christmas breakfast of sausage casserole, coffee cake, coffee, bacon and strawberries.  In the evening we went over to Aunt Debi's and had a nice dinner.  ProBaba got gifts from her kids and us and you two helped her open them.  

Christmas Eve

Emme was once again terrified to take pictures with Santa so this was the compromise we came up with, she would stand next to him.  Zackary as usual was picture perfect.  The photographer had a problem with the pictures and wanted to take them again so Santa just grabbed Emme and put her up on his lap.  She didn't have time to react and they took a picture.  It was PERFECT!

FI has a huge Christmas Tree each year and of course gives us fun pictures to take.

My good friend CM came over with his son Chance and Emme and him had fun playing together.  They gave Emme this really neat "briefcase" of art stuff and she was already playing with it 5 minutes later!

Above we are at my Mom's house.  Spent the day there enjoying Christmas Eve.  Below we are back at our house in Christmas PJ's, cookies laid out for Santa, and ready for our traditional bedtime story!

Twas the night before Christmas......

Our tree is to thin this year.

Merry Christmas Everyone.  Zack (7) and Emme (4) are super excited for Santa to come.

He's Growing

Toothless is growing!  Emme you like to hold him a lot and Zackary you really want nothing to do with him.  The opposite of what I thought was going to happen.  Toothless really doesn't like to be held but loves sitting in the window and watching all the passerby's.   

St. Nicholas

My Serbian side used to get together when my Jedo was still alive and celebrate our Serbian patron saint St. Nicholas.  Father would come to your great grandparents home and Pro Baba had made delicious bread that is blessed and passed and eaten.  It's a day of feast for Serbian families and either having the celebration at your home or going to a friends home for the event.  Uncle Tom has decided to bring this day back to life for us many years after Jedo's passing.  So we met today and had a nice feast with family and friends.  Pro Baba had you front and center with her (the matriarch) as she explained to you what the blessing meant and had you both partake in it.  I was amazed to watch both of your faces, your seriousness and your interest in Father Checo was doing. 

Saint Nicholas used his miraculous powers to help everyone in need, sickness or anguish. His prayers are said to restore sight to the blind, the faculty of hearing to the deaf and the ability to walk to the crippled. - See more at: http://voiceofserbia.org/content/st-nicholas-day-0#sthash.TMLbQ6v2.dpuf

Saint Nicholas used his miraculous powers to help everyone in need, sickness or anguish. His prayers are said to restore sight to the blind, the faculty of hearing to the deaf and the ability to walk to the crippled. - See more at: http://voiceofserbia.org/content/st-nicholas-day-0#sthash.TMLbQ6v2.dpuf

Below is the bread that our cousin made.  It is blessed and everyone puts their hands (or fingers if there isn't a lot of room) on it as it is turned in a circle.

St. Nicholas was regarded as the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, children and students.  He used his miraculous powers to help everyone in need, sickness or anguish.  His prayers are said to heal the blind, deaf and crippled.  He is our amazing family saint and I love having this evening to celebrate him and bring us all together with blessing and food.

Elf

You are suppose to give a name him but we all call him Elf. He had some really good, tricky hiding places this year so he could keep a close watch over your behavior.  Above he is taking a ride with Anna.  Below he is hiding with his friends the Angels.

He was caught reading a book to all his friends, and one morning he drew minions on all of the bananas. Just silly!  But made us all laugh!

High Up On A Train

Our local mall is a bit fancy and over the top.  While shoe and Christmas shopping we made a stop to ride the train and say hello to Santa high up on the 3rd floor.  Emme you loved it.

Christmas Sing A Long at Pre-Kindergarten

It was a true blessing to watch you and your friends in class all sing Christmas songs, especially Silent Night!  I will miss not having this one sing a long each year.  

Afterwards we enjoyed hearing you tell us by memorization Twas A Night Before Christmas.  You knew the first 5 pages by heart. 

We are so happy that you are enjoying Pre-K and all your friends.  You are such a student already and social butterfly and it's really fun to watch.  Love you!

Annual Rogers Gardens Tradition

Each December we meet our friends at Rogers Gardens to explore the beauty of Christmas and awe of lights high up in the trees.  It's a lot of fun.  Once we have walked through the Christmas ornament hall we warm up at a local restaurant.  I love our tradition.

Helping

It was a special day helping Grandma put up her artificial tree and decorate.  We didn't want her to do it alone and we knew it would be hard without Grandpa there with her.  It was a really nice afternoon!

A Beauty

Christmas Photos at Oak Creek

Blessed by our friend, a professional photographer, we were able to get some amazing shots to choose from for our Christmas Card!  She captured our families true moments and with each scene made others feel something.  A real talent.  

Toothless Thanksgiving Day Float!

Zackary was elated when he was watching the New York Thanksgiving Day Parade and saw they did a float of Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon.  The biggest dragon ever! 

Capturing the Personality of My Little Angel

All I Want for Christmas.....

I had to post these pictures of what Zackary wanted from Santa (above) in detail and below what Emme wants!  So cute.  And the letters are off to Santa!

Fall at Grandma's House

Spending the day looking for fairy house essentials, playing in the leaves, swinging on the backyard swing, watching the squirrels and lizards and feeling the sun on our face...makes the best day!

Montage Sunset

What an evening at the Montage!  We decided to eat dinner at a local Laguna Beach Mexican restaurant and go watch the sunset first across the street at the Montage Beach.  It was truly breathtaking.

And a lot of fun!