lots and lots of rain

This afternoon we had a torrential downpour that concluded with a small river in front of our house.  Rain like this hasn't happened in about 18 years.  We had fun watching the cars trying to drive through it.  And the girls loved having a grand puddle to wade around in.

cookies

Today the girls had fun making and decorating Christmas cookies.  They did an excellent job!

cake

The other night for family dinner my mom made a special dessert.  Chocolate cake shaped as a gingerbread man!  The girls were pretty stoked.

dance time

For the first three Saturdays in December, we had Ava and Norah's dance performances.  The first one was a church (the original venue was rained out), the second was at San Jose's Christmas in the Park, and the third was at Santana Row (which consequently got rained out 3/4 through the show).  The girls had fun getting their hair and make up done.  I thought they were adorable in their costumes.  My absolute favorite of the whole show was Norah's gingerbread outfit.  Too cute for words!

For the curls to set, they had to sleep with the rollers

                                               




                                 

These are from the last performance at Santana Row

bethlehem 2012

It's become a tradition to go to the local Baptist church's Night in Bethlehem experience.  It is so well done - everyone who is here during the holidays should go to it.  Everyone is in character, and they give you a taste of what life was like during the time of Christ's birth - from making bricks to pressing grapes to tasting flatbread.  Amazing all around, and a great way to usher in the Christmas season.

Ava and me with a Roman guard

All who visited Bethlehem had the chance to write their name for the census

traditions

Norah had a school project about traditions.  She was to make a banner outlining every family member's hand.  Then we each had to decorate our own hand with either a holiday tradition or our favorite aspect of the holidays.  (We of course helped Serena's with hers).  It was a fun project to do together.