Nutcracker

The day after the anniversary party we got our tree. That’s a week later than usual, but we didn’t want to have it up during the party to save a little space. The last few years we’ve gone out to a Christmas tree farm called Yaeger’s Farm in Phoenixville. They have tractor rides out to the trees and then give you a saw and you cut it down yourselves.

In this area there is apparently a shortage of tall Christmas trees, so we found the tallest one we could, which was only about 6 feet. But it ended up being perfect – and we didn’t have to smoosh the star on top.

Later in the month we enjoyed two other Christmas traditions – visiting Santa, this year in the Macy’s Santaland, and going to the Nutcracker, performed by the Pennsylvania Ballet. The girls got haircuts between the two below pictures. Sophie wanted the minimum amount cut and Lauren went for more of a bob, which she likes wearing with one side behind her ear. So stylish.

Read more

Since Sophie was 2 1/2 I’ve taken her, and then both girls, to see the Nutcracker performed by Pennsylvania Ballet. The production is amazing and it’s a fun tradition to get us into the holiday spirit. This year because December was so busy, we didn’t go until the 23rd, which was actually pretty fun because the City was at the peak of Christmasness.

All dressed up and ready to go. I let Sophie wear some of my red lipstick (oy) and she also recently got tall boots. 7 or 17? Hard to tell.

The girls with a ballerina during intermission.

Read more

The Nutcracker is becoming a tradition for us. This was the third time that Sophie has seen it, and Lauren’s first. This year we had a special treat and got to go back stage to meet some of the dancers during intermission. I’m not sure who was more excited – me or the girls. 
Before the show

Getting ready for the second half

The dancers were really great. This woman was complimenting Lauren on her dress. 

Read more

We had a Holiday-filled day today. This morning we made some Christmas cookies (some pics below), then went to Sophies very first Nutcracker, which she was very good for, and then watched Frosty the Snowman. We’re ready for Christmas!

 Melting all of the ingredients together
 Rolling the dough
 Cutting out a Christmas tree
 Decorating (where more went in her mouth than on the cookies)
The final product! 
Read more