Christmas Highlights 2012

Since Thomas and I were in Europe most of the beginning of December, Christmas came very quickly this year!  We had just enough time for my usual baking projects for all of our secretaries and paralegals a work, a playgroup Christmas potluck, and a visit to Alameda's Santa Claus. 

The playgroup Christmas cuties.

Thomas reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to the playgroup kids.

Then it was off to Alabama for another Christmas on the road!  We had a blast hanging with the Neelands and Virginia had a chance to see several of her second cousins for the first time in more than a year.  Virginia spent much of the trip loving on Uncle Dave - a strategy she used, in part, to gain access to the chocolate game on his tablet.

Showing Dave how the Chocolate Game is played!

Bundled up for Zoo Lights at the Montgomery Zoo.

Christmas with cozy things.

Kids' table for Christmas dinner with cousin Brice.

Uncle Dave, Aunt Lizzie & Ginger the dog - her favorites!

Applying her new makeup on Christmas eve.

Love for Lizzie and Uncle Dave 

Final goodbyes to Mimi and Papa!

We had a bit of an adventure on the return, as we found ourselves stranded in Dallas overnight the day after a snowstorm had caused delays for days.  But after a few hours sleep in an airport Marriott, we made it home in one piece.  

We did a late Christmas celebration with all the Harveys in California a few days later.  Virginia was surprised to find that GayGay apparently told Santa that she had been extra good this year, as he had dropped off a blue Mini Cooper at our house while we were away.  Virginia was in love (and managed to almost immediately drive the thing into a tree).

Someone must have been extra good this year!

Harvey Holidays

While the Neelands were in town for the holidays, we did a little San Francisco sightseeing in addition to all our Christmas events.  Since Uncle Dave is a big beer lover, most of these events centered around beer.  First up was a boys trip to Sonoma County to visit a few of the breweries there.  We also did a tour of the Anchor Steam factory in San Francisco.  And, of course, no visit to Alameda would be complete without dropping in to Forbidden Island, the amazingly awesome tiki bar just blocks from our house!

Christmas in California

Mimi and Papa arrived in California on Christmas Eve at noon and we were off to the races in celebrating Christmas.  We spent the rest of the afternoon at St. Clement's Church watching the children's nativity services, followed by dinner at Claremont Country Club with the Harveys.

We returned to Alameda to hang our stockings and get ready for Santa's visit.  This was the first year that Virginia really "got" Santa, but she proved she is still a toddler when she tried to swipe one of Santa's Christmas cookies!!!!  We have the video proof:

On Christmas morning, we awoke to find that Santa had forgiven Virginia's little momentary transgression and had nevertheless left us lots of presents.  Virginia got a train set and a pink bicycle, among other goodies.  We opened gifts with the Neelands in Alameda all morning. 

In the afternoon, we adjourned to Harvey Manor in Piedmont for dinner and more presents!  Virginia wore a dress that was handmade by one of Papa's coworkers, and she looked adorable.  She got a new dollhouse and princess castle from GayGay and Pop Pop and an electronically controlled giant Nemo fish from Uncle Biggie that was a big hit.  It was a great Christmas!

A December to Remember

This holiday season, the Harveys stayed in California, and everyone else came to us!  We had lots of visitors - Mimi, Papa, Liz, and Dave - and a full schedule of holiday events and activities.

Before all our visitors arrived, we made a visit to Christmas Tree Lane in Alameda.  For my non-Alameda readers, Christmas Tree Lane is a street in Alameda (Thompson Street) where every house puts up amazingly festive Christmas decorations each year.  Every house participates, and most have their own theme.  It's quite a sight and is the subject of lots of California news coverage - and even a visit from the Governor this year.

Virginia got to meet the motorcycle gang behind these hogs:

Winter Wonderland:

If she sees Thomas the Tank Engine, it's a fair bet he'll get a hug:

Liz and Dave came to town a few days before my parents, which gave us a chance to spend time together.  Thomas and Dave went off on a beer odyssey in Sonoma County, and Liz and I took Virginia to the Christmas party at Wee Play, followed by a visit to see the (very real) Alameda Santa Claus.

Crimson Tide Christmas

It was back to Bama for the Harveys this Christmas. Having flown to CT at Thanksgiving, we weren't thrilled with the idea of another cross country plane flight with Virginia, but we lived to tell the tale and had a blast!

Virginia loved spending time with Mimi, Papa, Great Granny, Aunt Liz and Uncle Dave. She especially loved Liz and Dave's dogs, Cherry and Bailey! She chased them around the house, gave them hugs, and let them lick her face.

We had the chance to do all sorts of fun activities in Montgomery as well. Zoo Lights at the Montgomery Zoo, which came complete with a petting zoo attraction, was a highlight. Virginia also loved the train at Montgomery Mall and lunch at a Chinese restaurant with the Pynes and Webbs. She finally got to meet her cousin Brice! Virginia did not particularly love the candlelight service at First United Methodist Church, however. She lost it about 5 minutes in, and I had to leave the church with her for the rest of the service. I will spare Baby Harvey readers the subsequent details, but suffice it to say that leaving daddy behind in the church caused Virginia grave concern and I had to deal with the biggest tantrum she's ever had by myself in the church parking lot.

Christmas itself was a blast. Virginia definitely figured out how to open presents herself, but soon lost interest with the sheer volume of gifts. It pays to be the only grandchild on both sides - more presents than can possibly hold your attention! Her favorite gifts included a sparkly silver purse from Liz, a musical train from Mimi and Papa, and a play camera from Janet and Rick.

In the Christmas Spirit

Thomas and I weren't sure whether Virginia would be quite old enough to "get" Christmas this year. But we are happy to report that we have an honorary elf in our house - Virginia is totally in to everything Christmasy!

Virginia can identify Santas of all varieties in pictures, decorations, etc. And when you ask her what Santa says, she exclaims "ho, ho, ho!" She also loves spotting snowmen, Christmas lights (she can correctly identify most of the colors), and gingerbread men ("ging bed man"). She is also a master at singing Silent Night and Jingle Bells. She's had a lot of practice with Silent Night, as her nanny, Kim, sings that song to her before her naps. Right around Thanksgiving, Virginia started spontaneously saying "Si nigh, ho nigh, all cahm, all bight!" Perfect timing for the holiday season, Baby V.

Virginia has also seemed to enjoy our family Christmas dance parties. When Thomas and I come home from work, we fire up Christmas carols on the radio and dance with her. She laughs and laughs when I giddy up along to Johnny Mathis's Sleigh Ride. She spins around in circles until she falls over from dizziness.

She's had quite a few holiday outings already. When I was out of town for work earlier this month, Dada and Grammy took her to the Oakland Zoo to see the lights. Apparently, she was just in awe the whole time. And Dada also took her to Thompson Street in Alameda - a place where all the houses are decorated and lit up for Christmas - and she went wild.

Unfortunately, Virginia went for the gold in the Santa Tantrum award contest when it came time to see the real Santa. She seem thrilled on the car ride over, repeating again and again that we were going to see Santa. But when faced with a real bearded guy in a dimly lit house, she panicked. We are going to try again when we get to Montgomery.