Christmas in Santa Fe

Oh, what a whirlwind December was! There is always so much activity leading up to Christmas Day and the excitement was even more palpable this year with an almost 4-year-old in the house. Every morning Sasha would relish the routine of taking off one more link from her red and green paper chain that she had made, opening the door to the chocolate advent calendar and lastly opening the "door" on a computerized advent calendar. We enjoyed the traditional oyster stew on Christmas Eve with my family here in Santa Fe and opened a few gifts. I was honored to be invited to play in the Santa Fe Concert Association's Christmas Eve concert that night. It took a lot of work to prepare the music for the concert, but what an experience it was to play among professional musicians for a packed house that night. The Mendelssohn Violin Concerto performed by a 14-year-old prodigy from Cincinnati was the highlight of the concert.

While I was playing, Phil and my mom took the kids to the Canyon Road farolito walk where they braved the cold to take in the thousands of candles in paper bags and bonfires in the streets. Megan and I went by ourselves after the concert. It was the first time we have been in town for this local tradition--very cool.

Christmas morning our little family of 4 opened a few more gifts. Sasha particularly loved the pink treasure chest with multiple drawers to stash her precious things. She has a fondness for all things little, shiny, and what I would describe as gaudy(!). She loves to stop at the jewelry stores in the mall to look at all the beautiful rings and necklaces in the cases. As a mom who is decidedly not into that sort of thing, it cracks me up!

Jack with one of his new car toys.

Telluride etc.

In December my parents generously offered to watch Sasha and Jack while Phil and I went away for a weekend for our 12th anniversary. We decided to keep it simple and go somewhere within driving distance so we decided on Telluride, CO a place everyone around here raves about. We enjoyed life's little pleasures like sleeping in, lingering over meals, shopping, going to a movie, skiing (Phil) and getting a massage (me). We even stayed up past midnight one night!! Although it was wonderful to spend a weekend of quality time alone, both of us were ready to see the munchkins on Sunday night.

A leisurely dinner the night we arrived.

Downtown Telluride

Jack is obsessed with wearing his sister's boots. He brings them to me with a pleading look in his eye, "Boots, boots." He is talking so much now--a little parrot, copying any phrase he can pick up in the conversation. Some of the words he particularly loves to say and jumps up and down with excitement for are: "pumpkin pie" "birthday" "play in basement" "car" "childrens museum" "grandpa" "Sasha"

These are just some favorite pictures from December.

Hot chocolate at Starbucks is a fun treat these days.

Looking more and more like his daddy, I think.

Sasha prepared the cookie tray for our fondue party we hosted the week before Christmas. Below, the kids enjoy pizza fondue while the adults enjoyed the good stuff (gruyere and appenzellar).