Christmas 2010

“Happiness is not a brilliant climax to years of grim struggle and anxiety. It is a long succession of little decisions simply to be happy in the moment.”  - J. Donald Walker

Christmas 2010 was filled with family, food, and fun!  We loved every moment of this season.

Prior to December 25, we traveled to South Carolina for a mid-December Christmas with the Fehrman family. Fiona quickly learned how this present thing works and enjoyed opening her presents, Mommy's presents, and Daddy's presents. We know that she will love the the sand and water table that Grandma and Grandpa F got for her -- as soon as it's warm enough for her to actually use it!

Fiona excited about Christmas morning #1

Meeting her new stuffed black bear from Grandma & Grandpa F.

Playing Santa while enjoying her grocery cart.



Christmas weekend, we enjoyed our first Christmas in Durham (hooray!) and hosted the Schryer family.

Fi's Christmas dress was wonderful find from our favorite kids consignment shop: The Red Hen

On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, we went to the Children's Service at Duke Chapel. This lively, festive 3pm service is truly designed around kids and will certainly be a new tradition for our family.   Fiona loved her special Christmas dress (even if she did have to wear her usual Stride Right shoes with it because her frugal parents refuse to buy dress shoes that she'll wear once), dancing in the aisle to the sound of singing voices, and making her way through the children's bell-ringing processional with Gramougie.

Following the service, we enjoyed a tummy-warming Christmas Eve dinner of homemade butternut squash soup (HIGHLY recommend The Joy of Cooking's version!), traditional fondue, delicious salad, Holiday Cranberry Rum Cocktails, and the wonderful results of Aunty Holly's Christmas cookie-baking marathon.  Fiona went to bed with the sounds of Grandma F's recorded voice reading her The Night Before Christmas...

....and then Santa came!

Fiona loved the Cozy Coupe that Grandma and Grandpa S helped Santa bring.  From the moment she saw it on Christmas morning, she knew just what to do.

Christmas Day was filled with delicious food.  For breakfast,we enjoyed Marmalade French Toast Casserole, Vegetable Cheddar Strata, and mixed fruit salad with vanilla yogurt and lime dressing. Dinner was a delightful feast, which we all helped prepare:

Dill Shrimp (a Schryer tradition that I can remember eating every Christmas!)

French Onion Soup Stuffed Mushrooms

Gingered Pear and Brandy Cocktails

Sea Scallops with Shitake Mushroom and Champagne Sauce

Truffled Lobster Risotto

Citrus, Red Onion, and Pomegranate Salad

Beef Tenderloin with Duxelles (for the meat eaters in our family)

White Chocolate Tiramisu Trifle with Spiced Pears

Cranberry Upside Down Cake

By the end of dinner, a White Christmas was upon us - and by Sunday morning, the ground was covered in more than 4 inches of beautiful snow.  We took advantage of this rare opportunity to take Fiona on her first sled ride.

I would not change a thing about celebrating this most meaningful of holidays throughout the last month. We started a few new traditions, we stayed in the moment and on budget, we helped others, we enjoyed family, we rested, we sent letters to friends, we sang carols and decorated our house, we cooked amazing food, and *we*(meaning I) didn't stress (at least not as much as I have in the past!). Amen.

Santa Magic

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air. ~W.T. Ellis"

Mama,  I really REALLY want to the touch the Christmas tree!

With just over a week to go until Christmas, Santa has already been working his magic in the Fehrman family!

Last Saturday, we enjoyed our first Breakfast with Santa at the Carolina Inn. Fiona was absolutely enchanted with the delicious buffet, magician, face painting, sparkling decorations, time on Santa's lap, and - of course! - the very, very long drapes that adorn every window of the Inn.  Our girl will not miss an opportunity to play peek-a-boo!

This week, we wrapped up gifts for A and her 5-year old son C - the family currently living at Genesis Home that we adopted this Christmas.  Clothes, shoes, perfume, and Legos were on Santa's list for them.  While wrapping each gift, I couldn't help but say a little prayer that 2011 is better for A and C than 2010.  May Christmas be full of joy for them - and for us all.

Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas!

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."

- Hamilton Wright Mabi

We had the most magical weekend officially starting our Christmas season.   Our tree is now up, Christmas carols are playing regularly, and Santa-talk has begun. 

Blurry phone picture of our small, sweet tree. 

On Friday, I joined Fiona at her preschool for the annual holiday feast.  There may be nothing more wonderfully heart-warming and laugh-inducing tham 30+ kids ages 0-4 "singing"  We Wish You a Happy Hanukkah and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  It was the best way to end a very busy week.

The holiday feast buffet BEFORE.

Mom & Fi AFTER enjoying the feast.

Saturday, we participated in Downtown Durham's Holiday Fun Fest and were treated to a beautiful and highly unusual early December snowfall.  The city sparkled and the snow put us all in a good - and cold! -  mood.

The Fun Fest included a miniature animal petting zoo.  Fiona is clearly enthralled -- and perhaps a bit chilly!

No need for the artificial snow booth - we had the real thing!

Proof that Fiona actually LIKED being outside in the snow.

While downtown, we warmed up with hot chocolates at Beyu Caffee.  Fiona wasn't sure what to think about her first sips of this sweet treat.

Um...I think I like it??

After the Fun Fest, we continued our adventure by traveling to our favorite Christmas Tree Lot operated by TROSA.  This business raises funds for TROSA's substance abuse recovery programs and gives the women who run it important employment experience.  As is our tradition, we picked out a very cute and very small tree that will fit in our very cute and very small bungalow.

Sunday we bought our first Christmas presents:  Clothes, toys, and perfume for the Genesis Home family we adopted for the holidays and a Nancy Tuttle May original painting that Ryan and I are giving each other this year.

All in all, it was one those weekends full of joy and laughter that reminded me of how lucky I am to have the husband and daughter I do.  Magic, just pure magic.