Christmas part 2

More pre-Christmas times.

Lars had a little party at school. His teacher is a friend of mine and is super awesome and kind. She also used to be Lars's nursery leader at church, so he went into his first day at school back in September already knowing the teacher. Love that. Love her.

My favorite Christmas present: new windows in the front and side of the house ("aaaahhhhh" - angel choir). 

Now we need to paint the trim since it's looking especially ugly-green. (The old windows were trimmed in the same green.) Also thinking of changing my door to black...the only thing keeping me from it is the black knobs. Maybe I'll go with a different color altogether. Maybe blue. I don't know. My neighbors recently changed their front door from orange to purple. Clearly the fearless ones on the block.

Pretty much any new thing we do to the house serves to emphasize the other old stuff. Like the crumbling steps or the ancient siding and gutters. Oh well! I still like the windows! And there's always something on the horizon to do. How boring to live in a house that's completely "done." :)

Lars and I went to Theo's gingerbread-house party at school. Both boys loved it.

We all went to the nativity pageant at the National Cathedral in DC. Last year was our first time and we knew it had to become a tradition for us. Any children who want to are invited to join in. This year we showed up right before it started because I didn't want to have to get there early for the rehearsal. But the first usher we saw greeted us and invited the kids to join anyway. Ida and Theo jumped at the chance to be shepherds.

It's really a beautiful church. The program is short (like 30 mins or less) and there's lots of congregational singing accompanied by an awesome organist.

Probably should have had my kids wear something nicer than ratty T-shirts and jeans.

I love what I read in the most recent Real Simple about guilt. I can't quote it exactly, but the advice was basically: when you feel guilt, examine whether there is a victim. If there is--if you've hurt someone--apologize and make it right. If there's no victim, move on. Don't feel guilty. 

Maybe here, the victim was propriety. But there are only so many things I can do when I'm pregnant, and apparently, directing my kids' clothing choices on a Saturday afternoon is not one of them. [Exhale] I feel better already. ;) oh yes, and we will be eating off of paper plates tomorrow. For Sunday dinner! [Tarzan yell]