Dryden Family Christmas

Julie was kind and brave enough to open her home to the extended Dryden Clan for our Christmas get together. Once again it was a mess of fun and chaos and nostalgia...just as it was meant to be. Thank you Julie for organizing and hosting!

Christmas 2012

Another Christmas for the books! To underscore Clara's obsession for the holiday (representative, of course, of every almost-four year old that celebrates Christmas), ponder her statement on Christmas Eve before being sent off to bed..."I don't like Christmas because it means it's too long before Christmas comes again." Our rough translation is..."I'm already thinking about next Christmas, and it just seems too far away!"

The fast-forwarding not withstanding, Clara, Hattie (et al) had a wonderful Christmas 2012. Upon going to her bedroom on the Eve, Clara was uncharacteristically asleep within five minutes. There's something about the promise of Santa's arrival that coaxes her into the deepest of slumbers. Indeed, Paul had to rouse her at 7:30 the next morning! The rest of us just couldn't wait any longer.

Hattie wins the award for most improvements since last Christmas. As a bona fide toddler with a rich "receptive vocabulary" (as says our psychologist mama), she seems in firm command of the rituals going on around her. We woke her a bit earlier than she was ready to make sure everyone was at attention surrounding the tree for Clara's stairway descent. Hattie was groggy, but quickly perked up when we said it was time to see what Santa brought.

We were joined by Ga and Pappaw for the second consecutive Christmas in Raleigh. They came in on the 20th after checking into their winter-pad in Isle of Palm to help watch the girls as Paul and Kate signed their lives away in an attorney's office, closing on the new house (into which we'll move in mid-February...but that's a different story). And they stayed to celebrate the full holiday, which included an all-girls outing to see Carolina Ballet's The Nutcracker, a venture into White Memorial's Christmas Eve service, and countless runs to the stores for last minute shopping. Clara, as is her routine, has been firmly bound to her grandmother for the full week. The moment Ga is out of sight, we hear the bellow, "Ga! Where are you, Ga?"

Santa (and his minions) showered gifts on the Drydens again this year. Kate bequeathed to Clara the easel her Grandfather made for her in 1981, and Clara was quick to practice her art projects with the kit of paints and paper Santa brought. Other prize gifts were a piggy bank, tinker toys, and a Cinderella doll.

Hattie received many nice things, too...most of which were promptly confiscated by her older sister. Next year we expect a more spirited tug-o-war when it comes to who gets claim to what. Hattie is no wilting violet. She puts up a good fight even now.

The elf on the shelf, who made an entrance with such fanfare and grand aspirations in early-December, has returned to the North Pole. Our hopes for gentle behavior control were never realized as Clara quickly divorced the fun game of "seek the elf" each morning from any broader morality (naughty v. nice) purposes. Score one for Clara and her innate BS meter. Hattie, too, enjoyed the game of finding the elf each morning, so perhaps we try the whole thing again next year.

We'll take a few more days of R&R before heading down to Georgia and Alabama to spend time with the Dryden cousins, and then we'll finish off our Christmas break by spending a few days at the beach. 

Merry Christmas to all...

Clara as Clara in the Nutcracker

Arts Together has been working on a rendition of the Nutcracker for several weeks now. Clara was selected  to play Clara, and we dodged a bullet on that one...prior to the official casting announcement, we heard Clara yell out during her sleep one night, "I don't want to be the Mouse King!"

The big performance was Tuesday, the last day of preschool before the long Christmas break.

Paul, Kate and Hattie were all in attendance to watch Clara in her first starring role. She did not disappoint. She strode on stage as if it were the role she was made to play, all bold and confident. 

The Arts Together teachers, seeing the chemistry between young Clara and Alex, made sure to pair them together for the ballet. Alex was awarded the role of the Nutcracker, and Clara has been bragging for days that she gets to dance with her favorite school friend for all the rehearsals.

We couldn't be prouder of our 3 and 3/4s year old!

Hattie's Baptism

Our little Hattie Mae was baptized this morning at First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh and is, therefore, no longer a heathen. 

That being said, she performed with civility as our minister sprinkled water across her head and paraded her up and down the aisle for the congregation to behold. 

We delayed the ceremony a bit while the church sanctuary was under construction, meaning we hit right at the age when children are at their squirming peak and not too keen on being held by strangers. 

Her mood benefited in no small part from the cat nap (featured above) Kate was able to prompt just moments before we left for church.

We had a small gathering of friends and family at home afterwards. Hattie seemed to sense this was her day and so preened about proudly, walking and babbling and pulling all the cute tricks she knows keeps attention on her.

A special day for our little Hattie!

 

Pullen Park Christmas (a Facebook Post)

Kickin' it with the girls Christmas style at the Pullen Park holiday celebration...

Happy 1st Birthday Hattie!

From this...

To this...

In just 365 days. Wow! 

We celebrated Hattie's first birthday with the Glanvilles in a small gathering last night. While Clara, Nadine and Vaughn wreaked havoc outside and upstairs, Hattie was able to play with Sadie. The big benefit? Sadie is a bold, early walker and peer pressure starts earlier than we feared. The result...on her birthday morning, Paul encourages Hattie to walk. When she responds with a shrug, he quickly adds "like Sadie did last night." In a flash of toddler competitiveness (capture here), she stands up and takes her first series of coordinated steps. Never underestimate the power of throwing down the gauntlet!

Hattie is a delight, and we adore her. At one year, she is quickly learning survival techniques critical to being the younger sibling. This little fiery personality is holding her own against Clara and finding plenty of opportunity to instigate moments of rivalry herself. She is babbling with special emphasis on the B's (buh-bye, blues, and boob) and has recently learned the joys of shaking her head "no" (and seems to revel in the contrarian role this allows). 

Happy first birthday to our wonderful Hattie!  

Hattie Walks! (a Facebook post)

Question: How many days does it take a Dryden girl to learn how to walk? 

Answer: Precisely 365. 

Hattie, like her older sister, takes her first real steps on her first birthday...today. Happy Birthday Hattie!

Princess Clara

The princess force is strong with this one...and shows no signs of abating. Tomorrow she goes to yet another princess party. There seems to be an endless string of princess parties. All the better to get full use out of the Costco Cinderella dress...we suppose.

Where did the superhero fascination go?  Ah, the days...