Ringing in New Year 2015

We had the Baker and Davis families over a for a low-key New Years Eve celebration. No one made it to midnight.

Clara Paints the New Years Eve Sunrise

A work of art produced from Paul and Kate's window...

Paul & Kate: Great Escape to Fearrington Village

Once again, we finagled a night away to indulge in Fearrington Village. Thanks Ga and Pappaw for holding down the fort...

Christmas 2014

Things got busy after Christmas, so it's a full two months later before we're posting this. Instead of risking getting NOTHING up, we're using Google's auto-video to capture the day and letting a bunch of pictures tell the story...

Christmas Eve 2014

The family went to Christmas Eve service, Paul stayed at home (flu) and finished wrapping some gifts. The girls were excited to get to bed once they got back, but Clara had a thank you note to write to Santa Claus first. Then she helped prepare some goodies, which included a miniature tea set so Santa's helpers would have some refreshment...just in case they tagged along for the ride.

Daddy-Hattie Date

Many of our Christmas traditions don't tolerate squirmy three-year-olds, meaning Hattie is getting left out of ballets, teas, and plays. She didn't notice so much last year, but this year she's at the funny intersection of awareness that she has been left out but still not enough impulse control to be included.

Today, while Kate and Clara went to see the play Annie at the Durham Performing Arts Center, Paul and Hattie had our own date at a "fancy" restaurant. After church, we went to The Pit for lunch where Hattie had the fanciest fried macaroni and cheese, followed up by a visit to Videri for some fancy hot chocolate (just melted chocolate and warm cream).

Hattie kept remarking how fancy the Pit was - what a big girl she is for going to such a nice restaurant - but all the while flopping around like a three-year-old.

Daughter-Mother-Grandmother Tea at Washington-Duke Inn

Three generations (plus Molly, the American Girl doll) started a new Christmas tradition this year, a very fancy tea at Durham's Washington-Duke Inn.

Next year, Hattie gets to join the festivities, too.

Santa at North Hills on a Rainy Saturday Morning

Our umpteenth Santa visit came this rainy/icey/snowy Saturday morning. We didn't even know he was up at Bruegger's, but we rallied the troops to head out for a walk and stumbled upon a line of kids eager to plead their Christmas case. We did the same. Noting, for the record, the different ways a nearly-six-year-old reacts to Kris Kringle versus a three-year-old.

Hattie still has suspicious eyes, not sure about this Giant Elf who watches her day and night. But, ultimately, she musters the courage to tell him what she wants for Christmas.

Clara is a pro at gift requesting. When he asks, she rattles off her long list of American Girl accouterments, having memorized her Christmas wants a long, long time ago. 

And some shots of us walking up to North Hills, and Hattie showing the manic side of her three-year-old personality at B-Good for lunch.

Nutcracker Performance, A Dryden Playroom Production

On a cold December morning, with a surprise snow appearance outside our windows, the Dryden girls decide to take advantage of a built-in audience of Ga and Pappaw to produce their own rendition of the Nutcracker.

Clara was, of course, Clara. Hattie was the Sugar Plum Fairy. Pappaw was the Nutcracker and Prince. Paul was the Mouse King. Ga was the narrarator. Mama was stage hand and clapping audience member.

The whole affair gets Clara, Ga and Mama excited for their Christmas tradition, a third annual viewing of the Nutcracker Ballet in Raleigh's performing arts center.

Hattie's Preschool Christmas Party

The last day of pre-school for the year, and it all went down with Hattie in Christmas attire for a Christmas program. Mrs. Carole came, joining Kate in the audience to hear the songs and partake in the snacks.

For some reason that escapes us all, Hattie decided she would be in a foul mood for the performance. Except for brief moments where she forgot that she was not supposed to enjoy the experience, she kept her scowl plastered across her face. Ah, three year olds.