Nate and Tanja: Merry Christmas

This Christmas season, we took advantage of the Washington, DC Temple's Festival of Lights to see several hundred thousand Christmas lights around the temple, nativities from all over the world (including several that were loaned to the Visitor's Center by foreign embassies), and listen to a piano concert by Paul Cardall. He is a talented pianist who has the same heart condition as our nephew Grant, so after listening to my sister talk about him multiple times, we had the chance to hear him for ourselves.

Of course, we did our best to capture some good pictures while we were down there. Karina was too excited and kept running around, but we did manage to snap a few that are worth sharing (mostly in front of some of the decorated Christmas trees in the Visitor's Center).

Here are some of the pictures we took outside with the lights. Karina thought they were pretty.

We found a fellow photographer who offered to take a picture of us together. Karina was a little shy for it, but I guess this counts as our family Christmas portrait.

Back at home, Karina enjoys taking Doggie, her stuffed animal beagle, on a walk around the house, while wearing her Paddington Bear in the Ergo. Doggie is wearing Snoopy's collar and has Snoopy's leash on. Karina is going on a walk, just like Mommy and Daddy do, except whereas they wear Karina and walk Snoopy, Karina is wearing Paddington and walking Doggie. Snoopy can be seen on the couch, grateful that he isn't the one being dragged around. This activity is always good for some smiles and laughs from Karina, at least until her Doggie doesn't keep the leash on the correct side of his head, or if he rolls over while she is trying to walk him, or some other catastrophic event occurs. Then it is time for a meltdown. Oh well, we remember the good times as parents, right?

Christmas Eve, we accelerated Advent by reading some scriptures, listening to some carols, and lighting our pyramid nativity from Germany. Karina was fascinated by the spinning propeller (the heat rising from the candles make it spin) and the candles, and we had to continually pull her back from it. I managed to take this artsy photo that I am kind of proud of.

Here she is riding Doggie. She has an animated Rapunzel storybook and game on the iPad that has a part where the prince is riding his horse to get to Rapunzel. We think she got the idea to ride Doggie from that, since whenever that level comes up, she runs to bring him over and then saddles up.

Karina still didn't quite get the concept of opening presents and ripping off the wrapping paper. She did enjoy the ribbons and bows, though. Maybe next year.

Poor Snoopy didn't like his present. He hates wearing outfits. This vest is insulated and waterproof, and will keep him dry when it's raining or snowing, but he was having none of it. As luck would have it, even though we didn't get a white Christmas this year (much to my dismay), we did have some snow the day after Christmas. Snoopy wore the vest that morning in the snow on the walk, and eventually seemed to get used to it (although I would be lying if I said that he liked it). He wore it again that evening in the rain (that melted all the snow). I guess we're keeping it.