National Christmas Tree

Going to the see the National Christmas Tree is the one and only tradition that Fix and I have maintained since we started dating. This year we stopped at Radius Pizza on our way down.

I found them in the CHEAP EATS section of the Washington Post and we HIGHLY recommend their yummy $5 Slice and Pint Happy Hour. Of course only one of us participated in the pint part.

We passed the "very big crayon" (as Rock called it) on our way down to the tree.

We also passed the Old Executive Office Building -- one of my architectural favorites!
Finally we were at the tree! Could someone please tell me what that weird lump is? It seems to keep growing every year.
Rock watched the trains while Fix and I carried on our tradition of judging the little trees. Each State and U.S. Territory is represented by a tree and that state/territory makes their own ornaments to decorate it. Nebraska won by a landslide.

Like last year, we paused at Santa's Workshop so we could get out of the cold night air for a little bit.

Marylanders in front of the Maryland tree.

Merry Christmas!

Blue Thunder

Rock got a tattoo.

Now all he needs to do is learn how to flex and look really tough.

But he's much better at looking super cute.

Going Home(stead) Again

Repeating our outing from last year, we've made an official Christmas tradition with Rock's preschool buddies from church. After a yummy breakfast at Lynn's house...
We all headed to Homestead Gardens to check out the trains.

And once again, the trains were cool enough to warrant a bunch of pointing...
And staring.
I've heard that some kids are climbers and some aren't. Can you tell which one Rock is?

I love seeing all the beautifully decorated Christmas trees at Homestead. The kids were partial to the one decorated in dogs.

Anna and Rock. So cute I can't stand it.

Fabulous Husband

My husband is fabulous.

Not only did he thoroughly clean the house while I laid around on the couch trying to get over my cold, he also came up with a genius idea for how to keep Rock still while he gets a haircut.

An Elmo video. I never even saw him blink.

Juju's Birthday

After Juju's birthday dinner at Jerry's Seafood, our tummies were full of Crab Bomb deliciousness and things got quite silly.

In all the craziness, someone finally put on the moustache his mother made for him months ago!

Cookies and Ornaments

When we trimmed our tree, Rock helped me make Christmas Snickerdoodles. Don't ask me why he looks terrified here.

I made the dough and rolled it into little balls and then Rock smashed them rolled them in green sugar and cinnamon.

He also spaced them nicely on the cookie sheet.
Then we made some "apple spider juice" and ate cookies while we trimmed the tree.
First Rock put his ornaments up.
Then he played with this snow globe ornament from "Coffee Starbucks"...
While Fix and I filled up the rest of the tree.

Proof that the baby bump is growing.

And I think we are now done decking the halls of our house for this year!

Snow Day Walk

When Winter comes around, I wish for snow days. Last Saturday we got our wish.
Rock and his dad suited up in their cold weather gear and went for a walk.
Rock didn't exactly love the snow. It was "too wetty."
But he loves Starbucks and that was the ultimate destination.

Rock and Fix shared a vanilla steamer while I drove over and rescued them from a wet walk back home.