Merry Christmas!

We're blessed with night owls and late risers...Stella woke up first around 9:00 AM and we started our slow paced and relaxing day.



One of my great presents...can't wait to try out some techniques!


Watching the squirrels and birds!


Merry Christmas!





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Christmas Eve Dinner

After a Christmas Eve service at a nearby church, we had a neighbor over for Christmas Eve dinner of seafood chowder and homemade bread. She brought over a cheesecake and I made a quick blackberry sauce with berries we picked and froze last summer.

First, opening the last door of the advent calendar.








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The Day Before The Day Before The Day Before Christmas

B and O Museum in Baltimore.






























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Winter Solstice Party

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Fa La La La La La La La La

National Christmas Tree



Maryland 'tree' on the right--Ravens, Orioles, Blue Crabs, Maryland flag, black eyed-susans.


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Christmas is Coming!!

Breakfast with Santa at the Elkridge VFD.






Next, Cary and I headed to a local dance studio for a Nutcracker tea.





First, a tea party and meeting some of the characters. Cary has been taking a Nutcracker dance class, so she is really getting to know the story.













Then, some selections from the show were performed. Cary had a front row seat, can you see her little head? She clapped enthusiastically after each piece.













Then to Ellicott City to choose a gift for Stella (shhhhhh...). Stella made a secret mission with Cary later in the day.


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Christmas Parades

Horse Parade in Lisbon, Maryland (near where we pick fruit all summer)































And, by night Boat Parade in Annapolis.






























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Friday Night

Cards from M-ie were well received.
Cary softly said, "wow, this is my first paper money"


Stella read the card [almost] all by herself.


Then off to a show. A musical of the famous children's characters Frog and Toad. Stella just read Frog and Toad; many of the stories from the book were in the show.








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At The Mall...

Note the nice hair cuts :)









Yes, I am too cheap to buy a $19.99 5x7 with Santa...no matter how glossy. I'm calling this style of photography, the reverse photo bomb. 'Girls, quick turn around let's get a picture with Santa'





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