Merry Christmas, Santa lives in our basement!

Graham told me he believes that Santa lives in our basement.
"Why?"
"Because all of the packages are down there, and the scissors and and and stuff..."
So cute...I talk to Santa a lot and have been 'helping him' wrap gifts...
We went to visit Santa at the Gaylord Hotel (National Harbor)...will have to scan in the photo Santa's very own photog took (they wouldn't allow me to take a photo with my camera!!)...

We took a short train ride before meeting Terence and his office for a late Holiday lunch... Merry Christmas!

"Rudolph" Play at Glen Echo Discovery Theater

It was a great show...but a bit scary, with the abominable snowman and all...

Here are photos of Graham and Julia on the stage set post-show...

And Santa Bear, of course!

Lights, Trees, action! Christmas!

another view of our outdoor tree

Our three indoor trees: One for Graham, One for Julia and One for Mommy and Daddy!

Hanging out

National Harbor, Trains, Irish jigs!

Mame, post-dance competition (curly wig in place), Julia and Graham

What more could we ask for? Terence, Graham, Julia and I ventured out to National Harbor to meet Mame and Andy after her performance in the Irish Dance competitions. What a treat! Now, the Irish dance? It's another world. Girls and women of all ages dressed in hand-stitched Celtic dresses, wearing curly wigs.

Graham and Julia were taken with the hard shoe, single dancer competition. It was mesmerizing, from the racket made with the shoes to the high kicks that appeared other worldly. Maybe we were truly were watching fairies, as Julia insisted.

This morning, Julia and Graham did their version of the Irish dance, with small, noisy, slow steps across the house. Priceless!

Gaylord Convention center was decorated for the holidays, with lights on trees, a train that Mame rode with the children, and much more. It was a great day, indeed.

And Mame's dancers? Of course, they took a first prize!!! Graham, Mame and Julia

Firehouse Friday

What an eventful week for Graham -- and Julia of course. The difference is that Graham 'dressed the part' this week, he was an astronaut for the Air and Space museum trip, and a fireman for Intown's annual Firehouse trip on Friday.

Graham climbed in the firetruck. It was too loud and, well, scary for Julia, but she'll stand by her Graham and indulge his whims--be it to fight fires or Fly to the Moon! Graham and Ms. Katelyn, one of his loving teachers at Intown.

Graham sits in a fire truck.

The Air & Space Museum Hangar

In honor of Veteran's Day, we made the drive out to the Air & Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport. Graham and Julia have been asking to go to the Air & Space museum 'again' for a couple of weeks now, but they had only been to the one downtown.

Nothing compares to the Udvar-Hazy Center. It is a huge hangar which houses the Enterprise and numerous spacecraft and air craft, plus an observation deck where you can view for miles and miles and watch the planes taking off and landing at Dulles.

Graham was beside himself. He rarely stopped talking about all of the rockets, spent time finding one that was 'his size' (the Enterprise he deemed 'too big for me mommy!'), and it was virtually impossible to get a photo of him not only standing still, but near one of the rockets...as he kept looking at the rockets and talking to them.

As I carried my tired little astronaut out to the car, I kissed him and said "you're my baby"...Graham said "I'm not a baby!" I asked him what he was:
"I'm an ASTRONAUT."
But of course. Enjoy the pictures.

Look at the astronauts! There! Up There!

There! See? There!

I can see them, Graham!

I think

Do I look like the little Mars Astronaut Girl?

Can I take her home? Julia in front of an astronaut "doll" which apparently was manufactured in the 1960s and given to VIPS as gifts. It was kind of creepy, actually.

Sir? Yes, Sir! I'm an astronaut.

Julia in front of the Enterprise

The Enterprise

"That's My Rocketship! It's just my size...the Enterprise is too big for me, mommy!!!" Graham took to this small 'rocket ship' although I don't think it's even a rocket ship ;)

So many rockets, so little time.

I want that one! Graham goes rocket shopping.

Oh, yeah? You bet I'm an astronaut!

Let me prove it to you.

Yes, Julia, stick with me and I'll show you the Universe!

Julia, mommy, Graham and the Enterprise.

An oldie but goodie

They grow too quickly...

Astronauts, Fairy Princesses, friends and family

It was our first Halloween at our home in Georgetown, so we decided to have our traditional open house with chili, sandwiches, refreshments. Rather than receive the 1,700 to 2,000 trick or treaters we were used to at our old home on East Capitol, we had a steady but not crazy line of people, and went through a good share of candy.

In short, it was incredibly civilized, fun, but we missed our old neighborhood a bit. Graham and Julia had a great time trick or treating, the 6 or so houses we went to wiped them out.

Friends stayed until late at night...and here are some pictures for all to enjoy. Andy, our dear Mame's fiance, and Astronaut Graham

Fairy Princess Julia "Don't close the sweater! No! You won't see my Butterfly Fairy!"

"I'm an ASTRONAUT."

Off to trick or treat

Daddy and his astronaut and fairy princess

One more of me!

What? I can't eat all of the candy tonight? That's what YOU think!

Julia and Mame

Please, Sir, may I have some more?

Pumpkin Playground, Burke, VA, October 15, 2010

Ahoy, mate!

We just keep going around and around!

Meowwww!

I'm a tiger!