Mosey Christmas

After perusing our Christmas photographs, I'm flummoxed to share with you that we took almost no pictures on Christmas Day. I know this is surprising given that English hubby and I together could often be taken for Sweetpea's own personal paparazzi entourage. But it is true. So except for this particular gift... --->

...which was exceptionally well received and for which credit goes to a jolly elf in a red suit, I've got very little to show you. No individual pictures of child with gifts from family, nothing.

Except for this one.

And then I think the camera got buried under wrapping paper.

However we did take some photos the previous day, so to show my family (shaking their heads) that we actually did celebrate Christmas....

We went to listen to the carols at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco on Christmas Eve, one of the loveliest albeit somewhat austere cathedrals I've visited. We were a little disappointed by the acoustics this year - very hard to hear the choir once they processed from the back of the cathedral up to the front. Especially since we of course were standing right at the back in case a quick escape became necessary. And then Sweetpea sat on the steps by the font and behaved like a perfect little lady until she decided to show another prettily dressed girl her newly learned trick of how to remove her eyeball and pop it in her mouth (you know the one, don't you?). But the service still put us in the Christmas spirit, and I even sang a carol or two with my squeaky voice.

The cathedral after we came out...

...and the skyline of Nob Hill from the steps of the Cathedral.

Sweetpea was tearing around the labyrinth outside the Cathedral when we took this.

Then we headed over to take in the rarefied atmosphere of the Fairmont Hotel lobby where Sweetpea marvelled over the giant walk-through gingerbread house (yes, it's real gingerbread trimmed with real candy)...

...and posed with a giant Nutcracker.

...and took this picture.

Then we traipsed through our favourite under-the-street tunnel back to the parking garage. I don't know why it's our favourite it just is.

Once home, Sweetpea penned an obviously very serious note to Santa to accompany the shortbread cookies and milk, with nine individually selected carrots for the reindeer. Because she figured Rudolph would be with them that night.

As usual, we were spoiled and delighted by not only our lovely gifts, but by the love and well wishes from all around us, and by gratitude for the events in a stable under a bright star that gave us a reason to celebrate.