Sunrise Montessori School Christmas Concert

We were invited to Sofia's class Christmas concert this morning. Can't beat this for true, precious, heartfelt entertainment.

CLYDE SURVIVES HIS FIRST HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT AS A DIRECTOR

And doesn't he look elegant? 

 Sounded great, too!

Congratulations Clyde and Davis High School Concert Band.

CAPITOL CONCERTS

Last year we started what we hope will be an annual Christmas tradition;  an excursion to one of Sacramento's midday Christmas season concerts in the rotunda of the Capitol building.  The sound and the setting are lovely and the attendance is casual. 

 Sofia remembered that Papa had taken her upstairs in the rotunda to look down and asked that they do it again this year . . .

 Sofia also remembered the bronze bear outside of the govenor's office, so we paid him a visit on our way out . . .

 There are some neat railings to slide down if you have a Papa to help you and you get your dress unstuck off the nob at the top . . .

 The Capitol park is a lovely place to start a walk to lunch . . .

 . . . with some cool walls to march along . . .

 Lunch at the Ambrosia cafe, which is cozy, quirky and arty is just our sort of thing.  Hot soup and a grilled cheese.  Yum . . .

Fun.

SANTA PARADE

On Saturday, Clyde III was scheduled to rehearse and play with Tuba Christmas.  Meredith was going to exercise and then prepare a lunch for some of Clyde's fellow tuba-ers.  We were going to get Sofia off to her ballet lesson.   When we got to Meredith, Clyde and Sofia's house, plans had changed.  Clyde still went to rehearse, but Meredith had to shop for the lunch and Sofia played hooky from ballet so we could go to the Santa Parade in downtown Sacramento.

We found a parking place, put on our gloves and headed into town . . .

We dropped by our favorite coffee shop, Chicory, which just happened to be right on the parade route, to warm up and wait for the parade to reach us.

 Then we went outside and found Sofia the perfect viewing venue . . .

 Sofia particularly enjoyed the princesses, of which there were many.  This one waved to Sofia . . .

 Heading back to the car . . .

 Back at the house, we helped Meredith get lunch set out for the tuba crew . . .

 . . . and here they are.  These are just Clyde's groupies, the whole Tuba Christmas

 is 150 tubas strong!  That's them on the stage and wall-to-wall six rows deep below . . .

Wish you could have heard them.  Actually, given how big and grand the sound was, maybe wherever you were, you could hear them.

GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS

 The Saturday after Thanksgiving is the day we take our Christmas decorations down from the garage rafters and set up everything except for the Christmas tree.   This is our Christmas village . . .

 The following week, we get our tree, and this year, Sofia was having a sleepover at our house, so she was able to join us.  I think Sofia and Grandma Jean's help in decorating made our tree extra pretty this year . . .

 We all had dinner together . . .

 Later in the evening, after a bath, we put on our cozies,  popped some corn, put on our "Polar Express" DVD and settled in for fun.  Mummy and Daddy called to say "hi" to Sofia  -- a highlight for her . . .

 In the morning, Papa made pancakes and then we read the paper and played Legos.

Mummy and Daddy came by after their anniversary bed-and-breakfast, wine-tasting, gourmet- restaurant outing.  They told us all about what a great time they had and we told them all about what a great time we had. 

Holmes Jr. Hi band Visits Sofia's School

One day last week, Sofia's Daddy took some of his junior high school band students to play a holiday concert for Sofia's Montessori school. Sofia's Mummy brought along her bassoon and joined them as well. Cutest concert ever . . .

L

THANKSGIVING

This Thanksgiving we got pitifully few and poor quality pictures.  But, we still wanted to share what a lovely day we had. 



Four years ago, Meredith, Clyde and Sofia established a family tradition of walking the 5K portion of Sacramento's Run to Feed the Hungry.  This year was the first time in the run's 18-year history that it rained.  No problem, 26,800 people still showed up and had a great, fun, worthwhile run/walk around some of Sacramento's oldest and most beautiful neighborhoods.

Expecting a possibly reluctant four-year-old, Mummy and Daddy started the walk with Sofia in her protected stroller.  When they had a peek in at her just before getting started, she was in tears and wanted to walk.  5K later, she had walked virtually the whole route, cheerfully and even exclaiming that she loves the rain.

 Then we came home and were joined by Mom and Elizabeth.  Had some appetizers and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade . . .

 . . . after which we feasted . . .

 . . . then tried to recover.

As always, we have so much to be thankful for, and we are!

SOFIA COOKS FOR HER MUMMY AND DADDY - The Rest of the Story

Before getting started, we selected a recipe from Sofia's own cookbook, made up a shopping list and went to the grocery store.  Sofia had a $20 bill to do her shopping.  She kept it safe in her dress pocket (most of the time).  She sometimes needed a lift up, but collected all her ingredients on her own and paid for them at the check-out counter.

Once home, Sofia got to work setting everything out . . .

 She did her own pouring of olive oil into the dish . . .

 and wiping it all around . . .

 While the onion and orange bell pepper were somewhat chopped ahead of time . . .

 Sofia finished up the job, chopping them a bit finer . . .

Then she tossed the onions, peppers & drained corn into the pan of heated olive oil and measured honey & balsamic vinegar into the mixture for sauteeing . . .

 Sofia rechecked the recipe for each new stage . . .

 She took good care with assembling each quesadilla . . .

 And paid attention to how to fold each one for cooking . . .

 All assembled . . .

Last step, Sof sprinkled each one with cheese -- ready to cover and take home to Mummy and Daddy for a yummy dinner . . .

Great job, Sofia.