We've done a lot since Thanksgiving to celebrate Christmas, even before the "big" day arrives! We were in Toledo for Thanksgiving, so we went to the "Lights Before Christmas" display at the Toledo Zoo. Emma went with me to my school's pancake supper, where she got her face painted as rudolph! The following weekend, we drove through the luminary display at our local arboretum before going inside the visitors' center for activities, refreshments, and live music. We also met Mom and Dad, Jason and Kristen in Granville for the Candlelight Walking Tour. We saw Olaf in the bank (!), a train display in the library, ice sculptures in the park, and Santa and Mrs. Claus on the front porch of an historic house. On Thursday the 11th, Emma and her fellow first graders performed a holiday musical at school, and Mom, Dad and Jason came down to see it with us and to visit her classroom afterwards. Emma also had a Christmas party with her Brownie troop, which ended with a spaghetti lunch, complete with table service by the girls, who also entertained us with their singing! That evening, we went to a local Victorian house, where we saw tree displays and a roomful of Dickens' village houses. After school was out for the break, the children of our church performed "A Musical Manger Mystery," with Emma playing the role of a baby chick! We also went to Grandma Coe's nursing home that day to celebrate Christmas with her and Aunt Linda. The following day, we me some friends at Easton shopping center in Columbus, where we enjoyed the huge tree and manger scene, as well as a little shopping! Finally, on the 23rd, Emma and I made a gingerbread house. As I write this, Christmas has not even arrived yet, but we've been celebrating the holiday all month long!
