Visiting Krohn Train, Trestles and Traditions show again and Christmas pagent at Crossroads

This morning Miss A and I took our time having breakfast and getting dressed.  John was running in the neighborhood 5K and we had planned on trying to catch up with him at Bow Tie after we ran one errand.  But due to timing A and I could not get back in to Mt Adams due to the race blocking all entrances.  So I asked her if she wanted to go see the trains at Krohn.  Her response was a simple "yes".  John and I are so happy these days when we hear her say yes and of course encourage it.  She has certainly mastered no.  I'm still so appreciative of the fact she loves to wear her mittens this year.  Even in a tropical conservatory.

  It was also fairly easy to find a parking spot at the conservatory due to the police barricades for the race.

 Besides the holiday showroom we walked through the Desert room and Miss A remembered that some of the plants in that room could hurt you if you touched them. 

 She thought it was fun to throw a coin in the palm room waterfall.  This activity allowed me to get her mittens which are the only matching pair we own.  Although Miss A likes to wear mittens she refuses to wear mismatched ones.

  She also remembered and told me this is a rainforest. In the fern room I showed her the chocolate pods. She was particularly interested as loves chocolate and there were some boy scouts who were pointing at the pods too.

This afternoon we attended Crossroads Christmas show titled Awaited.  Crossroads is an interdenominational mega church.  According to their website, the 1st year this show ran 20,000 people attended this free event.  We were so fortunate to have front row seats. The show description from their website is "contemporary retelling of the traditional nativity story".  Below are a few pictures from their website:

 The picture above is of the pre-show children's song called "loved crashed in" or something like that.  Audrey was mesmerized from this very first song until the end.  After the show more than one performer told us they noticedhow attentive she was during the show.

The 3 kings bowing to the newborn king.

These lanterns were so beautiful coming from all angles of the auditorium towards the stage.  Jen, Paula's daughter was in this part of the show.  She and another performer walked on stilts in a camel costume. She walked right in front of us and heard us saying hi to her during the show.

This morning is our church tableau which includes children and dogs (who dress as sheep, cows, etc).  Then we have 2 open house parties in the neighborhood.  Also today is our neighborhood's 3rd annual Luminary Stroll.  This event involves neighbors placing candles in white sand bags in front of their homes.  The candles are all lit at a specific time and the effect is a beautiful and continuous stream of light.  Also there will be a choir performing by the Christmas tree on the main drag.  At 6PM Santa and Mrs. Claus (Reg and Charlotte) will arrive in a carriage and then carriage rides are available.   The businesses will have specials but we will be heading to our neighbors open house.  Last year Audrey had been home 2 days when we attended their open house and I remember feeling like a zombie at their party due to jet lag.  It was also the first time Audrey met a dog and she was afraid of her that night.  She has certainly come a long way since then.

Pony, solo performance in musikgarten & mover and shaker classes, 1st bank deposit for Miss A, self photograghy and visiting Paula at school

 Tuesday Miss A received this sweet pony, a gift from Nancy, in the mail!

 We are trying to get her to give the pony a name.  Up for consideration right now are: Caramel, Dorie and Khaki.  She identifies all of her stuffed animals by their species.  Pony might actually get a name.

  Miss A's alpha dog part of her personality was on exhibit in both her Monday music class and again on Wednesday's in library class (picture above).  In Music class she was asked to be the mouse in a skit of the tortoise and the hare.  Her role was to get the other (and older) kids to start the race.  Audrey was only too happy to help Miss Amanda in asking the children to "line up" and race.  In library story time she repeated a line from the Christmas 3 bears story Miss Kelly was reading in the most dramatic way.  Suffice it to say everyone there knows her by name.

   

  The weather was unseasonably warm this week so we walked up to the bank to deposit the coins we rolled over the weekend.  We  love our neighborhood bank for many reasons including the attention they afford this little ham. 

 

Above is one of Miss A's self photography pictures she took with my camera, well technically John's camera.  I hope she likes the children's camera she is getting for Christmas.

  Today we visited Paula at her school.  Paula is a middle school science teacher.

  This girl  whose name is Yutong explained her "holiday celebrations in China" to us.  Additionally she showed us her jade necklace on a red thread and explained it's significance to her.

Signing Safari, Newport aquarium, Culture Kids,Reindog Parade and professional photos

 Tuesday we had our 2nd Singing Safari class at the Zoo.  The weather was preety crummy so for the tour part we stayed in the conservatory part of the education building.

 The teacher and Miss A sitting on the zoo staffer who introduced the animals.  This class included a coral snake and pygmy hedgehog (to see and touch) and then a tarantula to just look at up close.

 Thursday we went to the aquarium for the first time in a long time.

Miss A with the poison dart frogs statues in the play area.

 Watching the older kids playing on the "frogger".

 "How do  you measure up?" to a shark.  Looks like about 2 1/2'.

 This picture was taken at snack time during Culture Kids class at the art museum this past Friday.  This month's theme was "A Stoke of Genius".  While we were waiting for the class to start  Audrey drew on their cloud whiteboard and turned to me and signed and said "imagination" and told me what she was drawing.  So when everyone arrived first the facilitator read I Ain't Gonna Paint No More.  Next we went on a tour finding paintings of trees throughout the museum and exploring their different styles, applications and other observations (ie. time of year, lighting, etc).  Then a snack was provided followed by painting a canvas using brushes, feathers and other objects.  Only problem is they expected you to wear an apron.  Miss A was not accomodating.  So thinking if I wore it and started the painting she would see how fun it was and change her mind.  She did not.  We brought the painting home and she nows points to it and says "mama's painting." 

 

This Friday was also the first time our sitter Chelsea came from 2 - 5 PM to watch and play with Audrey.  I'm planning on doing this on a semi-regular weekly basis.  This week I used the time to finish Christmas shopping but in the future will used time for school research, doctor and dentist's appointment for me, getting rid of and organizing tax and adoption paperwork.  I'm waiting until she starts school to tackle the nightmare our basement has become. 

  Saturday morning we rolled coins which Audrey thought was a lot of fun.  We walk up to the bank some time next week and she can learn about deposits too.

  Saturday afternoon was our neighborhood Reindog Parade.

 Afterwards we went to Bow Tie with Helen and Paula.

 And spent some time playing their piano too!

  Applauding herself.

This week Sara broght over the disc of pictures she took last month.

 This ball is the one her OT, Mary recommended we I buy for her when we were working on her muscle tone and crawling.  What is sweet is she now does the same exercises with her stuffed animals that I would do with her.

  Sweet.

 Two things that are very important to Audrey... "manket" and her sippy cup.

Gotcha Day

 Miss A wearing her new holiday pj bottoms on her head at breakfast this morning.  Happy Gotcha Day Miss A!

 We ran errands this mornig including a trip to Home Depot (more later when I edit this post) and to Target to buy for our tree kids for our church.  I am too tired now to write much.

  Audrey at lunch ... as if she is saying "no more pictures"

 At PF Chang's.   If I can get the video downloaded I will add Audrey sayig "Happy Gotcha Day".  Cute but proving mroe than I can do tonight.

  1 year ago this morning.  Our group waiting to be picked up from our hotel, Kuntai in Beijing, to be taken to the airport to go to our respective Gotcha day locations. 

 Minutes before walking to the Gotcha Day conference room.

Gotcha