Christmas at the Campbells

December 24 marked the first day of many days of illness. Hannah Clare woke up from her nap with fever, followed by Liam getting sick in the night. Lots of ups and downs, but all in all, our Christmas was special. It sounds cheesy, but because we had a lot of together time, I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Saying Goodbye to Waddell- our mischievous Elf

Checking the cookie tray to see if Santa liked his snack

"Cool, it's a transformer"

Hannah Clare's new doll stroller

Our game aficionado got lots of new games

Hannah Clare multi-tasks with all her Christmas gifts

Liam's gift to Daddy

Feliz Navidad

Liam's favorite food is chips and salsa. So, we try to vary our mexican restaurants. Just before Christmas we went to Pozole. Check out Liam feeling the beat after dinner.

To keep the Christmas spirit going, Hannah Clare jams with a little Jingle Bells on her couch, I mean... stage.

The Cherub Choir Sings

Liam joined the children's choir at church this year. He was sick for their first performance, but got to sing this past Sunday with the St. Cecilia Consort, a chamber orchestra affiliated with the church. The adult choir and members of the other children's choir also sang with the Cherub choir on one of the pieces. Accompanied by the St. Cecilia Consort, the entire performance was amazing. The children had a practice at 8:30 a.m. prior to their 9:00 a.m. performance and then stayed in the sanctuary until 9:30 a.m. when they finished their second song. Though this was a long time to sit/stand quietly in the same place, Liam was so mesmerized by the instruments that the time passed quickly for him. Of course we were proud! I was not able to film the actual performance since it was during the worship service, but I did manage to get a video of Liam during the early morning rehearsal. After church he said "Mom did you see those cool instruments?" "I like the cello."

Getting ready in the choir room

Rehearsal with the orchestra

"Long ago in Bethlehem" and "A German Christmas"

An Action Packed Weekend

It was a busy weekend around the Campbell house. To create a ruse, we threw a 40th birthday surprise for Bill on the same weekend everyone was to be in town for the Christmas Pageant at church and the performing arts performance of "The Night Before Christmas." Bill was super surprised and a good time was had by all. We even had a guest performance by Dan Wyatt and my very old and guitar. Dan was able to tune it and our kitchen and family room doubled as a dance floor! Be sure to check out Liam singing on our church's webcast of the Christmas Pageant- his Sunday School class takes the stage at 9:40 on the video, but a nice pan of the camera shows Liam at 10:42 of the service. Log-on to http://www.firstpresbyterian.tv/on-demand.html and click on the 12-13-09 Christmas Pageant to see our star.

Scenes from Bill's Surprise 40th Birthday Party

FPC Annual Christmas Pageant

Liam & Walker

Our little shepherd boy

Brunch at our house

PSPA's staging of "The Night Before Christmas"

Hannah Clare and her ballet teacher Miss Katie

Liam and his acting teacher Mr. Dave