Polar Express Around the World ward party

Our ward had a Christmas party themed Polar Express Around the World. The kids got to travel "around the world" in their train. They visited countries like Japan, Taiwan, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Tonga, Mexico, Brazil and Belarus.

Ready to roll!

Misha

I got to represent Belarus and its holiday traditions. This was the room me and Eric decorated. I had some pictures showing Kolyada celebrations, books about Belarus, music and candy for the kids. They learned a little about ancient traditions of the Slavs.

Eric helped a lot that day. He was playing a role of a father of the family, wearing straw hat and linen clothing.

I told the kids about the hay under the tablecloth representing hay in a manger baby Jesus laid on. The jug filled with water represented hopes for unhappiness and sadness to stay in the old year and new hopes, good health and happiness fill the new year.

When "the journey around the world" was over, kids had a little coloring project and they also got to write a letter to Santa Claus.

Then they all sat and listened to Polar Express story.

Mimi and Valentina

And then... they got to visit with Santa.

Best friends forever ;-)

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

I've become a Trans-Siberian Orchestra fan ever since I saw this. And to my absolute astonishment they came to Orlando with their tour Night Castle. We got tickets to their concert which was at the Amway Arena. The weather that day was kind of drizzly, so it was a perfect day for a hot-hot concert. Even though Eric and the kids dozed off for a while. It was really awesome with multi-colored fire shooting up on stage, moving digital displays, musicians, dancers, singers, even a story-teller. And to top it all off - elevated stage. And then, Paul O'Neil himself came up to us, gave Valentina and Misha those shirts they are wearing and autographed programs.
It was super-cool Christmas present we gave ourselves this year.

Pears!

This was a craft I made recently. I guess I am having sewing withdrawals)) Well, with another project looming, there's no time to waste. I'll post more pics after its done.

Before I get lost reading all your posts...

I better write something we've been up to these past weeks. With Christmas rapidly approaching it seems we have absolutely no time to even set up our tree. I think we're going to do it a day before Christmas at this rate. I am really happy to be busy and to have a lot on my plate. Maybe I just should stop going to bed at 4am, or maybe I should just stop sleeping at all.

Well, until I realize what is that I should do, I'll just take a day at a time.

Valentina's school has been and remains my time-hog. It requires a lot of my time because she needs my help with homework and it is encouraged by curriculum. There were book fair, art fair, field trip as well as daily paper sign and book bag checks. It's nice to see your child's progress. I try to encourage her, as she gets upset at herself if she makes mistakes and gets discouraged easily.

We splurge on art in our family;-)

Church is busy this time of the year with activities. There's been a Nutcracker Relief Society Dinner held recently and prepared mostly by my friend Cammy. I tried to help her as much as I could to prepare for it. It went really well. The sisters were able to come and watch Cammy dance a sugar-plum fairy part from Nutcracker. We had a wonderful relaxing Christmas dinner with lots of yummy food and desserts. 12 tables were decorated by different sisters and they all looked gorgeous.

Cammy

Tables galore

There's also ward Christmas party coming up this Saturday. I will participate. This what I get for being a foreigner;-)) It is themed Polar Express Around the World. Hope my representation of Belarus will be decent. I would have to try to squeeze thousands of years of holiday traditions of Belarus into 3 to 5 minutes. Ha-ha, good luck to me))