New Year's Eve Party 2011

The O'Hara family enjoyed a week away from school and work between Christmas and New Year's Day. Once again this year, we hosted some good friends for a New Year's Eve celebration. Daddy served sliders, and Mommy served some wonderful chocolate balls. What a fun time! We rung in the new year at 8:30, said good bye to our friends soon thereafter, put the kids to bed without a bath, and then Mommy and Daddy found themselves on front of the TV at 10 p.m. contemplating whether they could actually stay up the additional two hours to see the ball drop in Times Square. In fact, they rallied, and Daddy maintained an unbroken streak.

Christmas Gifts

After we had opened the gifts from Santa, Tim's family arrived, and we paused for a quick breakfast supplied by Grandma.

Soon thereafter, Rory and Aven discovered their other gymnastic-themed gift from Santa, a trampoline!

Both girls enjoyed their gift. Maybe someday they'll discover just how hard Santa's elves had to work to assemble this new toy.

Mommy may have actually spent more time on the trampoline than her kids!

It's funny. Aven probably spent more time arranging these Pez dispensers in the shape of the seven dwarfs than she did with any other gift.

Grandma's big gift to Rory and Aven were new princess gowns, which they have worn every day since.

They also got a fun gym mat from Grandma (completing the gymnastics theme of this Christmas).



Certainly, the mat made Daddy a little less nervous about his kids using the gymnastics bar.

The princesses play air hockey, which Daddy has acquired in the previous night's White Elephant Gift exchange.

The princesses were pretty good about allowing the spotlight to shine on the rest of the family as they opened their gifts.

They were good helpers, distributing the gifts to all of the right people.

And when they were bored watching other people open their gifts, they played with their own.

Rory enjoyed sharpening her beautician skills on her little sister. (Fake lipstick, I'll have you know.)

Mommy was also quite glad to be the test subject as Rory and Aven perfected their brushing skills.

In addition to their beauty skills, the girls perfected their serving skills with the pizza kit from Nonna.

Rory and Aven were particularly fond of gifts that allowed them to jump and move about, including their "Rody" horses ...


... and "the spooner" from Aunt Sydney!

By evening, we were still opening gifts, requiring the addition of a fire in our fireplace.




Eventually, the gifts had all been opened and it was time for our Christmas Dinner, complete with a turkey (thanks Alex!) and ham (thanks Grandma and Opa).

Christmas Morning

On Christmas morning, Rory and Aven awakened their parents and dutifully sent Daddy downstairs to determine whether Santa had come and whether Christmas had actually arrived. A tradition that started with Tim's family and has been followed every year.

Ahhh, the jolly old man had come, and he had left many presents, a half eaten cookie, and a note to the ....

... kids, who waited patiently at the top of the steps until Daddy cried, "Come on down! Santa has brought you presents!"

Rory discovered her first present wedged strangely between the door frame. What could it be?

Of course, a gymnastic bar to help our little gymnast pursue her Olympic dreams.

Ah, the little one decided that she needed in on the action.

And then it was time to see what else Santa had brought for the kids.

What lucky kids that Santa had brought everything on their lists.

Aven was particularly taken with her new baby (quickly dubbed "Julia" by Aven).

And her new dog Jingle, who would bark and sing along with the book that came with him.

On the Eve of Christmas Eve

On December 23, we enjoyed dinner with Tim's family at Rosa Mexicano at National Harbor, which included fireworks during dessert!