Deck the halls and all that jazz

It's beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas around here, particularly since our first snow of the season arrived yesterday.  It wasn't much - a little over 2 inches - but just enough to coat everything in pretty white, score the boys a 2 hour early dismissal from school, and provide just enough coating on the driveway for some sledding fun.  I got L all bundled up in her snow gear so that she could have her first snow experience (well, at least her first American snow experience ;-)).  She loved it so much and just kept diving down into it.  I couldn't keep her out too long because she insisted on rubbing her face down in it, and after a while it was getting pretty red and chapped.

 

 

We had some grownup fun on Monday night as we headed out to a black tie event at the Kennedy Center.  It was a fundraiser for the Choral Arts Society, and started out with a wonderful Christmas concert in the concert hall, followed by a silent auction and dinner and dancing.  It was a great night and the first time in a long time that we had the chance to get really dressed up. 

Okay, so no idea how to make this the right direction!!

B had his Gingerbread making day at school this week - a Kindergarten tradition.  Here is C's gingerbread creation from three years ago.

Here are some pictures from B's party this week.

 

And here is the end product.........

 

Of course we've been busy "decking the halls" and getting everything ready for Christmas.  This year, we have a very attractive (and very necessary) accessory around our Christmas tree - a nice big L-proof gate!  Unfortunately, she still manages to lean over on her tippy toes and snag ornaments off the tree!

 

Here are the boys working diligently on their shrinky dink tree set that Nana sent.  You know how long it's been since I've made shrinky dinks?  I have to say that even at 30-something years old, it is still pretty fun to watch them shrink up!

 

Kind of pathetic looking, don't ya think?

In other news, I had L evaluated this week by county early intervention for her speech delays.  Based on her initial assessment, the social worker unofficially told me that she qualifies for services.  The next step will be a more in-depth complete developmental evaluation by three professionals, including a speech pathologist.  Once that is complete, then they will draw up a plan and set up services for her.  I was under the impression that early intervention services are free, but apparently only the assessments are free.  Speech services run about $150/hour, so $600/month!  Ick!  I'm just hoping that insurance is going to cover some of that.