Santa Claus 2011

Our office throws a children's Christmas party every year and last week was Sina's first time going (as you can see, I'm still catching up!).  I think I was more excited than she was.  Seriously.  It's just so much fun to see her enjoy things like this, since she is actually cognizant of what's going on around her.  She just craves activity and loves being around people.  Throw in all things Christmas (i.e. sugar, red, green, carols and lit trees) and you've got one happy little munchkin on your hands!

As soon as we got there, she made a beeline toward the stereo.  She wanted to dance!  She met her little friend, Dominic (son to one of my co-workers), and they clung to one another for a little while.  Throughout the evening, she ran back and forth from an activity to the stereo and would start busting a move.  Too cute!

She did some cookie decorating with Miss Zinda, hung out with Miss Denise (my boss' beautiful wife), hung out with our beloved deputy director (Mr. Buechel),  ate the cookies she decorated, had a star painted on her face, and met Santa.

Oh, the visit with Santa!  Each child was called up by name to to the stage to sit on Santa's knee and to get a present.  Sina just tentatively observed as she waited for her turn.  She seemed excited for all the other kids and smiled and pointed at them and Santa from time to time.  When it was her turn, she and I went up to the stage and as I bent to prop her onto Santa's lap, she clung to me for dear life.  I set her on the stage and all hell broke loose.  She started to bawl.  Santa, creating a diversion, got the entire group to start singing "Jingle Bells" really loudly and within seconds, she stopped fussing.  Mid-song, I was able to lift her up and place her in Santa's lap.  As he sang the rest of the song, she looked so comfortable and let herself lean into the jolly fella.  She even showed that adorable, toothy smile.  She accepted grabbed her gift and went along her merry way.

Man, my hubby makes one heck of a Santa.  Yep!  Malu was Santa!  I can't count how many compliments I received on his "performance".  I'm telling you, I'd never seen anyone "ho, ho, ho!" the way he did :) And don't ask me how he continually gets roped into doing these kinds of things for my office.  Thanks to Malu for always being such a good sport!

So without further ado, here are the pics!

You guys, both Malu and I are so fortunate to work with such great people.  In particular, my office team is also one big family.  We are just so blessed to have the support and friendship of so many.

 I'm pretty much off for the rest of the week.  Really, I'm just in an out of the office.  Unfortunately, I've come down with another chest cold and I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow.  I'm hoping I can get a chest x-ray done to see if I have something serious (i.e. pneumonia).  This is the 4th time I've been sick like this in 11 months.  I'm ready to be done with it!

I still have tons to do.  Is it bad that I still have gifts to get for family?  There just never seems to be enough time!!!!

Anyway, I'll try to get the pics up from this past weekend.  We went to the Stuttgart Christmas market (again) and to the Strasbourg Christmas Market with our friends!  Great times!

Happy Tuesday!