Spending the holidays together as a Family

Clare's Dad recently came to visit, to meet Mara and see the family.

Proud Mama holding her baby girl.  Clare is still on cloud nine and can still hardly believe that Mara is now a part of our family.

Mara opening up her presents from Grandpa and Michael from Pensacola - a dress just like the one from her shower invitation!  Mara the Fashionista hugged it and wanted to try it on immediately.

Out to dinner with the entire family.  While at dinner at the Los Altos Bar & Grill, Mara got to meet John Chambers (the CEO of Cisco) who kept saying how beautiful she was and wouldn't put her down!!

Mara was so proud to recite the alphabet and numbers to her Grandpa from Pensacola.  Even he was impressed at how smart she was and how quickly she is learning English!

Recently we were invited to visit a fish farm up in Sacramento.  As part of our tour we got to see how they sustainably farmed their fish (sturgeon and trout) and got to see their farm.  Mara had a ball, feeding the donkeys and goats and saying "hee hah".  Here her feeding DeeDee the donkey.

As part of the tour they provided us with a meal made by a local chef - including their sturgeon and caviar, of which Mara gobbled right up! (It must be the Georgian in her....)

Then came Clare's Mom's yearly Christmas sing along party.   Mara spent nearly the entire time sitting on her Granny's lap playing the piano and singing along.  She's just like her Granny! It was really special to attend the party this year, since last year it was a combo Xmas party and Mara shower.  The guests loved to finally get to meet Mara!

She also took a fancy to a young boy named Devon.  She kept coming up to him and trying to kiss him!

What's a visit to Granny's house without visiting her chickens? Here walking down the steps with Auntie Amy wearing her fancy party dress and leopard print jacket - so stylish!

On Christmas Eve, Mara put out cookies, milk and her list for Santa.  As you can see, she also helped herself to the cookies.

There's nothing like the morning of Christmas to discover that Santa has made a visit!

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And Mara checking out all of her gifts.

Since Mara loves music, she asked Santa for different instruments.  Here Mara playing with her new electric piano.

And her bongos.

And her new dollhouse that her Auntie Linda gave her (and Nick spent three house assembling!)

But by far her favorite was the Dora guitar her cousin Max gave her.  We just wish it came with ear plugs.

Later on Christmas day, we packed up to go visit Granny.  Here Mara dressed up in her fancy Xmas dress (compliments of Anne-Sophie!).  She kept twirling around in it and saying "princess".  How could you not feel like a princess it?

Not only was this Mara's first with us as a family, it was Mara's first Christmas ever!  She also got to meet more cousins and 2nd cousins (Clare's sister's kids). 

To hell with an electric piano, it's always much better playing Christmas carols on Granny's baby grand on her lap!