We are so blessed to live in
Northwest Arkansas where there is always a family-friendly event going on. We took advantage of our Thanksgiving break to take Polina to several holiday events. We went to the
lighting of square in
Downtown Bentonville and got to watch an ice skating show at the outdoor rink. We also went to see
"Ded Moroz."
Ded Moroz, or Father Frost, is the Slavic version of Santa Claus. He is the symbol of Russian winter, New Year's and presents. It's just one bit of Polina's Russian culture we can keep alive for her. She is now convinced his last name is Santa Claus...so for us...it's Ded Moroz Santa Clause. While we make sure that our family's focus is on Jesus' birth as we celebrate Christmas, we also incorporate the cultural traditions as a "side" to the fun and celebration.
Here are a couple short videos and photos from our evening at the
Pinnacle Hills Promenade. It was perfect timing - a Monday night at 7:00. No one was there and we had him all to ourselves for about 45 minutes!
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He greeted her with a Russian phrase. She was so confused.
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Reading "The Night Before Christmas" so she could see what his reindeer were.
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| Showing her his magic key he wears around his neck because we don't have a chimney. She had a dozen questions about this, including what he did with it when he sleeps. |
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| A kiss goodbye |
And then we went for a walk to look at the lights and decorations around the Promenade.
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| Polina and Daddy love fountains |
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| Stopped in for a picture with the pretty tree at Pottery Barn. |
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| Close Up |
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| A magical Mommy-Daughter moment |
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Pretty Girl in front of the big tree
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It's wonderful! The girl looks happy )
ReplyDeleteAnd my little princess was impressed and now asks for NewYear right now!.. (though it's still so long for russian NewYear.. ))
Dear Kendra, Jason, Carter and Polina,
ReplyDelete2013 has been a most emotionally and otherwise tempting year for all of you, and yet your family came out of it with flying colors. You are one of the most wonderful families I met in my lifetime, most faithful to God's caring, loving, attentive to what really matters rather than what is believed (sometimes wrongly) to matter. Polina's been really blessed to have found a family like you. Hope that it's only further victories, wonderful discoveries and endless love that the future holds for you. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to your amazing bigger family as well! God bless!
Irina