Christmas is coming...

We attended our town Christmas party. Lucy just had the best time visiting with Santa and playing with her friends. When she heard Santa's bells as he was coming up the stairs, she *RAN* to the stairwell, shrieking in joy and shouting, "SANTA!" She was the first to run to his lap and even thought, all on her own, to bring him a plate of cookies and a cup of milk because he wasn't given any. What a sweetie pie.

Before bed, the kids add a piece to our Advent Calendar. I made this several years ago after I got the idea from a magazine. It's a family hit.

Spreading the Christmas cheer…

      

The first snow brings elves to our house…

We had our first snow and it brought an inch or two.  The kids were outside at the first chance and we all had a snowball fight.  Lucy just couldn’t believe what she was seeing.  She kept saying it was raining.  She came out of the house, her voice full of wonder and even some fear, saying, “Our car…covered!  Our plants….covered!”  It’s definitely a cliche but it is just so much fun to live life all over again with a new little person.

^^LUCY LU LU^^

^^CHARLIE CHUCKLES^^

^^ELI (JUST ELI)^^

When we woke up the next morning, we found that during the night our Christmas Elf, Dexter, had set up his own barricade and was ready to assault us with his own arsenal of snow balls.  He’s quiet feisty.

Oh Christmas Tree

Here’s Decorating Day 2009! We set up the tree and put on our lights and ornaments. We love to laugh and reminisce over the ornaments (“Merry Christmas, Boss!”  I bought this one for Michael one year,  mistakenly thinking it was intended for the BOSS of MERRY CHRISTMAS! Instead of for, you know, your regular run of the mill boss.)  Afterwards, we watch a Christmas movie with cocoa and cookies.  It’s a fun day I look forward to every year.

  

 

So very thankful….

Here are a few snapshots from our Thanksgiving and boy, do I give thanks.  I am surrounded by people who love me and my children and my husband with all their hearts and all their souls.  I couldn’t be any luckier and I want them to know I love them just as much.  *BIG KISSES AND HUGS* to all of you.

 

  

       Gabey the Baby                             Elijah

          

^^So thankful for new friends.  M and GG with Afaf.^^

^^Olive you!^^

^^I’m not sure who loves who more.^^

^My “brother” James.  He really is as special as he looks.^

(Dawn and D, I love you too.  Enough to know you hate photos of yourselves so I left them out. :P)

Happy Halloween!

We started Halloween with our annual Halloween party.  We played some fun games and had a spooky themed dinner. 

No hands!!

Oh, all right.  But only because you’re cute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RiRing around the pumpkin and the dress-up race!

Charlie put this costume together herself!

Charlotte staged this photo.  Her motivation was, “AH!  A SCARY LION!”

Lucy just couldn’t believe she got free candy.  Instead of the typical “Trick or treat!” she greeted our neighbors with, “I WANT CANDY!”

Playing is children’s work

We’ve been to a lot of children’s museums on our vacations, some of which have been named top in the country.  While in Rochester, Derek brought us to the Strong Museum of Play.  This museum is, by far, the best museum we’ve ever been to.  These photos don’t do it justice.  I was too busy staring and playing to take many photos.

There was a recreation of a grocery store where the kids could shop and check themselves out.  There was a recreation of Sesame Street and an entire pirate ship as well as a recreation of the Berenstein Bears town.  There was a “History of Video Game” exhibits with dozens of arcade games to play as well as an exhibit of the history of toys (we spent hours in this section!).  I could go on and on.  The attention to detail was just amazing.

      

 The girls hosted a cooking show!

Weather Man Dan

Where the other half lives

 We went to visit my brother and his family in Rochester for the weekend.  My parents rented this sweet little cabin near the lake.  We were able to spend alot of time snuggling the heck out of Baby Gabe.  We also were able to see Derek and Dawn’s new condo. This was the first time I was able to visit D in what has been his home for the past 8(?) years.   We had a great time, thanks to our wonderful parents who funded the whole visit.

   

Don’t you want to eat him?  Well, not really, but don’t you kind of wanna?

 

Photographic evidence that my Dad picked out my favorite packaged cookies.

Kicking it up

Soccer’s been done here for about two months now.  Here are a few photos from Eli’s last game.  Indoor soccer will begin in a few months now.  As he (and his team) has gotten older, their skills have improved incredibly.   It’s become a real blast to watch them play and work together. 

  

Believe it or not, this was a Dora themed ice cream.