Bye Mommom! Bye Poppop!

And just like that...the grandparents are back on their way to sunny Florida.  Wish we were going with them!

Mommom and Poppop

Brian's Folks, Visiting from Florida...

Time Flies

Sheesh...when did my little girl become a teenager?

(The DocMcStuffins Headphones from Aunt Janis win Christmas/Hanukkah 2014.  She adores them.)

Christmas Smiles

It's the day after Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, because we're all completed exhausted.  Merry Christmas, everyone!  It's the the holiday homestretch...can we make it?

The Last Night

Seriously, people...eight nights is a long time.  Happy Hanukkah!

Sunshine

Ellie's First Nutcracker

Okay, so it technically wasn't her FIRST "Nutcracker," but I've decided that last year's "Max and Ruby in the Nutcracker" didn't really count.  So yesterday Ellie and I went to her first real, grown-up, not abridged or adulterated, ballet.  And she did great.  She enjoyed the first act more than the second, but who can blame her?  The first act is all party and plot, while the second is just dance for dance's sake.  Even I get frustrated with the second act.  (Ellie's comment when the Sugar Plum Fairy made her third entrance:  "Please don't tell me she's going to dance AGAIN."  Everyone's a critic.)

Night Four!

Three!

Gabers

(If only it sounded as sweet as it looks.)

Hanukkah

The problem with eight nights of Hanukkah is that there's no way my kids can behave well enough to deserve presents EIGHT DAYS IN A ROW.  (I'm just kidding, darlings, you're perfect.)

Me and My Boy

Holiday Wishes

The anniversary of Sandy Hook....the news from Pakistan today about the school massacre...  I don't normally talk "serious stuff" on this blog...it's all just family photos and amusing anecdotes.  But tonight, I struggle to maintain holiday enthusiasm amid near constant reminders of how tenuous it all is.  So I find joy in Gabe's relief at FINALLY getting a light-up, remote-control race car, and watching Ellie meticulously apply enough layers of glitter nail polish to preserve her fingertips through eternity.  I'll make cookies and latkes and make it all as perfect for my little family as I can, and I'll share cute pictures and silly kid stories like the the little Dutch boy holding back the dam. May you all find peace and joy this season, and may the world come to its senses.

Family

Hey now, aren't we cute.  :)

Brian's Aunt Jan posted this to Facebook today.  It's from our visit in September, I think?  It's all of us, plus Brian's grandmother Doris, and his cousin Dan.    Could Ellie be wearing any more pink?  She's obsessed.

Quick! Find the baby!

Cheese Dip

Ellie is VERY excited about any opportunity to make Velveetta Cheese Dip, so yesterday we had a couple people over, made latkes and cookies, and dipped much more than a reasonable amount of Tostitos in melted cheesy goodness.  Maintaining Holiday Enthusiasm!

4 Month Stats

This smiley little girl had her four month doctors visit this week.  She's 22-1/2" tall and 13 pounds.  The puts her in the 5th percentile for height and the 50th for weight.  The doctor called her a butterball.  I've never been more proud.  I've also never been more exhausted.  About two weeks ago she stopped sleeping.  I'm hoping for a Christmas/Hannukah Miracle.

Awwwww

Look what I found in the kids' room...I'm going to remind Ellie of this the next time they're trying to kill each other.

Painting with the Bouchards

Sometimes you've gotta live dangerously and bust out the paints.

Closet Buddies

How cute are these girls?  Hanging out in L's closet...

Gingerbread Houses

The holidays are here!  The holidays are here!  I get so giddy at this time of year.  There's just so much to look forward to: latkes, sugar cookies, apple cider, friends, family, the smell of the christmas tree.  Is it bad I listed latkes and cookies before friends and family?  I just love it all.  This weekend we decorated gingerbread houses with the neighbors.  Let the holidays commence!  And here's to trying to maintain this level of enthusiasm through New Years.

Marshmallow Madness

One for the sculpture, one for his tummy....one for the sculpture, one for his tummy...

Thanksgiving in Vermont

Thanksgiving!  Turkey!  Stuffing! Snow!  Hooray!

Walking in a winter wonderland...Or driving, as the case may be, and feeling very thankful for our new snow tires.  

Ellie and Dori, eating snow.

Godsisters!  Dori making sure Mira is well taken care of.

Night sledding, anyone?

Mira and Jeremy.  Her eyes are no where near this blue in real life...

Gabe LOVED this monster truck of Dylan's.