Trains!

I've waxed poetic about the Train Show before, and I really do love it.  I could spend hours imaging living in that fairy world...the kids this year?  Not so much.  They tore through it at lightning speed.  Luckily we got to explore the rest of the Conservatory so all wasn't lost.  Note for next year:  the Botanical Garden has a Schnaps Stand.  Really.  Plan ahead.

Thanksgiving

Two days before Christmas....better late than never...

We actually managed to get THREE thanksgiving dinners this year, without ever hosting anything ourselves.  That takes mad skill, people.  There was a Feast with friends the week prior, actual Thanksgiving with our neighbors, and then a Friendsgiving with the Lewins on Saturday.  Oh stuffing...how I love you.

Ellie's list of things she is thankful for.  Amazing.

Searching the kitchen for presents from Grandma.

Apple pie!

The Turkey Family

And Amy took this great picture of me, mom, and Mira.  

Firebugs

Ummm...yeah.   Ellie's trying to rub two sticks together to make a campfire.  Luckily it would have taken her five hours to get a spark.  I blame the boys and the Poconos.

A Few Holiday Scenes

God, I love this time of year...

Gabe banging his little heart out.  Hopefully piano lessons start soon.

Ellie reading the Christmas tree a Hanukkah book.

Astronaut Ellie checking out a moon rock with her new microscope.

Mira desperately trying to play Lego with her brother.

Gabe and his preschool menorah.

Jelly donuts!

Our Christmas tree, surrounded by Hanukkah presents and our winter books.

A Little Advice

Sometimes it's best to not ask questions, but just back slowly away.

Poconos

Hod damn.  A month since I last posted?  Slacker-city over here.  Happy Holidays!  Before the holidays hit us we split for a Poconos weekend with the neighbors.  It's so fun just to chill there and let the kids run wild.

We brought along Uncle Todd and Aunt Bess!

About a minute after we got all the kids off the chairlift it started running.  Um, that would have been interesting.

Brian being foolish.

We hit the pretzel shop, as tradition mandates.

Amy and Andrew were good Samaritans and pushed someone's car out of traffic.  Brian and I sat in our car and watched.

But at least I made a cake for Andrew's birthday!

We sat around the firepit.

And got photo-bombed, of course.

I don't even know what the kids are trying to roast here.  We forgot to buy marshmallows.

These two are as thick as ever.

Five!

Awwww

The other day there was some massive sofa fort/cushion wrestling action.

Last Summer Pics

Somehow, these delicious little bits of summer didn't make it on to the blog...So here they are before the snow starts falling.

Pretty Things

Sometimes, you just need pretty flowers.

Partners in Crime

Eating lunch under the table.  

(Also known as: doing whatever it takes to get a healthy meal into them prior to attending a party.)

A Letter to the Tooth Fairy

Translation:  Tooth Fairy - today I bit my pinkie and now I have a loose tooth. I can't wait until I lose the tooth.  It is the top one on the left.  Love Ellie.  (then she's drawn a picture of herself saying "yay!")

Tooth Fairy - consider yourself on notice.

Too Sweet

Little E is not so little anymore.  And she's yet again proving herself the best big sister ever.  Here she's sweetly helping teach Gabe his letters before school.  Earlier, she fed the cat, got bananas for her and her brother, put Gabe's toothpaste on his toothbrush, and was a general rockstar.  Sure, she falls apart every day when she comes home from school....but she's earned it.

Little Daredevil

I swear...this one's gonna be trouble.

Quiet Times with Gabe

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There are times, when E's in school, and M is napping, that G and I just get to chill together and work on projects.  And it's just lovely.

And Some Randoms

What a beggar.  She gained three whole pounds while I was working.  That's a lot of turkey scraps.

I love this pic our neighbor took of our girls on the street.

And this.  All the neighborhood girls at the splash park this summer.  I can't wait to take the matching photo when they're teenagers.

And um...Brian took the kids to a circus.  Which sounds innocent enough, but apparently was a thinly veiled burlesque show, so yeah...they got quite the education.  And cotton candy.

Another Vermont Weekend

Because we hadn't had our fill of Vermont in fall, we went up to Mt. Snow for Oktoberfest.  We stayed with super old friends, and brought new friends along for the ride.

What a posse.  (And no, Mira was not feeling the group photo.)

Fall Half Marathon

I'm still trying to catch up from all the emotional turmoil of leaving work, so here's a random sampling of what we've been up to during the transition.  This is the start of week three at home again, and it's starting to feel much more normal and, well, satisfying.  I'm so lucky to be able to be here.

And this is how far back I was slacking on the blog:  in SEPTEMBER we went to Vermont to see our besties and I managed to run (poorly) another half marathon.  One of the most fun weekends ever.

I love these people SO MUCH.

And the view wasn't half bad either.