Thursday, December 29, 2011

Merry Merry!

We had a magical and wonderful christmas!  Chris and I hosted christmas eve dinner~lots of work but it turned out to be a fun filled evening for our family!  I think we all ate too much but we enjoyed every minute of the celebration! 

After eveyone left Santa paid us a visit :)


Nana and Papa gave the kids bean bag chairs this year....very fun!  Connor was so excited
that he got this Air Hog!

AND a KINDLE!

Here he is opening his guitar~

Of course Santa brought some fun things for Caroline.  Squinkies and a LaLa Loopsy! 

An easel...and art supplies!

Another Monster High to add to her "collection!"

First lesson

The easel and supplies were her most favorite gift. She couldn't wait to
set up and draw! 

Voila! 


Yesterday we spent the day downtown at the Art Museum.  


Caroline couldn't believe the ceiling....
Here were our favorites.  Chris' long time favorite :The Nut Gatherers.
I loved anything marble...Caroline wanted to know, "Why does everyone have to be naked?"
The Mummy was both Connor and Caroline's favorite. They couldn't believe that there was a person in there!

And there were some pieces that we really couldn't define as lovely or beautiful.  In fact, some pieces
stopped us dead in our tracks!  Poor "lady"....we had some good laughs at your expense.  Sadly, she wasn't even the ugliest gal we saw! 

And here are my men filling the house with music. Connor is doing so well, I think he's a natural!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Where does the time go?  I have not logged on to our blog since before Thanksgiving! December has been busy....lots going on!
We were so excited to be able to spend Thanksgiving in PA this year.  It was such a treat to celebrate with Nana, Papa, Aunt Pam, Uncle Eric and Miss Hadley!  I love this picture of Connor and my Dad.


Caroline and Connor breaking the wishbone.



Caroline wins!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving was spent in Philadelphia.  It was sunny, warm and an all around great day.  Here are the kids in Liberty Place.



We stopped into Macy's to see the light show-spectacular!

Hadley wasn't as excited as the rest of us, so she decided this was the perfect opportunity for a little nap.  (How cute is that face??? )

A little boost from Daddy to see better.

No trip into Philadelphia is complete without a BIG, yummy soft pretzel.  The smell alone is like a little bit of heaven :)  

My friend Jacklyn and I took the girls to see the Nutcracker.  I loved getting all dressed up, taking my special girl out to lunch and then watching this beautiful ballet together.  Going to see The Nutcracker is one of my favorite childhood memories and it was so special to continue this tradition with my daughter. To say that she loved it is an understatement!  I'm hoping that next year I can convince my men to come with us and make it a family tradition!

Here is the very last picture that I have of Caroline with all her baby teeth.  She had a wiggly bottom tooth for awhile but last week it got really wiggly.  It was time to perform her very first "tooth-ectomy."  Thank goodness I remembered to grab my camera for this before shot!  Notice how excited she looks!!! I have to admit that I cried (just a little). I was sad that my "baby" is truly, in no way shape or form a "baby" anymore.  It's the little things that get me sometimes!

With just a little effort it popped right out!  Literally it popped out...and we lost it briefly....major drama!  Thankfully it was just stuck in the tissue!

A funny toothless photo!  

Last Sunday we gathered a few friends and made our annual gingerbread houses.
I love this tradition!


Our sweet neighbors, Nolan and Brihanna joined us!  


 Look who else came!  Dante! I love that the boys still want to participate.  One of the sweetest moments was when Dante said to me that he remembers doing this with us ever since he was a little boy, and that he also used to love being with us when we did our pumpkin painting parties every fall.  Memories!  We actually started this gingerbread house day with just Connor and Dante when they were three years old.  No wonder they have this down pat!


I love our tree this year.  It just makes me happy when it's all lit up and sparkly!

My crafty girl is at it agin!  She made me this holiday trivet and I just can't love it anymore.
She painted a santa hat (with a smiley face on it), a steaming cup of cocoa, a christmas tree, Rudolph (the antlers are there, just hard to see in the photo) and presents! 


This is a picture that I had to pop in here because this is what my hubby has been doing for the past few months!  Teaching himself the guitar.  I love that he has such talent!!  
A long post but now I feel better that we're all caught up because Santa will be here in just 3 days!! 

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Trick or Treat!

Another fun day for my kiddos :) Here are Caroline and Madyson waiting for the bus.  It was super
exciting to be able to wear your costume to school!

Connor (and Lauren) during the parade at school.


Caroline leading the parade for her class!!

"Papa" and my Witch starting out for the evening!

Our little neighbor Riley was our first visitor of the night. 

Caroline came in to inspect her loot....

while my boys stayed outside and relieved me of my candy duties. Come on buddy...
turn around....


a smile would have been nice but I'll take what I can get! 

Happy Birthday Caroline!

Happy 6th birthday sweet girl!  We sure celebrated this year....four parties in two days :)
I woke up this year wishing that I could somehow slow down time.  How did my precious baby girl grow up so fast?  These six years have gone by too fast but I am amazed at the beautiful, smart and funny little lady you are becoming.  

Party #1.  The Kindergarten celebration! 
We were lucky to have Nana and Papa in town with us and Chris took the day off so we all trooped into the school to participate in the classroom party. Caroline was all smiles in her birthday crown as she passed out donuts to her classmates!  She was serenaded with a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" from 29 friends and two teachers. Her classmates also made her a birthday book which I'm sure will be treasured for many years to come.




Party #2. Ghost and Goblins~A Halloween Party at the school!
My little witch and Connor dressed up as his Papa :) 



The birthday girl! Officially 6 today! We started off the morning with breakfast and gifts.


A Monster High doll from Aunt Pam.

A sleepover bag from Nana and Papa.

A purse, watch, jewelry and a pink Razor scooter from Mom and Dad.

Party #3. Tea Party!
Waiting for friends to arrive!



Each girl got to pick a fancy hat to wear...this was Caroline's choice!

Mia, Sienna and Caroline.


Having lunch. Fruit salad, tea sandwiches, pretzels and a choice of iced tea or lemonade. These little
ladies had such nice manners!




Make a wish! 





After lunch and gifts we made haunted houses. (Caroline's request!) They all had a wonderful time decorating their little houses.  Everyone did a fantastic job and I couldn't believe the amount of thought and palnning that each girl gave to their project!
Just starting...




And Caroline's finished house!  I love creepy crawly spider on the roof!




Party #4. Grammy's house! 
After the Tea Party and a two hour nap it was off to Grammy's!


More cupcakes and singing...


more gifts....

and more smiles....

What a wonderful weekend we had!  Happy Birthday Caroline, I love you so much and can't
wait to see what this year hold for you.  XOXO!