Happy New Year!

Julia received nail polish from Santa.  She insisted on doing it herself!

New Year's Eve dinner.  In our house that means shrimp for dinner.  We always try to do something out of the ordinary at our January eve dinner.  

Tonight, we donned paper bow ties to dress up the occasion a little bit.

I just thought Julia looked kind of cute at the head of the table like this.

Bubble Pop

Matt brought home several sheets of really big bubble wrap and let the kids loose on it this evening.  They had a really great time!

Christmas Dinner

The first appearance of the "kids' table" at our Christmas dinner.

Mmmmm.  What's for dinner?  Roast pork, brussels sprouts, roasted butternut squash, scalloped potatoes, bread and cranberries.   YUM!

Christmas morning

Waiting not so patiently at the top of the stairs for the green light from dad.

Finally . . .  What did Santa bring?!?!?

Julia's highly coveted "lip stuff."  Now she won't have to steal mommy's anymore!

Jacob trying to figure out how to work his new computer.

Our lovely tree.

Christmas Eve

This was one of the rare years that literally only comes once every five years (maybe less) when my mom actually had Christmas eve OFF!  We decide to do a little fun crafty thing and have lunch.  My mom brought a foam snowflake ornament kit with glitter glue.  The kids all had a good time with it.

Dinner was the traditional crab at grandma and grandpa Coolidge's house.  Always a nice dinner.

The kids got their teeth brushed and jambes on before heading for home.  We have found that we can stay a little longer when we do this step here.  Tonight was extra special, because Uncle Nathan was on TV!  He is a percussionist with the West Point Army band in NY.  The Christmas at West Point special happened to be on tonight.

Julia is trying to put her shoes on over her floppy feet--silly girl!

Reindeer Jacob and Friends

Jacob's preschool class has a Christmas program every year.  This year, they donned reindeer antlers and the girls all had red noses!  They were so cute.  Jacob has been singing "Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Go Tell it on the Mountain" constantly.  Of course, they are not complete without the hand motions to go with them.

Jacob's "girlfriend" is the tall blonde girl in the green dress and red sparkly shoes.  Her name is Kate and they have their wedding all planned out!

Fall Leaves 2011

I love when it's time to rake the leaves and let the kids plow into them.  There is such joy in such a simple thing, it's truly amazing to watch them.  They get so excited.  Whether it's piling leaves at the end of the slide or simply making a big pile, as you see here, there is nothing but joy and big smiles!

James is such a good helper.  He insisted on raking all of the leaves.  In fact, he started to get upset with me when I tried to help him rake!

Jacob and Julia enjoying the pile.  Yes, Julia is wearing a tutu.

I especially love the pictures that need absolutely no descriptions!

Apparently, leaf play left Julia all tuckered out.  She nodded off during dinner.