December 2011

December was a fun month spent getting ready for Christmas and taking part in all the holiday season had to offer.

We started off by taking the family photo for our card (thank goodness for the tripod).  After 20 some shots we got a keeper, I only posted the one we ended up with, but it is a very entertaining series of photos.

The first weekend in December found us at the Redding Christmas Tree Lighting.  The kids enjoyed running around, climbing on rocks, and meeting Rudolph and Frosty (the candy canes didn't hurt either).

Running to Frosty

Hudson really just wants the candy

A hug for Rudolph

Goofing around in the gazebo

Annabelle with the tree

Hudson and Daddy and the tree

As usual we were spoiled by Oma and Opa receiving a pre-Christmas package in the middle of the month.  Here is Annabelle wearing her new pants, pajamas, and socks.

I wanted to get a couple of pictures of just the kids for our cards.  I waited a week between the family ones because we all can only take so much.

Loves having her picture taken

Would rather be playing

Having fun

Trying to get brother to stay

Trying to get away

Time for a break

Candy does the trick (at least candy canes are festive)

The week before Christmas we finally made it to see Santa at Stew Leonard's.  Both kids were all about it.  Annabelle asked for My Little Ponies, and requested Cars for Hudson.

Earlier in the month I did a cookie exchange and had plenty of cookies, so we didn't go all out in the baking department this year.  As usual Annabelle was a big help in the kitchen, Hudson not so much.

Unwrapping Kisses

(she only ate a couple after getting permission, Hudson snuck more and got banned from "helping")

Stacking cookies before baking

(her mask is a souvenir from Daddy's latest trip)

Sam and I are not big on exchanging gifts, but we do like eat.  So one of our gifts was a lot of yummy food over the holidays.  An extra gift for me, since Sam had the week off he did most of the cooking.

Fondue Picnic

Enjoying a spoonful of butter, who needs the crab legs?

We started with opening one gift on Christmas Eve, new movies!  Annabelle decided to watch Kung Fu Panda 2 and then it was off to bed to get our rest before the real fun began.

Movies!

While Annabelle was very excited about the arrival of Christmas she also loves her sleep.  We will take these quiet Christmas mornings where we are waiting on her as long as they last.

Ready to be torn into

and it begins

Favorite gift so far: candy

Doodle Bear from Oma and Opa

Sam's present from the kids.  CHEESE BALLS!

Something he is supposed to hit

Annabelle's Baby Cinderella from Grandma and Grandpa

should have asked for a baby doll for Hudson too

Modeling her new robe and slippers

The Aftermath

As usual the kids were spoiled by us, their grandparents, and their aunts and uncles.  We made it through opening presents and spent the rest of the day and week enjoying the new toys and being together.

Little Handyman

Boxing Bride

Playing games on her camera

 Hudson taking a swing

We had a  low-key New Year.  Just the four of us hanging out.  Hudson also likes his sleep and was in bed at his normal time.  Annabelle was determined to stay up and nearly made it.  I made her sit still just long enough for her to fall asleep with three minutes to go. 

Almost made it

I was nice and woke her up for the countdown

Ending here with some of my favorite pictures from the month.

Getting a hug from two of his favorites: Elmo and Annabelle

Enjoying some tea, all the way down his shirt

Play-doh!

Why one of his nicknames is TROUBLE

November 2011

November got off to a cold dark start.  After our "little" snow storm we were without power for five days.  We camped in the living room for the first few nights keeping the fire going around the clock.  That room we managed to get up to 60 degrees while the rest of the house was below 50.  We were thankful that we had gotten enough firewood, that we have a gas range for cooking, and that we have friends that got power back sooner than us and invited us over until ours was back on.

Dinner and a movie

(also thankful that we have a portable dvd player to keep the kids entertained while I made dinner in the dark)

Thankfully the cold and snow did not stick around for long.  So while at home we were able to go outside where it was above 60 degrees.

During this week we got a new toy delivered for Sam, a snowblower.  It came a few days late for him to really enjoy it, but he gave it a test drive anyway. We have not gotten any snow since.

A couple weeks after the storm you wouldn't have even known it snowed (other than all the down trees and branches).  We were enjoying a warm November which included washing the cars in shorts, T-shirts, and bare feet.

Our little helper "doing a good job"

Enjoying the sandbox in the nice weather

Since we were alone for Thanksgiving this year we decided to take advantage of our location and we headed into New York to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  We took the train in on Wednesday afternoon and after checking into our hotel we made our way to where they were inflating the balloons.

Annabelle and the world

A very croweded event. Can you spot Sam?
(I almost lost him a couple of times)

 

Spiderman with bunny ears

Sam and Hudson with Energizer Bunny

Becca and Annabelle with Smurf

The next morning I got everyone out of bed before 5 am so we could bundle up and get a spot.  While nobody was excited to be up we were lucky and got one of the last spots in the very front.  After giving the kids candy to calm them down and Sam returning from finding coffee and breakfast we got settled and the kids actually fell back asleep on our laps for another hour.  Then the waiting began.

Cuddling with Daddy and keeping warm

 

All the people behind us

 

More snacks to pass the time

 

Looking down Central Park West

(can see the Macy's Stars and Sonic the Hedgehog at the start)

Since we were only seven blocks from the start of the parade, it wasn't long after 9:00 that the parade reached us.

NYPD Leading the way

One happy girl

Set to watch

Hudson enjoying the parade

Best seat around

Annabelle's favorite part: confetti

(Had to remind her to watch parade sometimes as she collected it)

Her collection

(this is in the chair of the person next to us, she made sure to put it in our bag before leaving)

Annabelle with her favorite balloon Hello Kitty

 

Why getting up before 5am to be in front was worth it

 

Hudson and as he would call it "muppet" balloon

 

Parade coming to an end

 

Santa!

By 11:00 the parade was over for us.  We headed back to one crowed Grand Central Station and onto a train back home.

Photo op after parade

 

Taking a much needed nap on the train

 

On Friday we had "Turkey Day" and cooked the meal we missed the day before.  The great thing about not having company for Thanksgiving is you don't have to worry about having a clean house, or about what you wear to dinner.

Sam did most the cooking, but he did have some help

 

Carving our little bird

Enjoying his dinner

Eating the jell-o she made for the occasion

 

After dinner snack

We ended the month by heading over to Stew Leonard's for our Christmas tree and with the help of little hands decorating it.

Annabelle with the ornaments, ready to get started

 

Being very careful

 

Very carefully removing ornaments

I will leave you with a couple of my favorite pictures of everyday life in November.



Watching Elmo with Elmo

 

Reading Pinkalicious and the Pink Pumpkin

 

Hanging out with Daddy