A couple of Christmas pictures

Watching Toy Story 3 before heading to Bobbi & Papa's house to spend Christmas with the cousins. It was great to have a little down time during such a fun crazy day!

Elijah wanted to stop and read each new book that he opened.

Molly jumped down and ripped into her gifts - I don't think she's ever moved so fast! She is in love with this doll house.

Thank you Piper and Tallie!

Oh the fun of it all!





They couldn't be more excited! And yes, they had each just had a cookie.

Elijah reading

Elijah has been reading on his own for a little while now. He is really enjoying being able to read to himself and to Molly. I finally remembered to take a video of him reading last week - what a big milestone to document!

I think we need to get him a chair ...

Warm and cozy

The kids got early Christmas presents from Nana & Grandpa of some warm puffy vests. They think they're pretty awesome. Molly just loves to wear hers around. (big surprise!)

Last night's adventure

Ever wonder what happens when a 4 year old sticks his finger in the hole end of a Thomas train track?

It gets stuck.

Ever wonder how you get a 4 year old's finger unstuck from the hole end of a Thomas train track?

Well, if lotion doesn't work, try floss.

(I really, really thought the floss would work. Crap.)

If floss doesn't work, try a sharp knife.

If a sharp knife doesn't work, try a drywall knife.

Better yet, educate your 4 year old about the dangers of playing with innocent looking Thomas tracks.

Finally rescued.

I am so glad that Daddy was the one using a small saw millimeters from Elijah's finger. Phew.

Oh, Christmas Tree!

This is the first year since Elijah was just a little baby that we've been able to put up a Christmas tree. We were so excited to get it out! It was fun to show the kids all the ornaments and let them help. They loved decorating, and Elijah especially is very proud of the job they did. Most of the ornaments that we used this year were Patrick's or mine when we were kids. Elijah enjoyed finding our names on them, and "Elijah" and "Molly" on the few ornaments that we've collected for the kids so far. Molly knows which ones are hers, too, and loves to point out the letters that spell her name.

"Ooooo, shiny."

Look at what we did!

Elijah got the big job this year.

Admiring their work.

We're so thankful for our new place and the little luxuries we've missed lately, like having a Christmas tree. Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving and my assistant bakers

For Thanksgiving this year we stayed in PA and celebrated with Patrick's family. I had a couple of assistants to help with the baking this year. We were in charge of desserts, including a birthday cake for cousin Evan. For the grown ups, we made key lime cheesecake. (Wow - it was intense!) We have been trying out some fun non-traditional recipes for the past few years because some of us don't like pumpkin.

They love to help!

We also made a chocolate cake and then made a batch of cupcakes - I needed a little extra cake to build some ramps for Evan's monster truck cake. Here's what we did with the rest of the cupcakes:

(not my photo - I forgot to take pictures of them)

I made Evan's cake the night before, and set out everything to finish assembling it when we got there. Unfortunately, when we got to Diane's house for Thanksgiving, we realized we had everything with us EXCEPT the cake! I knew my kids were looking forward to celebrating Evan's birthday, to say nothing of poor Evan's disappointment if we didn't have a cake for him, so during all the craziness of preparing Thanksgiving dinner, I also made another cake and did my best to replicate the original with the supplies Diane and her helpful neighbors had on hand. I didn't get a picture of either version of the cake, but I will try to get the video up here sometime soon.

Just a little tea party with friends

An early morning tea party with some friends

The host - in charge of the "snacks"

and hostess - in charge of the "tea"

He made "alphabet soup." This kid is soooooo literal, even in his imagination. He cracks me up!

Riding the range

Just a couple more pictures of our little cowboy.

Once upon a time ...

Elijah and Molly have been starting to make up stories lately. Last night at dinner, we went around the table making up a story together, and they thought it was great. This morning at breakfast, the kids told this story:

Elijah: Once upon a time there were three little bears their names were Thomas James, Molly Beth, and a mama bear named Mama Bear. They went out for a good breakfast and then went for a hike, and they were hunting for ... [dramatic pause]

Molly: Baby Jesus.

Yee-haw!

The kids in their costumes this year:

Molly wanted to be sure and get a picture with her braid. =) She loves Jessie from Toy Story, but she wanted to be a pink cowgirl, so this is what we came up with. She wore her ruffly pink skirt when they wore their costumes to Daddy's office on Friday, but changed into jeans to go out into the neighborhood on Saturday. It was chilly, but the kids were warm enough to be out for a little while with long underwear under their costumes. The kids spent a lot of time yodeling for Mama and Daddy at home, but didn't want to yodel or respond to any of the many "howdy, partner!" greetings they got.

Elijah has owned his cowboy costume since he was just a baby. Nana got it for him and it has been hanging on the wall in his cowboy room, waiting for him to grow into it. It was just right this year - and he looks like a real cowboy in it!

Fall fun!

At the pumpkin patch, choosing pumpkins, and enjoying a hay bale maze.

"This one. I'm done now."

"Airplane!"

Cowboy and cowgirl tryouts. They just couldn't wait to wear their hats and boots!

Finger Paint!

We have been busy getting settled into our new place! Things seem to be finding new homes pretty quickly, and we are glad that things have been relatively normal for the kids. We found the art supplies and were excited to get out the finger paint and create some fun!

Moving

Well, we moved. Goodbye to our little townhouse in Rhode Island ...

... and hello big yellow moving truck and Pennsylvania!



We had lots of great help unloading the truck and unpacking from family and friends in the area. We are so thankful for everyone pitching in! The new place has enough rooms for the kids to each have their own, for the first time. They missed each other a little bit at first, but they are loving their new rooms. I made each of them a cozy little reading corner, which they have really enjoyed too. I am thankful that they have both been sleeping better on their own. Hooray for a little more space!

First breakfast in the new place - french toast! Yum!

Elijah in his new room!

Playing

Just a last couple of pictures of the kids enjoying play time before we moved.

One of Elijah's favorite activities in this yard - digging!

Miss Molly loved digging too. They spent so many fun hours in the sandbox and the dirt and mulch around the yard. (Nice hat, Molly!)

Sharing with Bobbi

Rehoboth Beach

In September we got to spend a week at Rehoboth Beach with Patrick's family. It was a fun week! It was warm (not too hot) and sunny and not too crowded - so, pretty much perfect. The kids loved spending a week playing with their cousins, and we all enjoyed being together. We went to the beach and lounged around at the house, and Patrick and I got to go out for the evening several times! We all went out together one evening and took family pictures at the beach and then to dinner at Grotto Pizza where we had a surprise early birthday party for Patrick. (Of course I forgot the camera that night - hopefully someone else got some pictures of the party.)

Update: You can see Diane & Bill's pictures from Rehoboth, including Patrick's birthday here.