First Snow Adventure

Because we were upstate, we actually missed the huge blizzard that covered NYC the day after Christmas (although we didn't miss the recovery- the unplowed streets, the piled up garbage and recycling on the sidewalks for 2 weeks, the dog poop not scooped up by owners). But, lucky for us, the girls got to enjoy several inches at Nanny and Pop-pop's. Matt & I dragged them around on the sled, they made snow angels, and generally romped about.

For some reason this year, Alexis hasn't wanted to be outside for very long. Maybe she doesn't have enough body fat on her to help stay warm. But she ends up plopping down and pouting while Ella continues to run around. It's a little sad.

Christmas

This year we spend Christmas upstate with much of my extended family. I didn't want to pack up the gifts that had accumulated at home, so on Christmas Eve morning we had a little gift opening.  We were enjoying the moments too much to take many photos, though.

The amazing blanket Grandma Cope knit for our budding paleontologist

She worked on this for at least 5 months.  When we were visiting her in August, she had about 5 skeins of yarn going at once on several sets of needles.  I don't know how she does it, but it is a gorgeous blanket and Alexis loves it and sleeps with it every night.

Here is an upclose look at the 2 of the dinosaurs.... just amazing, isn't it?!

This is the quilt I made for Ella's bed. It was more time consuming than I expected, but I really love the result.  I quilted it about 1/4" from each diagonal seam which created a 1/2" zig zag on the back side (should have taken a picture of that).  I used Denyse Schmidt fabrics from the Hope Valley collection and I'm really pleased with how it all turned out.  Ella loved it, too, which was definitely validating! (And I learned that larger quilts are very challenging to quilt on my machine.  Phew!)

Girls in front of the tree ready to go to Nanny&Pop-pop's house! (Our tree was only 5 feet tall- compared to our 9 foot ceilings- and bought at Home Depot in NJ for $30- much better than the $200 tree we saw downtown earlier in the month).

Matt enjoying one of the pillow pets (Alexis got a unicorn & Ella got a bumble bee)

On Christmas Eve, Aunt Barbara hosted dinner and had created a scavenger hunt for the girls which included clever clues that led them to little gifts and then an additional Christmas event- reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" (which turned into almost as much a recitation by all as a reading by Uncle Doug")

 

a reading of "December" by Uncle Bruce in his Donald Duck voice- very amusing to everyone- look at all those happy faces!

singing of "Silent Night" (the girls had practiced and practiced this song to be a part of the Angel choir at our ward Christmas party only to have to miss it because Alexis and I were sick sick sick that day)

 

and finally an acting out of the Christmas story.

(I'll be looking like this for real before too long... due the first week of July)

Ella frequently mentioned over the next couple of days how much she likes scavenger hunts.

Christmas Day was spent at Nanny and Pop-pop's (and virtually every day after that).  We enjoyed all our traditions- gift giving, secret santas, food, Bingo, the Right family game, more food, photos, jumble puzzles, movies.... The girls were really spoiled this year (as they usually are, being the only young children in the family right now). 

The girls were already in bed when we snapped the one and only group photo

This is such a classic shot of how Ella felt when she opened her Belle Barbie doll (from Beauty & the Beast)- she has hardly put it down since that day.

NYBG Train Show

Grandma Susan was able to get us into the annual Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden.  It was a spectacular evening for patrons.  The event was no where near as crowded as it was when we went a few years ago, and there were carolers, hors d'oeuvres, hot chocolate, cider, wine, weaving activities, and lots of time to enjoy the amazing natural creations.  The event was held after hours, and so when we arrived at the entrance gate we got to ride on a golf cart directly to the observatory (I suppose to avoid guests wandering the grounds).  It was a wonderful time!

Our little family with Grandma, Aunt Allie & Uncle Chris outside the Garden

Lexi weaves some ribbons on a loom

The little weavers' final results

Our family in front of the George Washington Bridge

Getting an upclose look of the trains with a condutor

The Little Red Lighthouse!