Merry Christmas 2011!!

This year has been a good holiday season. We finally got lights up outside (around the big tree in front of our house, next year we'll actually trim the house), and we have a santa, tree, and menorah adorning our storm door.  We had a good Hannukah, having latkes at Gaga's house and lighting the menorah at home...sorry, but no photos to commemorate.  My bad!

For the Christmas festivities we headed north to New Jersey.  The kids were able to entertain themselves while I packed everyone up.  At one point I heard Addie say "MOMMY!! COME WITH YOUR CAMERA!"  So I dropped what I was doing and ran....  It was worth it :)

At Yaya and Poppy's house Addie baked cookies with Yaya.

If you ask Addie, you can never have too many sprinkles.

There was a lot of music played.

A lot of comfy cozy hanging around

The traditions continue with the hanging of their own ornaments on their tree.

The putting out cookies and milk for Santa

The hanging of stockings (Cole was cranky and tired, excuse his sour face)

Addie, on the other hand, was happy and wide awake.  We weren't sure she would go to sleep, BUT the minute we said "the sooner you get to bed the sooner Santa will come" she went down faster and easier than she has in months.  Ah, the magic of Christmas.

Addie woke us up excitedly at 5:30am...she went back to sleep, and so did Cole, on top of me and then on top of Steve. Not sure the adults got the same extra Zs...

The kiddos got to check out their stocking loot!  This Christmas lollipop tradition is Addie-inspired.  "Of course Santa will bring me another lollipop in my stocking"  Um...of course.

And can you believe we actually had BREAKFAST before tearing into all these amazing gifts.  How could these kids keep their hands away?  Restraint that I doubt we will see in the future :)

Cole LOVES Mickey Mouse--this was his present from Addie :)

Yaya got Addie a bridal gown and accessories for her dress-up box.  This picture is foreshadowing 20+ years from now...a blushing bride!

Digging into the gifts!

Hugs...

Books...

and Food...all make a great Christmas.

Doug, Alli, and Julie came down...how friggin' cute is that smile?

 and Julie got her Fancy on with some fashion accessories.  Show it, girl!

The kiddos loved snacking together...

....chilling on the ground together...

And playing "light sabres" outside together. 

It was a VERY merry Christmas. Thank you all for the amazing gifts!!!  XXOO

Happy 4th Birthday, Addie!!!

Wait.  Did everyone else blink and miss that?  It was 4 years going by in a FLASH.  

Can you believe Adeline Eve is now FOUR YEARS OLD?  She's no longer a baby, she's a little girl!  Addie is many many things.  She's super super sweet.  She's an amazing big sister to Cole.  She is dramatic and loves to pretend.  She's an amazing reader for her age!  She's reading signs like "Rockville Town Square" and the back of cereal boxes, and can read real books now--Amelia Bedelia, Curious George, Arthur, Frog and Toad, etc etc.  She does need our help occasionally, but overall, she's reading a ton of children's books on her own.

She still loves to dance and does it all day every day.  At school one day I was reading her the list of "opportunities" that her teacher posts outside of the classroom. I said "Oh, Addie, look, today Ms. Janice is coming in and you get to do dance." and her teacher looked at me and said "Addie dances EVERYday" :)  She's also stubborn and sassy, and sometimes I think she's 4 going on 14 with the way she talks back to us.  But I think we'll still keep her ;) because she's SO good at snuggling, giving bear hugs, and throwing us daily birthday parties.   Speaking of birthdays...

Addie's birthday started out to here waking up to balloons in her room again! 

A few presents to get the morning started

And of course a birthday hat

Some special pancakes for the divine Ms. A

Addie and Cole got to watch a movie in the morning, complete with a chocolate milk treat.

Then at school she got to bring rice krispy treats in for her classmates.  Then we ordered her favorite dinner: Pad Thai!

On the day of her birthday party, Addie had her last ballet class of the session

Then later in the afternoon she had her "Mystery Detective Birthday Party"  Sadly, we were all running around so much that we didn't take many pictures!  Here is one of Steve leading Addie and her friends for the big mystery!

So I leave you with some sweet Addie pictures....she is the most amazing little girl and we have loved every day of being her parents.

Happy birthday, my sweet girl, little peanut, little bear, Adelina Ballerina, Addie Bear, Adsaloo

WE LOVE YOU!

Louisiana Trip #2!

The last time we were on a plan we flew to Louisiana to visit Steve's side of the family.  Here are the pictures--how little was Addie?   

Steve's cousin Greg was getting married so we made the trek again, this time with two kiddos in tow. 

Checking out the airplanes at National Airport--a long day of traveling ahead of us. 

Don't worry, Cole, I'll share my toys with you

We flew into New Orleans, opted not to stop for Hurricanes, drove 2 hours to Lafayette and promptly had some chicken fingers and amazing Frozen Yogurt.  Feel free to ignore Cole's look of disdain--perhaps he had a bite of strawberry when he meant to have Coconut? 

It was so much fun to see the whole family staying at the same hotel! 

Addie and Yaya wore the same Booktrader of Hamilton shirt :) 

Off to Aunt Robbie's house to see Grammy! 

And the wedding!  The kids got all dressed up for the ceremony.  Cole and I watched all of 4 minutes of it until he became loud. Not crying...just loud. "MOMMY?  MOMMY?  DIS?  MOMMY? CAR." Needless to say, we made a quick exit to the back vestibule where Cole and Julie had a dance-off. 

Addie was an angel and watched the whole ceremony--I mean what's as cool as a princess?  A bride :) 

Family pics!! 

The next day we got to spend more time at Aunt Robbie's to hang out with the cousins.  Julie sits on a pot to reach the table--apparently a Granger family tradition. 

 We did some tree-climbing

And some awesome swinging

Family!!!! 

Aunt Robbie and Aunt Ada

Cousins Agustin, Steve, and Doug

Ricardo, Cole and Agustin

Grammy, Steve, and Cole

Cole's turn to sit on the pot

Restin' and relaxin'

Go Kart Racing! 

And too soon it was time to go home.  The kids on the shuttle to the airport

Who doesn't love floor pizza? 

Both kids passed out on the plane ride back (not simultaneously, of course) 

A great trip!  Congrats Greg and Courtney and to the Picco family--we all love you!