Christmas Joy!

It was a very Merry Christmas at our house!

After getting home from the Christmas Eve Candlelight service, we let the kids open one present. They all opened pj's from Grandma and Grandpa. Paige got ballerina pj's (complete with tutu), and Charlie got Star Wars pj's. They were both elated and couldn't wait to go to sleep in them! Anna got cute Bunny Slipper pj's. She too couldn't wait to go to sleep...though she didn't really care what she was wearing. =) Christmas morning we were greeted with lots and lots of presents from Santa! Everyone in our house somehow made it on to the 'Nice' list this year.

Paige got the Pink and Purple bike that she asked Santa for.

Charlie, keeping with the Star Wars theme, got a double-sided lightsaber (Darth Maul's). He also got a rockin' slot car race track. I will have to post pictures and videos of that later. It is really cool. Anna was very excited on Christmas morning. Finally she got to touch and crinkle all that paper! From Santa, Anna got these really cool climbing mats.

Anna also got this cute Sight and Sounds stage toy from Aunt Heather. Anna is loving staring at herself in the mirror and bouncing along to the music. Jonathan, Mr. Geocache, got a bunch of geocaching gear from Santa. And I was blessed with way more than I deserve.

After presents at our house, we went up to Jonathan's parents' house for lots and lots of food, more presents and fun games.

All in all, an Awesome Christmas!!

Winter Concert

Today was Charlie's Winter Concert at school. After weeks of 'practicing' at home, it was finally time for the big stage!

All the kids were adorable (of course!).

Here are a few quick videos of the show. Pardon the grainy film quality and the jerky movements...I did the best I could while also trying to control Paige and Anna. BTW - Charlie is in the back row, third from left, in a red sweater. Or, you could just look for the cutest boy up there =)


Really poor quality on this one - but I had to post because the singing was too funny =)

Paige enjoyed singing along to this song! =)




And a few pics!

"Super Patient"

...that is what Anna's sticker says.

Anna had her tear ducts probed again today. We had to be there at 6:30 am. Her procedure was at 7:30 am, and we were home and resting comfortably by 9:30 am.

Just like last time, the whole procedure was probably a lot rougher on me, than on Anna. They let me hold her as they put her to sleep, and then I turned her over to the nurses.

Not more than 30 minutes later, she was awake and waiting for me =) She is such a trooper!

waiting to be called back

nice outfit! =)

awake and happy!

enjoying a little juice!

Winter Concert Preview

Charlie has a Winter Concert at school coming up next week. He has been treating our family to many previews of the concert.

Last Saturday, Charlie and Paige put on their own concert for us. Paige donned her princess gear, and Charlie put on his lab coat for the performance.

Hope you enjoy the previews. They are a little long, but extremely entertaining...especially if you watch the dynamics between Charlie and Paige. I am sure the real thing will be equally as entertaining =)

Preview 1: Note that Charles (Charlie) is in charge, and that Paige is far too occupied by her costume

Preview 2: Paige is still having problems with the props, and Charlie gets frustrated

Preview 3: After regaining their composure, they continue in style

Preview 4: The big finale! (and look how cute Anna is in the background!)

Making the Cut

Today Anna had her first haircut!

I have been debating having it done for awhile because it was starting to looking pretty stringy. We had to lose a couple of inches off the back, but overall, her hair looks fuller and more refined.

I think she looks like a doll...but then again, she could be bald and I would think she is adorable! =)

Saturday: Shots, Santa and Snow!

Saturday was a busy day for us.

We started the morning by taking the kids to get their H1N1 vaccines. Charlie said, "Ouch!" Paige screamed bloody murder, even before she sat down. And Anna barely batted an eye. Paige proceeded to cry the rest of the morning and also "couldn't walk because her arm hurt." - Tragic. Won't it be fun to take her back for her 2nd dose after Christmas =)

Paige's arm started to feel better as we drove to the DSGNWNJ Christmas Party. The snow was falling, and the prospect of seeing Santa was working its magic on her.

We had a great time at the party. We enjoyed catching up with some of the other families in our DS group. We saw everyone at the Buddy Walk, but didn't get much of chance to talk to one another.

The kids had fun dancing and running around with the other kids. And...they enjoyed Santa!

Anna all dressed up for the party
Dancing with Daddy
Patiently awaiting the arrival of the Big Man


Anna loves her present! She doesn't even care what is inside -- she just likes the wrapping paper!


By the time we had left the party, the snow was pretty thick. When we got home, we bundled everyone up to go play for a little while.

Christmas, here we come!!

Anna and Ella Tour the World!

Anna and Sweet Ella Grace live across the country from each other, but we are certain that they would be fast friends if they lived closer - if not because of their shared designer genes, then definitely because of their taste in clothes, mode of transportation preference, and adorable little faces.

This is what I imagine Ella and Anna would do if they could be together...seeing the world in style!

First stop would be the beaches of Hawaii...

If they can manage to drag themselves off the beach, they would head east to California to see if they can see any stars...
After they realize that they are way cooler than any stars in Hollywood, Ella and Anna decide that they need to focus on changing the world. Next stop would be the "Ride-on Toys Summit" with President Obama...
And after their conference with Mr. Obama, they would head back to Hawaii for a much needed rest...

When they have recovered, they would decide that since Christmas is coming, they want to go see the big tree in Rockefeller Center...
From NYC, they would hop the pond to England...
Then to Paris...
And then the pyramids...
When they have finished seeing all the sites on the Earth, they would decide to take things one step further (no holding back these cuties!)...
But, even if they never to get to travel the world and see all these great sites, I am pretty sure that Anna an Ella would have the time of their lives just scooting around the living room!

A Solution!

...to at least one of my problems, anyway =)

With cold weather quickly approaching, I have been wondering how I am going to keep Anna's hat on her head. Everytime I put anything on her head, she immediately rips it off (Halloween costume). It gets cold here in NJ, and Anna definitely needs something on her little head to help keep her warm and from getting sick!

Anyway - I think I may have the solution...a coat with sleeves that are too long! (BTW - the coat fits her otherwise - the sleeves are just too long)

How is this a solution? Well, since her sleeves are too long, her little fingers are not free to grab her hat. Thus, the hat stays on the head!

A bonus, is that I do not need to worry about mittens because her hands are tucked nicely inside her coat sleeve.

No problems keeping Paige's hat on! She has been a hat girl since the get-go. Perhaps because she is so cute in them! =)

New Favorite Toy

Anna's new favorite toy is her Wiggles car.
She is happy as a clam just sitting on it. But she really lights up when you push her around! I am quite certain she will be learning the sign for "car" very soon!

For Future Reference...

After helping me set up the Christmas tree, Charlie created some instructions for future reference...
First you start with just the pole. Then you add the branches. Then you decorate with lights and ornaments.

When I asked him how he knew how to spell "Merry Christmas", he told me he copied it off of our Christmas pillow.

Pretty clever for a kindergartener.