Christmas Catch Up

Rebecca!

I'm so excited to be back! I'd lent my computer to my very talented friend and free lance editor after hers broke. You can check out her super cool science blog (Buzz Hoot Roar is a graphics-driven blog that shares and/or explains a scientific concept in 300 words or less) at http://buzzhootroar.com

Thank you to Matt for updating the blog for me- I loved it! My work has been a little of out control lately and Matt is so good about picking up my slack. I love you to the max!!

Laura says hey. I think this was the weekend before Christmas when the weather was unseasonably warm.

We loved it!

Christmas at Granny Marie's!

So fun!

Christmas at our house! On Christmas you get as many puffs as you want. I know they are for babies but my girls LOVE these things.

They got so many awesome presents this year! Here is some of the pretend food from my parents. Rebecca loved it! Laura was just mad she couldn't actually eat the cereal. 

Maria and Joseph! Rebecca picked out everyone's presents herself at the Dollar Tree, including these gems. Lucky Oma got a hair brush. 

Sweet Riley! We were so glad to have everyone at our house on Christmas!! Of coarse we missed the Fosters but at least got to Skpye.

A puzzle with Uncle Ira- so fun! Best Christmas yet!!

Christmas!

We've had a busy few weeks with Christmas and New Year's festivities.   And Annie's had to work until midnight for the past several days.  So as a surprise to Annie, Daddy Matt is going to try a blog post.

We've been getting very excited for Christmas.  It's essentially our first year with Rebecca old enough to understand what's going on.  She is super excited.  Grandma and Pops sent a big package of presents and Rebecca was dancing and running around as we set out the wrapped presents under the tree.

Rebecca had another parent preview night at her dance practice.  She is such a ham! She's now knows how to passe and arabesque.

They also just let them dance around and have fun.

On Saturday, December 21st, we had the 2nd annual Sixth & Vine dinner with the Vonsiatskys, Hamlins, Jarrett and Marty and Nick and Whitney.  Andrew and Elizabeth scoured the earth and found our traditional Trim wine - which made the night perfect.

On Monday, Annie went to work and I watched the girls.  It was a fun day of play-doh, dressing up and lasagna.

 Monday night, Maty Windsor stayed with us.  Rebecca loves Mat.  He is super silly with her (sniffing dirty socks) and Rebecca taught him how to arabesque.

New hats and mittens (this picture reminds me of the Saturday Night Live chronicles of narnia music video)

Christmas Eve we went to Granny Marie's to have breakfast for dinner.  Always delicious country ham, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy.  Jeff and Kim gave the girls a play CD and musical toy.  And they baked us a homemade black walnut cake.

Granny Foda and Oma stayed with us Christmas eve. Maria, Joseph and Riley came down during the afternoon of Christmas and we had even more fun (of course, I don't have any pictures).   Here are a few pictures from Christmas day:

Granny and Laura (she loved to ride in Foda's lap around the kitchen)

Balls from Santa

 Tons of puzzles (Rebecca is amazing - she can do these all by herself).

And of course - Rebecca's favorite gift - a ukulele from Aunt Teeny!!!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Christmas Program

Laura!

This little cutie had her 15 month check up and is doing great! She's still 50% for weight and 75% for height.

Rebecca had a Christmas program at school. So cute!

Laura was so sleepy but she got to come too.

Rebecca and Madison! After the performance we had a party with Rebecca's class.

Friday was Matt's work party. There used to be a kid's party and an adult party but this year they were combined. I'm not sure that I would say it was entirely successful but Rebecca loved it!

The highlight was meeting Santa!! Rebecca asked for a bicycle and a ballerina superhero car.

The rest of the weekend was pretty low key, we pretty much just played. My opinion of the Christmas party may be tainted because Rebecca and I ate some yuck chicken fingers and got sick Friday night. We weren't up for doing too much on Saturday but did some Christmas shopping today.

Sweetness

Disney on ice

Laura! She has been the happiest little girl lately and it is so much fun!!

This weekend was action packed! Saturday was Sidant's birthday at the children's museum. In the car on the way there Rebecca said "Sidantie is my Honey!"

Friends from school

No pictures! Speaking of no pictures, I didn't get any pictures but Matt and went to first street to watch the sec championship. Laura spent the night with her Oma and Sarah came over to play with Rebecca. We had so much fun! War eagle!!

Sunday was Disney on ice! 

We dropped Laura off with the Robinson's and took Elexa to the show. Excitement level 100.

Cotton candy! Fantasia and Nightmare before Christmas were really scary so we took a break from the show for some cotton candy. Cotton candy makes everything better.

Sunday evening we decorated our tree! Matt and Rebecca went to pick it out and it is ginormous.

She knows she is funny. Such a fun weekend, such cute girls!

Thanksgiving

Rebecca!

Laura and Jim! My parents and sister and her family came to Winston Tuesday night and we all rode up to Blacksburg on Wednesday.

We had a great time! Thank you Anne and John for having us!

Four generations. So special. We loved seeing our granny!! 

We also loved some late night dance parties

And of coarse black jack

Peak a boo!

On Friday we went to Woodstock to visit with my dad's family. 

Where there was some more black jack, or bingo as we say in front of Rebecca

Saturday was the iron bowl!

We went to the Spring House to watch the game. I still can't believe we won. War eagle!!

And Saturday night was Josh and Lindy's wedding reception. We are so happy for them. It was beautiful! And so much fun!!

Doughnuts for wedding cake. Loved it! 

Riding home! Laura is happy here but by the end of our almost 7 hour drive home (the traffic was terrible) she was spent. We stopped at a Sheetz and when I took some suckers away from her Laura had her first full on tantrum. Face down on the floor, head down, arms out, kicking and screaming. Lovely.

My parents flight was canceled so they got to spend an extra night with us. We loved it! Such a fun Thanksgiving!