Christmas Vacation with Cousin Matt

My very fabulous cousin Matt came out from Boston for a visit this week. He braved a cross-country plane ride and we are so happy that he is here.
We went skiing Monday at Stevens Pass and enjoyed some great snow up on 7th Heaven. Thanks to Nana for watching the kids!
On Tuesday Matt & I took the kids to the Woodland Park Zoo. The highlight was a yummy lunch at Kidd Valley. Too bad Edison forgot his jacket there. Luckily my friend Sara grabbed it later that night and we'll get it back Friday! Charlotte was sporting a super cute pink sweatsuit that was a Christmas present from our terrific neighbor Marlene.
Matt has been an absolute peach when it comes to playing with the kids. And this has had the benefit of the kids really taking to him. Edison even called him his "friend" - a status that less than five people have ever attained.
We got the kids helmets for Christmas. Edison had one that I ran over with the van. Oops!
Charlotte calls it a "hat" and actually likes wearing it - yippi!
Playing with the new marble race!

Christmas Day

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas gathering with my mom's side of the family at my Aunt Kirstie's house. The kids got lots of time with Nana and she had special treats for them to play with.
Edison got wonderful new toys from his Great Aunts and Uncles including this Busytown Airport game and an early reader Cat in the Hat book from Nana.
Charlotte was a darling.
Me and the gang.

Christmas Morning

This was the first year that Edison started to understand what Christmas was all about. But not totally. When I tucked him into bed Christmas Eve he told me he didn't like Santa and he didn't want Santa to stop at our house. He made me say really loud, "Santa please don't come here" before he could calm himself down and fall asleep.
So I couldn't tell the kids who filled their stockings with treats. But they didn't seem to notice. I developed a new trick for filling stockings with not so cool items - just wrap each one up - it makes it seem way more awesome.Christmas breakfast. We are excited to enjoy the lovely morning together and have our family Christmas.
Here, Edison is opening up a medical kit while Charlotte is inspecting bristle blocks. Dad is enjoying his old video game arcade favorite, Golden Tee - the surprise Christmas hit.
And the backroller will hopefully help put daddy's back in order.
The marble race track has so far proved very interesting, though not as sturdy as one would hope. All in all it was a fantastic Christmas morning and we have lots of "family traditions" in the works.

Christmas Eve

Grand-Dada came over for Christmas Eve.
He chose some wonderful gifts for the kids. This little duck walk toy is really mesmerizing. Thank You!
Not sure who likes this puzzle more - Edison or daddy?
Everyone loved the Yule Log "Buche de Noel" - a traditional French Christmas treat of mousse and chocolate cake.
I was just happy to be surrounded by my little darlings.

Catching Up

The lead-up to Christmas was wonderful. The kids had a few days off of school and we got to do lots of fun things together.
Charlotte and Edison enjoyed opening Christmas cards, especially the musical ones sent by Mrs. Hirsch.
There were many occasions to dress up. In this case, Edison and Charlotte were playing train with the dining chairs.
We had a great morning with Ashely and her boys, Colin & Pierce, hanging out at the Children's Museum and hitting the mall for lunch. Here are all four of the kids - busy, active, happy - just what we want before heading home for naps!
Charlotte and Pierce are just a couple of weeks apart in age. They are well-matched as you can see.
Just before heading out for winter break, the students in my leadership class had a holiday party. I took the kids and they enjoyed all the Christmas scenery and beauty and Hannah's house.
We've actually had a mild December with very little rain. We have tried to get outside most days, like this little walk around Huckleberry to take in the lights.

Like father, like daughter.Charlotte LOVED the spicy phad thai. Incredible.
The kids were both a little under the weather on Christmas Eve eve. So they took it easy and watched a lot of Busytown videos.
Charlotte still had time to look cute, though.

DECEMBER - Snapshots

I can't believe what a whirlwind December has been! There have been a lot of activities at the school that I have to supervise in the evenings. We also have had a lot of fun events with friends this month and of course there is all of the preparations for Christmas that must be done. Here are a few of our pictures from this month.
We got Charlotte these boots so that her feet would stay toasty in the wet winter grass. She just likes running around with them.
We celebrated at a housewarming for my dad's new condo. We are so happy to have him closer and the kids love his new place. He is right on Echo Lake with a dock right outside his porch.
The kids have been playing with "snow" in the kitchen and keeping me company while I cook.

Charlotte had her 18 month check up and passed with flying colors. She actually used the potty all by herself on Saturday - a feat that has not been duplicated - but she did do everything by herself while saying "potty" and "pee pee" over and over again. I was so proud!
Edison has finally shown interest in the balance bike we got him for his birthday last summer. Of course, he is now too big for it. But the next step is a bike with pedals when he turns four.

Thanksgiving 2011

We spent Tuesday with Marleigh's family. This is Sarah, Edison's favorite cousin and he calls her his friend - how sweet. She was great with him.
Busy preparations the night before the big meal. Edison & Eben brined the turkey while Uncle Palmer made an amazing apple pie.
Edison was so excited to play with all seven of his cousins on Thanksgiving. They ran a million laps around the yard.
This is the first picture of the cousins in which none of them are actively protesting the affair. I think it turned out splendidly! Back row: Ellie, Harry, Lily, Will - Front row: Drew, Amelia, Edison, Charlotte, and Sarah.
They read books while they waited for the meal.
The kids table never looked better. I missed a picture of the feast, but it really was a fantastic meal, one of the best Thanksgiving meals I've ever had.
To burn off the calories, we all walked over to Stanley Elementary School. Eben & his siblings reminisced about the good old days while the kids burned off some steam.

The Phillips Family: Marleigh, Eben, Dean, David, Palmer (and Gus).
Our only family picture of the trip.