Christmas in VT

Christmas has been a prolonged celebration. We still don't really have any family traditions of our own (something I'm working on) but I think it's been a fun month. We did do an advent calendar with Hershey kisses inside which was a huge hit, and Henri had a fun time wrapping gifts and putting them under the tree. We went to VT this year so opened family presents on the 23rd before we headed up. As a special treat for his parents Hudson rolled over from front to back (he's continued to do it sporadically). Got back last night and are getting reorganized and looking forward to a new year, trying to imagine how we want to order our days. Anyway, here's what was caught on camera:

Cookie decorating party with some of Henri's friends. Sugar overload!!!

Everyone else was into the eating portion. Hen would have been happy to decorate for hours

A few snacks to cut the sweet

Our family Christmas

Hudson with his first Christmas present

His own rat! It's been a huge hit. Perfect size for holding and sucking on its nose

Henri got a cash register. Lots of fun

Gram S got her a suitcase. She'll suddenly freeze with it, and when you ask what she's doing she'll tell you she's waiting for the bus. :)

A Christmas elf

Sleepy boy

The Charlie Brown tree

Christmas morning coffee cakes

Henri "hanging" her stocking (we drape them over the back of the couch)

She'd been up for a few hours before we all got up to open stockings and was getting tired

This was Anna's birthday gift but I made liberal use of it.

So bummed this rotated, but he was chipper and loving everything going on

Haha, the sun was out

Handsome little man

Steve's all equipped for winter biking now

We gave Henri a doctors kit. Like all kids, her favorite thing to do now is giving us shots

Sigh. We're never going to all look decent in a picture

Steve got a helicopter. I doubt stealth drones in Iraq have inspired such terror as this thing while Steve was learning to fly it

An addictive game. I still don't know the strategy behind it and my dismal scores reflect that.

Tons of new toys and the things they played with the most were 30 year old duplos.

"Aunt" Chelsea knows the way to a baby's heart

Practicing her duck face

Riding her horse across the prairie

Haha, he enjoyed it at least

My angelic husband

Snow castles

Snow people

Exploring the Christmas trees

Henri spent a good deal of time on the naughty step. She got some company

Dustin was so sweet with Hudson. He would lay down next to him when he was on the floor and we realized this was how he "hugged" him. Truly the sweetest (and most adorable) little guy there is. I am in no way biased. That Dustin is my brother's son and carries on the family name does not influence my view.

Hudson in turn was fascinated by everything Dusty did

Mug Mom received. This doesn't do it justice as the size was truly impressive. Like, bowl of soup. Probably 4 servings of coffee size. I'm a little jealous

Grateful that Hudson seems to be following his sister's love for books

Guess who was soooo cooperative for the cousin photo? I hope Dustin didn't pick up any bad behaviors from her

Mom thinks Hudson might be teething. He has to have something permanently in his mouth to chew on these days

4 months old!

We had the bonfire early so everyone could enjoy. Hen loved it, Hudson loved to look at it

Dustin's first VT bonfire

Papa did a great job as always

Merry Christmas! So looking forward to what this next year has for our family :)

An end of an era

I thought I'd have something deep and summarative to say here, but all I can think of is "It's over!!!! Woohoo!!!!". Passed my cumulative exam and earned my masters in nursing today :)

Proof! I had to print it in case I managed to convince myself I hadn't passed :)

And completely unrelated, but here's Hudson eating one of Henri's rats. I think he'll be getting a larger version for Christmas as he's very in love with it......

 Now it's full steam ahead for holidays with family, and then then we'll reassess "what we want to do when we grow up". For now, that list includes knitting, reading P G Wodehouse, and perhaps a pedicure :)

Christmas Photos

I'll preface this by stating that I'm pretty sure the behavior we've been seeing lately by a certain un-named Miss is a combination of adjustment to the baby and belated Terrible Two's. It's been bad. I'm not sure any of us are going to survive. But in case we do, and in case I'm ever tempted to sugar coat the experience for other moms (as in, tell them to "enjoy this, it goes so fast" (it had better!!!!)), I've captured a typical moment in our life for posterity. I also took pictures of our house one random day but I'm not brave enough to share them here. (And if you're the producer of Hoarders, I might have a new episode for you...)




Quick proof that occasionally she's happy to be around me

Pleased as punch to be sitting up

That strap looks interesting!

OK, I won't touch



Oh, you're behind that lens?!

Hey

What's Henri up to? (whining behind me, if you need to know)

I'm at eye level with her!

Hen, could I please get a decent picture of you?

...without the pillow ("it's backpack!")



Thanks for putting it down

Head shot for a denture ad

Please just look normal

There we go!

Perfect! Now let's move to the bench where the lighting's good and in front of the tree!

We don't do well with change

Wait! Henri's upset? I must have missed my cue to cry!

How about we take one together! Wouldn't that be fun?

Nope, it wouldn't

Did you know Hershey Kisses only have 22 calories a piece???

Aaaaand that sums up our days. Happy Holidays, everyone!

Giving Thanks

We were able to be with Steve's family this year for Thanksgiving. The kids did relatively well on what turned in to two 8+hour drives and Henri had a fantastic time playing with her cousins. We pretty much just hung out, ate waaaay too much food, and enjoyed family. The camera came out once:

Yet another attempt at the elusive family portrait

He loved his Gram, and looking at himself in mirrors

Haha, loved the girls faces in this one

The Schoefflers!