Spring is Here!

Christmas 2012

We got everyone's schedule to work for our Christmas celebration this past weekend.  The traditional potato soup and Santa Lucia bread, followed by Ellie and Summer reading us the Christmas story and kids opening presents, which included hooded princess capes that Joy made for them.  Then, after tucking in all the kids, the adults opened their gifts. The next morning gave us a beautiful day and we took the girls sledding on a hill in the park behind our house.  Happy New Year to you all!

 Pete & Rachel, waiting for the Christmas story.

 Ellie & Summer reading, Rachel taking everything in.

 Anna opening her present with Mommy (Jenny) nearby.

 Ellie watching as Summer opens her gift.

 Homemade princess capes for the girls.

 Rachel baking with grandma--those raisins in the dough sure look tempting!

 No no, don't eat them yet.

 This year we pulled off a successful grandparent/grand-kids photo.

 Summer coming down the hill.

 Tim coming down with Ellie.

 Michelle and Rachel (covering her face from the flying snow).

 Ellie is Santa, Summer is Rudolf.

 Tim gets a photo of Anna on Michelle's sled.

 With Summer at the bottom of the hill, Michelle and Pete take Anna and Ellie on the sleds.

 Rachel watches with Grandma.

 The cold didn't bother Rachel in the least.

Fall Colors at Maplewood State Park 2012

We started out with a picnic with fried chicken...

 and watermelon.  The moon was just rising over the hill.

 Then a hike up Hallaway Hill.

 All the way to the top...

 and then back down again.

The end of a beautiful day of fall colors at Maplewood.

Magnolia Finally Blooms

After holding our breath for years every spring, hoping for a tree full of blossoms, this spring it finally happened. Our record-breaking warm March did it.

Valentine Cookies!

Making the frosting...

I can stir it too...

Anna, watching how Grandma frosts the cookies...

Big sister Ellie, frosting cookies like Grandma did...

Mmm, frosting is good on fingers too!

We finally got everyone in one place for a picture.  Weather and health worked in our favor this year.

Michelle and Pete's Rachel enjoyed being a part of the celebration.

Ellie, Anna and Summer helped Joy get her special Santa Lucia bread ready for our Christmas dinner, adding the candles and cherries.  Then once we were seated at the table, we lit the candles on the Santa Lucia bread and the girls got to blow them out.

Before opening presents, Joy helped the girls tell the Christmas story using angel decorations from our tree, and pieces from our nativity set. They got to move the angel, shepherd and wise men pieces around the room at they told the story

And finally, presents!

 Joy made ballerina outfits from The Nutcracker ballet for the three girls. Then it was time to just hang out together for the rest of the evening. The cousins got to play dress up and had a blast being together.  The adults played board games.

She's one!

Michelle and Pete's Rachel turned one in November! Here's she's enjoying some mushy cereal at her party before opening presents and getting her cake.