The first FIVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Well I was going to do Christmas in one big blog, but I still have pictures to upload from days six and seven.

Christmas was long this year and big, so this post will also be long...and it's pictures will be BIG.
Day one.

Christmas Eve.

The children and I arrive at Nana's house around ten in the morning. I set up my Christmas tree for the party that night and kept the fire going all day. Here's the kids opening their big holiday train.

I moved the tree to this table and set up the train around it that night when we got home. Luckily I had already wrapped presents because I was pooped. But it was a marathon not a sprint...

Day two. Christmas.

Barry's mother joined us for presents Christmas morning.

The kids got a Leap Frog Tag Junior and little kiddie digital cameras.

There was an unavoidable Princess theme this year. I've moved past bargaining into acceptance I think.

Then it was off to Josh and Julie's for a huge Christmas dinner and all around shin-dig. Bumpa's tuna fish dip has Gregory's double dipping seal of approval.

This wasn't a present but Dahlia was having such a blast rocking out like "Hannah on Tanna"

Then Christmas exploded. I don't know who gave what but thanks for everything.

Day Three. Even MY excitement for the holiday was waning at this point.
Day three brought dinner at Mom and Bill's and more presents.

By now, my kids are pros at the opening.

Reading a new book all together on the couch. It's about belly buttons so naturally there was a lot of giggling.

We wisely got all the kids into their new Christmas jammies for the ride home. And snapped a quick family photo. Hot damn. Look at all those kids.

Then I raced home and put the kids in bed for Barry and took the baby to a Yankee swap at a friend's. I think at this point I'm just punishing myself to see how much Christmas I shove down my own throat until I resemble the fat man from Monty Python's Meaning of Life before his wafer mint.

The next night was yet another Yankee Swap at the Alvin's. It seems like I get a lot of pictures of Gregory eating. But in my defense, he seems to eat non-stop at party's such as these.

And there was dancing and music, good food and great people and another car load of presents for the kids. Thank you all.

And who ever picks the "special" number gets to swap with anyone but me!

The great storm of '09

Ok, once again I'm way behind in the blogging. I blame the holidays.

So about a week or so before Christmas we got a ton of snow. Here's the playground out back all covered. Barry and I spent a whole day snow blowing and shoveling a very long drive way.

Here are the kids in the snow. Barry shoveled a nice wide path but they still found it. Go figure.

Dahlia was throwing it and then freaking out when the wind brought it back to her face. That's my girl.

Gregory was just being Gregory. I think the extra layer of pants made him a little unsteady on his feet (more so than usual).

Then we went to Nana's to make sure she could get out and to build her a snowman. Dahlia was all about adding little fist fulls of snow all over him.

Gregory was more interested in staying inside with Nana and all the toys.
We used pool toys and a mini bungee-cord for his face.

Fun was had.

Just to set the record straight...

There seemed to be an overwhelming amount of support for the photo of Dahlia feeding Imogen, and I just wanted to set the record straight. That Gregory loves his baby sister too. And when he's not drunk and passing out all over the house...

Exhibit A: time out isn't very effective when the accused falls asleep.
















And Exhibit B: I was trapped there for hours... not cool kids lay off the sauce would 'ya?

I just realized that he has the pillow over her lower half, and it looks like she has no legs. I assure you that is not the case.

So there you have it loyal following; Gregory is getting in his early Dad practice (you know, when he's not hung over, or hosting tea partys)

Happy Holidays!

Oh Christmas tree oh christmas tree, I'll rip off all your branches.

Here's what we've been up to...
A rare moment of Dahlia giving Imogen her bottle. I only let the kids hold the baby when the other one is gone. So Gregory was out that day with Barry and Dahlia got to hold the baby. Other wise they would fight over it and I'm pretty sure the baby would land on her head.






















And Gregory seems to have grown three inches over night. All of a sudden his pants are staying up on their own (most of the time). My little boy is growing up so fast.

















My mom and Bill came over with Christmas trees for the kids and I to decorate. They had a blast. And after a few days and few time outs Gregory has stopped pulling the ornaments off the tree (for the most part).

Oooh pretty. I put the fake one down where they can touch it. The real one is on top of the computer tower.

The next day I made little stars out of a paper bag and tin foil for the tops.

The end.