Big Snowfall

This was the most excited she ever got about the snow
How do you expect me to move under all these layers?

getting ready!

Last year, same face

Wasn't too thrilled with the snow then either!

Okay, so I posted these in the reverse order, but quite frankly I was too tired to change it. We had our first big snowfall of the year and we both tried to get her excited about it, but no-go. We've decided that maybe she's just a summer girl like her mom. Or, it could be that she just needs time to adjust to this thing called snow. She doesn't adjust well to change (also like Mommy I'm afraid!) and since it doesn't come around much, she just might not be into. Either way, I suppose I should be thankful so that I don't have to schlep my little behind into the frozen tundra either!

Brothers

Leo

December 2009

Sophia and Walter

December 2007

Sophia

Leo

all three crazies

So because I'm always a girl after a theme, this set was sent to Sophia for her first Christmas and it was resurrected again today! The hat and slippers had been tucked away and I was almost afraid that Leo wouldn't fit in it any more! Yikes! Luckily, that was not the case and he is now the center of some embarrassing pictures too! Walter was about as cooperative this time around as last, which means, not at all! I got better pictures with Sophia, but he wasn't having it at all this time! Oh well...still adorable!

All Our Christmases Were Bright

Make a Smilebox slideshow

All our Christmases really were bright, it's just that there we so many of them! ;) It is nice to have so much family around, but I must admit, it is also tiring...and I mean that in the nicest way! :)



Our Christmas really began on the 23rd when Charlie and I hosted a dinner party for some friends. Some girl friends and I started a monthly dinner club where we head to a new place each month for some good food and girl talk. We decided it would be fun to do a little Christmas pot luck for the holidays too. So we welcomed everyone over here and had delicious food and wine and even better company!



Christmas Eve we hosted a low-key chili dinner for friends and family. The weather was awful, it began snowing and didn't stop... that prevented a few guests from coming, so we had plenty of leftovers. No worries, though, because we've been enjoying them all week! Shelby spent the night with us, which was pretty fun for all of us, especially Sophia.



Christmas Day started off with a visit from Santa Claus and plenty of presents. We also had breakfast here for mom, Stacy (who just got off work) and Cody. It was delayed however with all the snow...mom was snowed in and had to work her way out as did we. Cody helped both mom and us shovel out and we finally got breakfast on the table just before the four of us had to load up and head to Leo John's (Charlie's brother) for lunch. We had a lovely time with all the family and the cousins played and played. There was much present opening and rejoicing. Chris had Lasik surgery on Christmas Eve and was sporting her ever-so-stylish Stevie Wonder glasses all day. After those festivities we all piled back into Marsha, dropped off Cathy and Sue who had been snowed in themselves, and headed to my Aunt Bess' House for more Christmas cheer. We had a fabulous dinner there of beef tenderloin and of course, more presents. Sophia just didn't quite know what to do with all these presents!



The following day, the Little Bears came over for a post-Christmas Christmas and the three girls had a lovely time playing. Walter was also pleased to have more little girl faces to lick and both Lauren and Aubrey were happy to oblige!



So...after all is said and done, to say I'm tired is an understatement. It also explains why it's taken three days to get Christmas pictures up!



This Christmas was exciting and Sophia really enjoyed it. I think next year will be that much more exciting for her and it will only get better in the years to come. She enjoys her kitchen and all it's accessories supplied by family and friends, she loves all her books especially the books she got from Aunt Cathy and Bama, and the Magna Doodle from Uncle Nick and Misty. She's still working her way through her loot and figuring out what she likes best about each toy and book. She's even already done some painting in her Wonder Pets paint book supplied by Santa. We are so fortunate to have so many loved ones with which to spend time and exchange gifts. I am thankful for our family near and far and cherish the times we spent together this week. It's always sad to see the Christmas season end, but at least we always have next year!

One Small Dip for Sophia...

...one giant dunk for Leo-kind!

looking tropical!

We just couldn't resist this shot! Too funny!

1, 2, 3...jump!

ready to shower-up!

Leo took his first trip to the pool this weekend! I was a little nervous with him being so little and all the chemicals, but I think it was fine. In fact, his cradle cap looks better, so maybe it even helped a bit. We borrowed a swimsuit from Sophia's friend, Isaac, because I wasn't sure I could even find one in stores right now. I will say, however, that with two kiddos it takes just as long to shower and change after the pool than it took to actually play and swim in the pool. ARG!

Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

It's hard work being cute!

Mom, what are you doing??


Hello, world, I'm Leo!!!

Santa, I'm a very good boy

hello, ladies

I wanted to look tough, but I'm just too cute!

I'm all smiles to go outside in the cold!

It has been proven that both my children look quite similar to one another, especially when Sophia was a tiny baby like Leo. When Leo was born, in fact, just after he was taken from the womb, my doctor commented, "oh yes, this is Sophia's brother all right!!" As their mother, I think they were/are both extremely adorable (and think everyone else should too, naturally!;) BUT, there is one resounding difference. I always kinda felt that Sophia did look a little like a boy. Now I'm sure this comment will soon come back to bite me in the ass, but it's true! It seems the rest of the world thought so too, as I often fielded comments about what a cute boy she was, even though she was clad head to toe in pink, but whatever! She had a very pretty face and grew into her girliness, but there are pictures even now where I'm not sure if it's Sophia or Leo, for real! Anyway, I have to laugh because the comments I get now are all about how Leo is "all boy". Almost everyone we meet comments on how he just looks like a boy, there's no mistaking it! It just makes me chuckle so that's why this post is dedicated to Leo and all his "manly" looks!

Leo is growing bigger and stronger every day! He loves, I mean loves, to watch his mobile go round and round. It lights him up and he just laughs and coos. He is quite vocal at times and he has two specific coos that sound exactly like he's saying 'hi' and 'mom'. Now, I'm sure you're rolling your eyes at the 'mom' one, but it's true. Even Charlie noticed it yesterday and laughed and said it sounded just like that's what he said. Naturally, I don't actually think that's what he is saying, but it's pretty funny, and maybe he is that advanced! ;) He loves Sophia and smiles at her whenever she puts her face in his, which, as you might guess, is pretty often. He also gave Walter the biggest grin this morning too, it was adorable. For the most part he is a really good baby. He eats well, sleeps well and seems to be even tempered. I only hope he stays that way as we have enough drama from his sister! Ha! There are times when he absolutely demands to be held. He is a real cuddler, but then again, so is Sophia. Sometimes I wonder if that is a nurture or nature trait...Charlie and I are both cuddlers and maybe it's a lead by example thing, but Leo is so little that it makes me wonder. We feel so happy to have him in our lives and it really is fun to now be a family of four.

Deja Vu

a little too big for the basket now!

We were at Mom's this last week making cookies when I decided to do a little deja vu photography! It just so happened that Leo went through his first outfit and had to be changed into my 'stand-by' outfit in the diaper bag. When I realized what it was I had to seize the opportunity! The picture of Sophia in the zebra outfit in the swing is one of my all time favorite pictures, she's simultaneously cute and grumpy! What I think is funny about these pictures is that Sophia was perfectly content to be in the basket and not at all content in the swing and Leo is just the opposite!

Life

I think I'll sleep in today, Mommy

Sophia reading to Mousie

Sophia preparing Coco for a sponge bath

Good dog, coco.

Oh it has been so long since I've posted! Life has really gotten in the way of my blogging recently. A week ago I was full of Christmas cheer, and as Christmas gets closer, somehow, I seem to be losing some of that spirit! ;)

I seem to be pulled in a lot of different directions lately. And I know, that I am known to bite off more than I can chew at times, but lately things have just come up and there's no other choice but to add them to the growing list of things to be done. I think I have my shopping done, but not one present has been wrapped! ARG! Plus, Santa asked me to do a little fix up work on Sophia's Christmas present and I haven't even started on that yet! My grocery shopping list seems to grow each day as I add more dinner, cookies, muffins, etc. onto it and I'm not sure when I'm going to find the time! Alas, my tale is a sad one isn't it!? No, actually I'm looking forward to getting a little baking done, hopefully I can start today (See, I still shouldn't be taking time to blog!!) and finish up tomorrow, the first round anyway!

I posted a few pictures of the kids being cute this last week. Sophia is getting more and more into pretend play and loves to make Coco the star of her show. She lugs that dog around more places, I tell ya! Coco's no light weight either! She bathes Coco, reads to her, loves her and takes her on walks. Today she even dressed her up in her necklace. It's really fun to see her imagination start to take off. Leo is growing every minute! I swear this kid has a growth spurt every day. He's been wearing 3-6 months clothes for about a month or so and yesterday when I put a brand new outfit on him it was snug! Are you kidding me?? So, I'm going to try and get all these clothes worn before they have to be packed up too! Leo is so smiley and happy and absolutely loves his sister and his mommy and daddy.

I'm going to try and get more pics up today and tomorrow!

A Very Toddler Christmas

Leo had a party for one watching his mobile go round and round
rolling out dough for cinnamon "gingerbread" ornaments

Jodie gathers a crowd to hear Christmas stories

painting is always fun

crafts? Who needs crafts when there's toys!

Sophia and Isabelle show off their newly acquired books from the gift exchange

my sweet little cookies

(FYI...this picture was actually Sophia's idea! You can tell by the smile! I'll get her trained, yet!)

Sophia and I hosted a very merry Christmas party for her friends this morning. I decided while preparing for this event that maybe, just maybe, I missed teaching just a little. I had 5 stations set up and stocked with supplies and directions. They went as followed:

• Station 1 Christmas Cookies: pretty obvious, decorate and eat some sugar cookies. This was a very popular station, and the kids loved the M&Ms and of course the sprinkles. I think I will be cleaning sprinkles from every crevice of my kitchen for years to come!
• Station 2 Gingerbread Ornaments: I got this idea a few years ago and actually used it my kids at school. I pre-made the dough which consists of cinnamon, applesauce and glue and the kids rolled it out and cut shapes out with cookie cutters. After about 24 hours of dry time the ornaments smell festive and will last for years to come!
• Station 3 Reading Corner: I rounded up all of Sophia's Christmas/winter stories and set up a reading corner with books and blankets. Most of the kids had fun reading a story or two, but Sophia's room was so close it was too much of a distraction and many of them headed in there!
• Station 4 Icicle Ornaments: Okay, I cheated a bit on this one...I ordered some kits from Oriental Trading Company and the kids got to string together an "icicle" with beads and buttons. They were pretty cute but the younger kids needed a lot more help. I think they would have done better if there hadn't been so many toys within reach...Little People are a big distraction to bead work! ;)
• Station 5 Snowman Prints: I made snowman templates out of round furniture pads. The kids dipped them in white paint and stamped them onto paper to make cards. I also cut out some scarves out of felt and used the extra pads to make a top hat and stocking hat stamp, for variety of course! I will definitely save these stamps as I think we will get many years of use out of them! Sophia had fun dipping and stamping, but really didn't make a whole picture. She loves to paint, though, and had a ball with just that step.
  
  
  
  
  Mom was here to be my craft wench and just generally help out and oversee as needed. She also fed Leo and kept an eye on him as I tried to man Sophia, take pictures and make sure there were no painting disasters! She was a big help! After all the stations we had some snacks. I made eggnog mini muffins, white chocolate covered Oreos fashioned to look like snowmen and Christmas tree shaped grilled cheese. I was most impressed with myself by the grilled cheese, they were really cute...and delicious! I also made some quiche for the grown ups and had spiced cider and sparkling juice for the kids. All in all, a good time was had by all. We also did a Christmas book gift exchange where there was no fighting over who got to pick first (we did draw numbers, but I still had my doubts) and everyone was excited to open their gift. My crafts may have been a bit ambitious for my age group, but that's okay, it was all about the spirit of the season and just having fun...and I'm pretty sure we accomplished that!
  

Major Monkey Business

Aunt Cathy is at it again! She made Leo some coordinating monkey pants! She made a matching set for Sophia and Angela last Christmas, so it was only natural that Baby Brother should have such a set for himself! They enjoyed being monkeys together all day today!

Bringing the Outdoors In

How 'bout this one, Mom?
Hey, take a picture of me!!

Marsha earning her keep

Before

Sophia helping Daddy with the light situation

this is so much fun!!

the masterpiece!

so sweet

First off, let me say that I thought they stopped making light strands that stop working when one bulb is out?!? Well, apparently, they haven't, but by golly, they should! Charlie had to sort out that mess with both our tree light strands and our outside light strands. He figured it out and got the lights back in working order, but not without a fight! Our tree this year is a Blue Spruce (I think!) and we usually get White Pines. I don't know if it's the different breed of tree or just the tree itself, but it seems to be droopier and a little harder to get my ornaments on. I had to rearrange frequently because the weight of the ornament would bring the boughs way down and it would look funny! I'm quite happy with the end result, though, even though I had to leave off my favorite ornaments this year! My favorites are two sets of super colorful bulbs we have, but they're glass and it just isn't a good idea. Last year, as it was, we broke a few, and this year I just couldn't take the risk with Sophia helping decorate. Charlie and I put the lights on Sunday night and then Sophia and I decorated the tree on Monday. She began by wanting to do it herself but figured it out it was kind of tricky to get those ornaments on there, so she resorted to picking out ornaments, finding a place for them and then directing me where to put it. It was a fun little activity to do with Sophia, I only wished Charlie could have helped. Due to our schedules this week, it just wasn't conducive to have a whole family decorating party, so it had to be done in parts, but we had fun anyway! But don't you worry, I made both of them listen to my endless play list of Christmas songs while we worked! Sophia's favorite was the Muppet's Christmas and Charlie's favorite was when I turned it off! ;) The smell of Christmas is now in the house and it makes everything just that much more festive!!