Daddy Day

Thursday morning Charlie took the kids to Union Station to see the holiday train exhibit, there was even a kid sized train the kids could ride around. They were both thrilled with the trains and thrilled to spend the morning with Daddy!

So the actual train riding pictures are a bit blurry, but ya know, Charlie was trying to get some pics that he knew I would want so I can't blame him! :) The little baby is a random girl that they met while in line and so Sophia was put in charge of making sure she didn't hop out during transit! Sophia was very happy with this job and told me all about it when they got home!

a train morning deserves a train lunch! They stopped at Fritz's and then the candy shop before coming home.

Later that night Shelby was leaving to visit her mom for the break so we had a farewell gathering over some frozen custard.

Early Christmas

Fra-gee-lay...It must be Italian!

I tried to take a picture of the leg lamp from outside, but it didn't turn out so well!

Shelby is visiting her mom for Christmas so we opened presents with her a little early. From Meredith and her kids, Sophia and Leo got a giant cardboard house that they can color in and then play inside of...way cool! Uncle Stacy got Sophia a complete doll care set with crib, bouncer, and changing pad. Both kids LOVED that and we know it will get lots of use!

Kids' Christmas Party

waiting for our guests to arrive we seized the opportunity to take pictures!

checking out some stickers and stamps

Mom (who has been stickered) with Baby Adeline

coloring a plate for Santa cookies

snowman stamp painting

assembling gingerbread house placemats

decorating cookies was a favorite spot!

even Francesca got excited about decorating a cookie!

time for presents!

Benjamin enjoying the book he picked

Emma enjoying the reading corner

Isaac, Isabelle, Sophia and Emma say Merry Christmas!

our own Rudolph!

So I forgot to turn this before posting...sorry...but these are bagel snowmen with raisin mouths, blueberry eyes, and of course, a carrot nose!

marshmallow snowmen using the JUMBO mallows for the body

veggie platter

eggnog pie...YUM!

Another successful party at the Hirner House! Sophia was so excited to host her friends for our annual Christmas Bash and I think it is safe to say, fun was had by all! I had 6 craft stations, a cookie decorating station, a reading corner, and a book exchange, plus a festive winter themed lunch, of course! I only put up pictures of the really cute stuff we ate! ;)

If Santa's Sleigh Were Broken...

Maybe he'd travel by....

bike,
motorcycle,

scooter,

or

horse.

Cookie Decorating

in today's activity at least he decorated before he ate!

Molly hard at work

deciding to burn off some of those cookie calories, Leo started a clean-up movement on Aunt Cathy's patio!

Sophia (and Molly and her friend) joined in too!

snuggle time with Grandma

a trip to Aunt Cathy's isn't complete without busting out the fish game!

Cathy hosted the kids for some cookie decorating fun! It was a good time had by all, and I must admit while the kids were outside, the adults enjoyed a little frosting action too! We've been pacing ourselves on the cookies we brought home, but they are oh so tasty!

Gingerbread House

front

notice the lollipop light pole in the front that was Sophia's idea

back

So I busted out the gingerbread house kit this weekend and we went to town! Stupidly I actually thought Leo would enjoy this activity...as in maybe he'd want to actually apply candy to the house instead of just his mouth. Not so much. I mean, don't get me wrong, I knew that plenty would get ingested in the process, but he didn't put one darn piece of candy onto that house and complained when "his stash" was raided to do so! He just circled around the table sampling things from each bowl. Even without his help, it turned our adorable! ;) We probably won't eat it as I'm hoping to keep it as our centerpiece during the next week. We are hosting a Christmas Party for Sophia's and Leo's friends this week and then hosting the whole family on Christmas Eve.