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.

In the Holiday Spirit

happily helping Massimo eat his gingerbread house
Jill and I went to get holiday pedicures and couldn't resist a little holiday spirit on our toes! Too bad it's cold and we can't show them off!

helping Mommy bake!

Leo helps too!

we came downstairs to find Sophia listening to Christmas carols and gazing at the lit tree...adorable!

a little holiday crafting

there may be painted surprises in somebody's future!

ho-ho hat!

delivering cookies to the neighbors

I did it, Mom!

We've been keeping ourselves busy with baking, tree trimming and various other holiday activities! This is just a collection of cute snaps to show how much fun we're having!