New Year's Eve Snow Storm

Soph bundled up in her new sweatsuit before bundling up to go outside!

Leo helps me roll the snowman parts

Sophia helps to decorate it

Our snow lady

Watch out, Mommy!

I wrote a note to Sophia and Leo :)

Sophia wrote a note back
I think she meant to write I love Tori (why she didn't use mommy who knows) and Daddy, but instead she wrote Tori Loves Daddy, which I thought was okay too! :)

Even though there is snow all around, my kids are still on the swing and trying to play baseball...really?!

It had been snowing all day on NYE.  I kind of waited to take them outside because 1. there wasn't a whole lot of snow, and 2. I thought I'd wait until it stopped snowing, but that time just didn't come!  So we bundled up late afternoon and headed outside.  We must have been out there for at least an hour and  a half and they still didn't want to come in!  Charlie and I had a party to attend and they were going to Aunt Annie's, so coming inside was inevitable.  I can't remember the last time there was snow on New Year's.  I suppose it was kind of nice, symbolically anyway.  

Fun with Sarah and Jacob

Jacob and Leo enjoyed putting the train set together 

Time to decorate cake pops!

choo choo!

Sarah and Jacob are Meredith's younger 2 kids and Sophia and Leo have a blast every time we see them!  Over winter break we got to see them a lot!  We had a few sleepovers, trips to the movies and lots of play time.  Since Jacob and Andrew are outgrowing their Geo Trax, they have bequeathed them unto my two kids.  They are a big hit so far!  We tried to get kinda creative with the cake pops with lots of sprinkles and such.  It was my first time making them (had a new pan to do it in!!) and they tasted really good!  

Dress Up Divo and Diva

This might be one of my all time favorite pictures.

Both kids got some fun dress-up clothes for Christmas.  Sophia isn't slowing down too much in this phase of play, she's been pretty into dress up for about 2 solid years now and we are collecting a lot of stuff!  Leo has learned from big Sis that dressing up can be fun and exciting too so he's growing his own collection of clothes, mostly superhero related, but not to worry because he still enjoys Sophia's sparkly dresses too!  

Recently, he came downstairs in the pink Sleeping Beauty dress and when I complimented him on his princess attire, he looked at me and in a huff said, Mom, I'm NOT a princess.  This is my nightgown.

Classic, truly classic.

Christmas Night (Third and Final Installment)

Charlie and Nick taste testing in the kitchen 

Cole tries to get some cuddling in with a very busy Leo

Cody and Leo play

Poor Charlie, all by his lonesome

The "big kid" table
Hunter, Cody, Andrew (sort of hidden behind the candles), Cole and Cody

The "little kid" table
Sophia, Rachel, Sarah, Jacob, and Leo

present time!

Putting Leo's first Lego set together

I was just sort of amused by this scene, with all the guys watching, TV, texting and on the laptop!

So we left Charlie's brother's house to head out to the country (southern Olathe) to have our final installment of Christmas cheer.  My cousin, Nick, moved into this awesome house a few months ago and it was our first time there.  His 3 boys were all home for Christmas so it seemed fitting for him to do his first job at hosting.  I think we were all tired by the time we hit our third house, but the kids loved hanging out and playing.  We all had a nice time and I was very happy to be with my family as this difficult holiday came to a close.

Christmas Afternoon (part 2)

Looking festive and ready to take on the day!

cheesing with Molly over lunch

Leo gets serious about his turkey leg

Molly and Papa Leo (who incidentally, considers this smiling)

You won't like Leo when he's angry!

gathered around the Wii

Gene helps Sophia manage the Big Balls of the Wipeout game