Two Grandparents and Three Kings

The weekend after New Year's, we welcomed Grammy and Granddad for a visit. The girls were super excited to see them, especially because they brought a special gift from the north. SNOW! Granddad had gotten up extra early to pack up some snowballs and carefully tuck them into a cooler for the 8 hr drive. They survived the trip and the girls had fun hurling them off the porch. (I don't know why that's what we chose to do with them. What else should you do with hand-delivered snowballs?!)

Snow! can you tell she just woke up?

let me touch this cold, round thing

We also made a tiny snowman, complete with camellia hat!

We also had a little bit more Christmas (our third?), as the girls each got a special doll with many outfits. They were THRILLED and we have been dressing and undressing them several times a day ever since. (Even Molly has learned the fun of dressing dolls - she came over and squawked at me to put a shirt on a doll this morning, and then told me to put a purse on the doll!) Thank you, Grammy and Granddad, for such wonderful presents.

she's in love.

I will name you......(it changes every day!)

No doll for Molly, but she did get dress up clothes!

We had a nice visit in general but two activities stand out (and also happen to be the only things I took pictures of!). First, we celebrated Three Kings Day with them. Grandma and Popop made the cake and brought it over to share. Everyone got a piece, even Molly! Granddad was lucky enough to get the penny which brings luck through the year. A good way to start your first year in retirement!

the cake!

nom nom nom. three kings cake is good!

checking for the penny

recipient of the lucky penny!

We also went on an "explore" in the new development that is slowly growing thru the woods behind our house. We climbed a giant hill, wandered around the pre-paved streets, and found neat animal footprints in the mud. The girls had a great time being explorers.

Blizz checks out the view towards our (not actually visible) house

cheesy photo at the top!

top of the hill looking down. can you identify the "ants"?

the view of the hill from the bottom

Deer print!

raccoon print?!

any ideas? a bird? three-toed sloth?

tromping around in boots

dancing on the gravel pile

After our hike, this is what was left of the snowman (two days later).

Holiday Recap: New Years

Finally we get to New Year's. Happy New Year by the way! Can YOU believe that it's two thousand thirteen already? I sure can't.

We tried to have our usual New Year's party of fondue, friends and games but new babies and sickness and bedtimes changed things up a bit this year. Molly had her buddy Charlotte over (and her parents) and we all enjoyed cheese fondue together, with plenty of dippers - ham, potatoes, asparagus, broccoli, bread, etc. Yum!

toddler cooperation at it's finest!

 Then Charlotte had to go home to bed, we put our little ones down. Jason and I carried on the tradition of New Year's games and chocolate fondue. Melted chocolate is just so delicious!

chocolate fondue with bananas, marshmallows, rice krispies treats, brownies and strawberries

And finally, when midnight rolled around, we opened a bottle of champagne and woke up Hayden. She'd learned about New Year's Eve at school and seemed interested in the concept, so we decided she could share in the celebration as the old year ended and the new year started. She was hard to wake up, but perked up a bit when she realized what was going on. We watched the ball drop and toasted the new year all snuggled up on the couch. Then we tucked her back into bed.

Post ball drop, I carried on the tradition of breaking a champagne glass. Alas, it was no true party foul from too many adult beverages, just me being a total clutz. A lesson for the new year - if you don't want to break your glass, make sure it is resting firmly on the side table!

 
The next morning everyone was up and ready to take on 2013! Hope everyone has a wonderful year!

they have big plans for 2013, BIG plans

Holiday Recap: Cousin Fun

After Christmas, Aunt Lacey, Uncle JT, Jay and Charlotte drove up from Georgia to visit. We had a great time having more Christmas, playing with the cousins, going to parks, and eating yummy food. We even convinced them to have a slumber party one night, which went pretty well.

slumber party morning after - all the kids were in good spirits!

One of our first activities was a trip to our favorite park. Lots of fun equipment to explore - but Charlotte was most intrigued by baby Molly!

who is this small being?

E loved the spinning bucket, even when her eyes started to cross.

M showed off her independent sliding skills.

Even Uncle JT had fun!

older cousins

younger cousins

after the park, we invaded our favorite buffet place.quite the adventure with so many kids in tow!

 We celebrated Sanford family Christmas. There were plenty of presents to go around!

Jay and Hayden assist Popop.

Eliza helps out JT (or vice versa, I'm not sure!)

Charlotte got a bed for a teddy bear, but Molly thought it was just her size.

This bed is JUST right.

Then Charlotte had to test it out too!

 We did lots of other stuff like the slumber party (with butternut mac and cheese), cheese ball trivia, sampling the goods at Rise, more park play, bike riding at Grandma and Popop's, even a fancy dinner out for the grown-ups etc, but we were too busy to take any pictures. We did manage one of the five cousins before Jay and Charlotte headed back home. What a cute bunch of kids!

not pictured, the three adults desperately trying to maintain attention of all 5 children. :)

Holiday Recap: Christmas!

Finally we get to the big day! First up was Christmas Eve. Grandma and Popop came over and we went to the short children's service at 5. A few Christmas carols, some angels, shepards and wise men and we were done. Jason stay home with Eliza because Eliza had spent the night before throwing up. But that allowed him to get dinner ready (pancetta mac and cheese). Dinner was eaten, dessert enjoyed, cookies and carrots put out for Santa, and the kids tucked into bed. Grandma and Popop stayed the night so we could all wake up together and see what Santa Claus had brought. 

Dessert: Chocolate Pot de Creme with raspberries and whipped cream. YUM.

 Hayden was the first one up the next day and we let her go down to look at what Santa had brought. Popop and Dooley were down next and I could hear Hayden telling Popop all about what she had seen. Soon everyone was awake and excited to open some presents!

Hayden amidst the stockings on Christmas morning!

the tree, loaded with presents

a note from Peter, our elf on the shelf

Molly and Eliza check out Molly's Santa present - a ball popper!

this is great!

Blizz helps Eliza open her stocking presents

Molly all decked out in her stocking loot - new bib, new snack holder filled with goldfish

I unwrapped them all!

 After our traditional Christmas breakfast (eggs, bacon and shtolen), we dove into the presents under the tree. A few pics were taken but they hardly capture the glee of the morning. Smiles and shrieks as presents were opened. Thank you hugs for gift givers. Balled up wrapping paper arcing across the room to collecting bags. New presents being played with or put on immediately upon opening. It was great!

a big Christmas hug for daddy

playsilks? what do we do with these?

THIS is what you do with them!

You know it's a good Christmas if somebody gets naked.

Opening all those presents wore Blizzard out!

 Hayden seemed to have an especially great Christmas. She got lots of presents that were just perfect for her including a new scooter (even bought on a black friday deal!) and a hula hoop (yes, they still make those.) After present time, we headed outside to play.

trying hard to hula

zoom!

baby barbie came along to play outside

 After a quiet afternoon, we headed over to Grandma and Popop's for Christmas dinner. Dinner was tasty but the big hit was the cookie tray for dessert. Molly loved having it at her level! (It didn't end up staying there long.)

Molly had a little trouble figuring out which holiday it was.

more cookies please!

 

notice the cookie-filled cheeks!

for those in red dresses, eating cookies required standing on a stool

on the stool, holding a hammer. Merry Xmas to you!

Merry Christmas everyone!