Christmas Part I

****EDIT***** - I keep forgetting to mention how much Addy is talking. She still has lots of signs, but has become quite a little parrot. We had a new speech therapist start working with her about 6 weeks ago, and she knew exactly what to do to make the language lightbulb turn on for our girl. Addy loves it when Miss Jennifer comes to "play" - she tries so hard, and is so pleased with herself (and the praise) for each of her efforts. She still has plenty of ground to make up (her language is still primarily parroting but is becoming more and more spontaneous), but her progress has been tremendous. We just love every moment of hearing her sweet voice, and are so thankful to Jennifer for figuring her out.

We have had an incredible weekend.

This is our first real Christmas away from family (there was one failed attempt, when we spent Christmas morning at our apartment in Virginia, but were on the road to New Jersey by noon on Christmas Day), and as hard as that can be sometimes, we are still so lucky. We have amazing friends - wonderful women with babies the same age as Addison, lovely husbands - and we marvel at the fact that we've barely known each other six months. These women have buoyed me in hard times, and smiled and laughed with me at just about every other moment. They love my children like their own, and the feeling is mutual about theirs.  We each bring something unique and different to the table, yet we compliment each other perfectly. This Christmas could have felt empty for all of us; none of us live close to our hometowns. Instead, we spent the past 4 days showering each other in love and joy and togetherness, creating memories and establishing traditions. We may not be related, but we are family.

We baked cookies. Or, we chatted and laughed and rolled dough in sprinkes, while the littles ate as many sprinkles as they could get their hands on.

On Christmas Eve, the Donato's hosted the first annual Christmas Eve Pajama Breakfast. As soon as the kids were up, we rolled out of bed, packed into the car, and drove to their house to eat breakfast. Pajamas and brushed teeth required.

 Mini coffee cups (of hot chocolate). Seriously, the cutest thing. thinkgarnish.com

The whole crew

We went caroling in Lexington on Christmas Eve. It was a festive 20 degrees, although we've gotten used to the 50-degree temps, and it was a bit of a shock to the system.

Don't you love her hat? I was feeling crafty and whipped it up - and she loves it. 

Lantern-lit singing? Yes, please!

 And then it was Christmas morning. Santa was good to the girls - just a few pictures because I was enjoying the festivities too much to spend a lot of time behind the camera.

And that completes Christmas 2011, Part I. Tomorrow, we'll pack our bags and hit the road to spend a few days in New Jersey, drawing out Christmas as long as we can. I hope everyone's holiday was as merry as ours!

Holidays and escape hatches

Christmas preparations are in full swing.

If you take a bit of this...

And add a bit of that...

 And let it dry...

 You can end up with this:

Last year, we started doing homemade ornaments, and I love it.

We had a busy week, with a holiday violin concert for Chloe, and an office Christmas party for Pete. But the capstone was traveling to the Vineyard this weekend for some rest, relaxation, and time with Granddad and Helen. The Vineyard has become our escape hatch. It provides the opportunity to get away from the endless "to do" lists, the piles of things yet to be dealt with screaming at us from every corner, and just breathe. And sit in the woods (or in the house in the woods at this time of year) and read, or sleep, or think. And it delivered on every front.

 Note the matching earrings. Chloe was thrilled, and has vowed to wear them every day for the next week.

Chloe waited patiently for her game with Granddad. And even though I only meant to post one picture, I couldn't decide on the one I liked best - so - chess, a series:

I spent some time trying to capture, unposed, the love between my grandparents. And I think we got it.

And then it was back to reality again. But first, a quiet ferry ride during sunset, and an abundance of snuggles.

I also managed to get our Christmas cards ordered this week. Even though I love it, this picture didn't make the cut, so I can share it now:

Be merry.

Tree Lights

Disclaimer - this post was supposed to go up last night. But as my night of editing wore on, Pete convinced me to go to bed, and leave it to the morning. So, pour a cup of coffee (I did!) and enjoy!

It's been a packed week. And judging by the calendar, it's not slowing down anytime soon. Which is okay, because it's Christmastime.

Last week, the temperatures dipped and we bundled up and headed into town for the Tree Lighting. It was pretty magical. Hundreds of families, a childrens' choir, all gathered in town square - even people pushing overloaded carts with every flashing wand toy on the planet yelling "Get your flashers hea-yah! Souvenir flashers hea-yah!" Santa circled the town square on a fire truck, and then every tree lit up.

December 1st - time to hang the Advent Calendar. Made by my mom, with small personalized felt ornaments to hang. Including individual stockings with our names on them. It's one of my favorite Christmas traditions from my childhood, and I'm so lucky that my mom made a calendar for my family, so I can pass on the tradition to my girls.

And, because it was festive and cold, we needed hot chocolate - and we made it, from scratch.

The weekend was a whirlwind of activity. I drove down and back from New Jersey in 24 hours; I had a baby shower for my best friend, and Pete had a final paper to write, so I took the girls and did the drive solo. I'd love to share some shots, but the main photography event was for my parents' Christmas card, so you'll just have to wait... then it was back home for 2 photo shoots on Sunday. Chloe and Mutzy made chocolate covered pretzels while we were there. Addy is a huge fan.

We got our tree this week. And after accusing Pete of not being in the Christmas Spirit, he decided to show just how much spirit he has... and insisted on the biggest tree we could find. And it almost fits in the house.

It took two days to get it decorated, thanks to being one strand of lights short to finish dressing the mammoth. But that meant we got to spread out the smiles of looking at ornaments made many Christmases ago, the "Baby's First"s spreading from last year to the 1980s. 

And December special... Pete has been grabbing the camera more and more. And I'm learning to just shrug and smile, because we have full albums of me rolling my eyes and trying to dodge the picture. So I promised him I would post one.

Yep. Short hair. And I like it.

Now it's back to finalizing Christmas shopping, and trying not to keep adding things to my wish list!

Jingle, Jingle

Happy December!

We are in full pre-Christmas swing. The "Christmas" playlist in on repeat on iTunes, I'm rotating through all the great Christmas Scentsy scents in my burner, and the ornaments are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the tree. Each weekend in December is packed with activities, and even some of the weekdays (tree lighting tonight!).

Tree lighting at Smolak Farms: (the actual tree lighting was a bit of a bust - just a regular old Christmas tree, so we couldn't even really see it because of the crowd. But the lead-up and playing with friends was well worth it.)

I've also been busy doing some photo shoots for Christmas cards.

And... a little holiday cheer. I made the leg warmers; super-easy and $5.

 I was nervous they looked a little more "ho" than "holiday", but I think she pulls it off.

Hope your week was merry!