Here's to you Taylor!

Notice how Addie's hair was braided overnight, after being washed. Pretty good effect, huh? She's watching the video behind me, so you can see her mimicking Taylor Swift's moves (and Taylor uses a hairbrush as her microphone in the video too!)

Oh Lou Lou

Jeremy and Amanda brought down a delicious treat made by LouLou. Addie and Ben were instant fans and they wanted to express themselves.

Note how Addie went rogue and wanted to record herself, ala Blair Witch Project, to get the full effect.

Christmas Day

This first one is out of order, but oh well.

I look half-drunk instead of Benjamin, for a change.

Addie got a doll that "pees and poops," but I have to say it is such a disappointment. Santa even stocked up on extra "food", "juice" and diapers, but as it turns out the food isn't for that particular doll. Blah blah blah. Disappointment. I also like my guerrilla photography in the background.

Addie directing us to where all of her presents could be.

Immediately upon walking into the family room, Addie and Ben were greeted to the new parking garage. As you can see, it was a successful gift. I also like Richard's expression in the background- he was still wearing his hat and new gloves from Wendy from Christmas Eve.

Addie got the bike basket she asked for and Ben received a dvd.

Ben also received a "penguin game" which was something he was requesting out of all of the toy catalogs. Apparently any penguin game would do!

Much to my dismay Ben received his first Nerf item. It is called the Buzzsaw and Graham has one at MomMom and PopPop's house, so Santa knew how much Ben enjoys playing with it. Did you notice how Ben and Muddy's pjs seem to go together? When I saw his set at the store they reminded me to two things: 1)the boy from the movie Polar Express' pjs and Muddy's.

Addie had to give Brian big hugs over the fact that she opened a Daddy and blond-haired daughter for her dollhouse.

Guppy obliged and wore his Santa boxers with fur-trimmed legs and Santa hat. Really. We were all thrilled.

Addie (and Ben) was surprised to open a doll house.

You wouldn't know it yet, but Ben was the king of Geotrax trains this year. Below is Aunt Kim arranging them to fully lay out the best train track ever.

Pretty impressive, eh?

The adults spent more time playing with the train tracks and remote controlled trains than the kids did! Here's how Jeremy and I planned it out the day after Christmas--right through the doll house! (And yes, the house still looked like that big of a wreck the day after!)

Overall a very successful Christmas indeed. Addie and Ben received more gifts than necessary, and we'll have to give some toys away soon. I should mention that the four of us rang the bell for the Salvation Army again on Christmas Eve inside the mall from 10am-1:30pm. It's definitely a tradition we'll continue for years to come. People were generous and friendly and I like hearing people reply "Merry Christmas." I have no idea how much we collected, but our kettle was heavy and full.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve began with an earlier than expected arrival of Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Amanda. They even arrived before Addie and Ben were awake. So Addie and Ben were awakened by them. Look at Addie still in a daze!

Once downstairs, Addie and Ben received some pre-Christmas Eve goodies.

Then after some food preparation, cleaning up and showers, it was time for the family photos and the festivities to begin.

This next one was Addie and Ben's pose choice.

Poor Benjamin with his eyes reacting to the flash, most times he looks like he's half drunk.

I cracked up at this next one. From a distance I couldn't see Muddy peeking out, but there she is- as the growth on Kim's hip.

And finally the whole family photo. Look at my goobers, Benjamin sticking his tongue out and Addie striking a pose.

Ben posing.

Addie

Showing off their new pajamas and bathrobes, just before going to bed. You wouldn't know it by looking, but it was close to 11pm during this picture.

Cutting down our Christmas tree

For the first time as a family, we decided to go to a tree farm and cut down our own tree. We ended up going to Linvilla, which is also where we go for Halloween each year.

Here we are on the tractor ride out to the somewhere near 30,000 trees.

Once the tractor stopped, we had to have the photo op in front of the little trees growing.

Each tree Addie saw elicited this expression and "That's the one!"

They called for me to look at them and Addie had decided she found "the one." lol Note Benjamin reaching for the saw.

After we found the real one, this is how our helpers helped Brian.

And he carried the whole thing, but we acted like we were for this picture.

The four of us with our tree.

Special thanks to Muddy and Guppy for photographing the 4 of us shots!

Snacks with Santa

The Employee Activities Committee at the hospital, of which I co-chair, hosts Snacks with Santa for employees and their children. Yesterday we went and had a blast. Here's some pictures of it.

Santa is actually the most senior physician administrator in the hospital, which I think is pretty cool of him to participate. Mrs. Claus is one of the switchboard operators.

Addie was excited because I told her there would be art projects to do. Here they are making Santa door hangers. We also decorated Christmas cookies (which is the station I manned and oh my God, it was gross!) They also had a tattoo station, a sticker puzzle station, decorating stockings, and making ornaments stations.

Here they are with their big kid helpers and their final products.

Exasperation

On Tuesday night while eating dinner, Addie accidentally dropped her milk on the floor (it had a lid on it, so there was no spill). In sheer exasperation, she exclaimed:
"Well spread jelly all over me, I'm a fool!"

So now when you accidentally hit your thumb with a hammer or stub your toe or close your finger in the car door- just think of Addie and exclaim "Well spread jelly all over me, I'm a fool."

Yes, you're welcome for my sharing this with you. I know at least three people who will now adopt this as their expression of choice...I'm not naming names, but you know who you are. I apologize in advance to each of your respective spouses...