Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas from the Georges!
Our morning started bright and early
with a quick bottle for Matthew
while Kate helped her Miss Daisies
open the presents under their tree.
 Then we were ready
to head downstairs.
 Kate was absolutely delighted
with her doll bunk bed and double stroller.
She has twin baby dolls
named Anna and Ben,
in honor of her cousins.
 Matthew loves his little monkey push toy!
 This Rapunzel doll was #1 on Kate's wish list this year.
 Both kids are loving the puppet
theater from Gran and Pop!
 Kate got a princess dress
to match Rapunzels.
 The kids are using the theater
for bell shows in addition to puppet shows!
 Matthew loves anything that makes music...
or noise!
 Sometimes stockings take
a bit of concentration...

 ... but the loot is worth it!

 We spent a really fun afternoon at Uncle Chris and Aunt Ingrids'
with the NoVA Gleasons!
Once again I did a terrible job of taking pictures
at a family outing!
I sure would love to have the ones Aunt Ingrid took.
(Hint!  Hint!  Hint!)
Hope your Christmas was as merry as ours!

While the Children were Snug in Their Beds...

 While Kate and Matthew were snug in their beds,
Santa's elves were busy at our house!


No Christmas Eve would be complete without toy assembly.
This year the burden was pretty light -
but that was great because it's the first Christmas
that we haven't had at least one set of grandparents around to help!

Gingerbread House & Other Christmas Eve Goodies

One of our favorite Christmas activities is baking!
This year (with tons of help from Grandma!)
we made 9 different varieties of cookies!
Kate is such a great little baker -
she literally spent hours cutting out
sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies
and rolling dough into perfect balls!
But, I think her favorite activity this year
was decorating the Gingerbread house on Christmas Eve!



 We also made birthday cupcakes for Baby Jesus
on Christmas Eve!
I forgot to buy festive icing -
so we improvised with pink.

 Nothing says "Sugar Rush" more than this face!
 Matthew wasn't much help with the baking this year
but he sure does enjoy the results!


Kate & Matthew Visit Santa

 Kate was really excited to see Santa Claus this year!
She made two pictures for him.
Everything was going great until Matthew joined her
in his lap and then lost it...
... then she was completely mortified!

Preschool Christmas Program

 Kate had so much fun at the preschool Christmas program -
and Matthew (and Grandma) were so proud!

Christmas Outing at Botanical Gardens

 We had so much fun at the Botonanical Gardens last Christmas season
that we decided to go back this year!
Grandma and Papa went with us
and we all had a blast!
I think this will become an annual event!

 Thomas the train!





Hiking at Great Falls

 When my parents were up over Thanksgiving,
we enjoyed a fun morning at Great Falls Park.
We'd had plenty of rain -
so the falls were roaring!
 Our merry band!