Christmas 2013

This is the first year Nathan "got" Christmas enough to barely sleep the night before.  :)  But with lots of coffee we had a wonderful day and all the weeks that led up to it.  It was our first white Christmas in the house, at least with snow on the ground.  Made for some pretty farolitos, the New Mexican Christmas Eve tradition that we have brought to our little neighborhood in Massachusetts.

Alex putting the star tree topper up, he was SO proud, and kept pointing to it and saying "I put the star up!!"

Mimi and Papa came to hang with the boys while Michael and I went to my company holiday party at the MFA.  Fun to get super dressed up once a year!

Alex and Papa reading the next day.

We got our first big snow in December, the boys all bundled up and ready to go.

Snow!

Michael made a tunnel in the snow, and Nathan thought it was the coolest.

We have a Christmas tradition of making peppermint bark with our friends the Hendersons.  Here AJ, Charlie, Alex and Nathan smash up the candy canes.

Nathan helping Charlie sprinkling the candy canes.

Alex and Nathan help Michael prepare the farolitos.

Nathan lifting the 50 pound bag of sand.

Alex bangs the drum to signal the start of lighting the farolitos on Christmas Eve.

Looking down into the sand and candle in the farolito.

Nathan riding his bike (because it is always time for that!)

All lit up!

As night falls...

A very dark family picture.

Alex enjoying Christmas eve dinner with Max (from the Grinch)

Nathan checking out the Christmas tree.

Writing a letter to Santa.

Offerings to Santa, milk, Coke, carrots and homemade peppermint bark.

All set for morning!

Going through stockings, Santa came!

Discovering Santa presents.

Alex was over the moon for his pedal bike.

Nathan got his very own camera, it was even red!

Alex checking out one of his gifts.

Alex on his bike, again.

Popping bubble wrap!

And on the bike, again!

Cousins at the Hamptons for Christmas dinner.

Fun with cousins :)

Fun family photo with the mustaches Nathan got from Santa in his stocking.  Merry Christmas everyone!!

Thanksgiving 2013

Better late than never, here is the blog post for Thanksgiving 2013.  The Schobels hosted this year, and we all had a great time road tripping to KoP!

First stop was the hotel and the swimming pool (thanks Carrie for the photo :)

The Schobel's backyard was great fun to play in, including a great climbing tree.

Watching some football.

Everyone joined in the football game!

Mimi and William hang out in the family room.

More tree time!

Enjoying a Shirley Temple with Michael on the front porch swing.

Ed shared his Hanukkah traditions with Corbin lighting the menorah.

Next day way fry day!  Will and Karl kept the fry cook company.

Kids ate first (well, plus Carrie).

Alex loved the turkey!

Corbin got the drumstick.

Thanksgiving with the cousins :)

Then the adults got to sit down and enjoy the wonderful dinner.

Mostly because the kids were mesmerized by "The Lorax".

Will gets a snuggle from Christopher.

Nothing quite like a snuggle from Brooks!

 Since we had all the families together, we attempted a group photo of the cousins.  Always an adventure with these 8 boys!!

Not bad!  Oh wait, there are only 7 boys...

  

Attempted to get Alex to join the photo, Brooks looks a little concerned.

Attempt #2 on the next day.  Brooks was not impressed, and Nathan agreed.

Success!  At least it looks like Nathan is smiling (even if we just caught him mid-scowl).

The hotel was awesome, and the boys enjoyed "Monsters Inc."

 On our way home, we made a pit stop to visit friends in Connecticut.  They taught Nathan how to play the Dreidel game, and me a little bit about Cards Against Humanity.  Nathan was happy to see his friend Ben, and it was a nice way to break up the ride.

Gimel!!  Winner winner chicken dinner...

Photo of the boys in their front tree, Alex, Nathan, Ben and William.

We enjoyed the Sunday afternoon traffic making our way home, but worth it for such a great Thanksgiving roadtrip!!