NYE 2015

We kicked off our New Year's Eve celebration with an appetizer/snack dinner.

And then just before midnight in Buenos Aires, we gathered out front with confetti shooters,

our ceremonial toast,

and sparkling cider for "cheers"!

We hope you have a great 2016!

Misc

Mady loved these yellow leaves!

iPad mini cover for Zachy.

 iPad cover for Alex.

iPod cover for Ryan.

Mady taking her new baby for a bike ride.

Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas!

Alex woke up early, as is his way, but was very nice and waited for his brother and sister to join him in opening up stocking presents.

Santa took note of the colder than normal weather and made sure everyone would have warm ears.

After opening stockings, we had hot from the oven cinnamon rolls with left over cookie frosting. There can never be too much cream cheese frosting on a cinnamon roll, even if it is green.

 There was a lot of excitement during present opening.

 Gma made shark slippers!

 And wrapping paper was flying all over.

Later in the day, we all played with our gifts. I used my new cast iron skillet to make an apple Dutch baby. It was so yummy.

 Mady made sure Anna's hair matched hers in messiness.

Alex and Zachy drove their remote control cars on the perimeter trail at CG Island. Mady brought her remote control car along too, but we didn't want hers to drive outside. We spent some time inside Phil's office building and everyone drove around there, where the straight stretches were longer than at home.

We decided to postpone our Christmas dinner until Sunday and just have snacks for dinner. And even though Zachy is wearing shorts, and Alex short sleeves, it was quite chilly. Those boys just don't seem to feel the cold.

It was a wonderful Christmas filled with fun and happiness.

**Flash forward to Sunday, and our delicious Christmas dinner. Mady enjoyed more than this picture might indicate.

We love all of the wonderful Christmas cards and letters. We didn't quite get them all up for this picture.

Christmas Eve

Tonight was our traditional Christmas Eve. Cheese, meat and crackers for dinner...followed by some of the decorated cookies.

One new addition to our Christmas decor - matching stocking holders.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

One gift was opened. Surprise! It was new jammies!

Stockings waiting for Santa. The kids even went to bed early so that they wouldn't mess up Santa's schedule. And slept extra cozily in warm jammies.

Cookies!

It is cookie decorating time! Yummy!

While we were decorating, friends that Phil works with stopped by with a delicious fruit tart. The kids plied Mr. Gary and Ms. Beth with cookies and were given a stamp of approval.

Photographers

Zachy, Mady and I wanted to take advantage of a break in the rain and go for a walk. We walked down to the ferry terminal and avoided getting wet. The estuary was very rough and the wind was whipping. Mady and Zachy took turns taking some pictures. I think they did a pretty good job.

On the way home we weren't as lucky with the rain. With the rain and wind, there were sheets of rain whipping across the street. Luckily the wind was to our backs for most of the walk. We stopped for this picture, and I had hoped the rain would show better (don't let the sun fool you, it was a crazy weather day!).

Late Night Visitor

Since there was no school on Monday, the kids stayed up late. It is a good thing they did, because the doorbell rang and we had a special visitor. Mady loves to answer the door and so she swung open the door and saw Santa Claus on the porch! She was so excited and yelled "Santa! I'm Mady!" We invited Santa and his Elf in and Mady ran to the stairs to make sure Alex and Zachy were going to come downstairs to see Santa. When the boys made it downstairs, they were equally excited to see Santa.

Santa even brought an early gift!

The reindeer started to stamp their feet on the roof, so Santa had to go. But he forgot his bag! Luckily I ran outside with it just in time to catch them before they took off. What a fun night!