New Year's Eve

We were very fortunate to get an invite from the Patterson's to join them in Boston for New Year's Eve.  We were a bit skeptical we could pull it off.  But the weather was unseasonably warm and we had no other plans, so we went for it!

Got into town around 4:30, walked around the Commons to see a couple of ice sculptures (melting) 

and then over to Legal Seafoods where we met the Pattersons.  They wisely put us in the wine cellar (basement) with a few other parties who also had kids.  No major tantrums, all had fun!!

 Megan was super-excited to be out on party night. Tried to escape the wine cellar a couple of times, but we caught her.

The 6:30 fireworks were AMAZING.  We were SO close!  Pip had been dying for a light saber so we picked one up afterwards.  Turned out the vuvuzela was even better.  He's got it mastered.

We tried our hardest to last til midnight. Meg held out til 8, Pip til 11:38, Vivian til 11:41, Phil and I til 11:58. So close! Maybe next year. 

Also relevant, sleep in stats: Pip 8:30am, Meg 8:40am, Phil and Nat 8:41am, and Vivian 10:45am. Nice job Vivian. Meg is excused. Pip needs some serious work.

Straw-yeti

Found this massive strawberry in the container while at the store.  Needless to say, that container was ours!

Museum of Science

We took advantage of our week off to visit the Museum of Science with the Hoffenbergs.  Man, was it packed!!  While we waited for Phil and Matt to but the tickets we hung out in the lobby.  Pip came up with this "game" of "Ow".  ???

Here are some pics of them at the Discovery Center.

Feast

It was the usual race to get the feast to the table this year.  Grandpa enlisted Phil to cook the Christmas meal (and Jen and I were on Christmas Eve duty).  Crown Pork Roast.  Tastilicious.

Vivie and Pip were all about the whipped cream.

Reindeer food

We were well-prepared for Santa this year thanks to Uncle George.  He gave us some reindeer food and cookies to leave out.  

Jen brought over The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and I read it to Pip and Viv before they went to bed.  I think they were horrified at the idea.  It went on and on ... each page getting worse and worse.  Vivian was in near tears.  Pip was incredulous.  Finally ... FINALLY ... just as they were losing all hope, that Grinch realized the error of his ways.  I can not say that Pip was convinced Christmas is not at all about the presents ... he may not have been one of the Who's able to sing Christmas morning, but he appreciated that perhaps he should be able to sing.  The next day Grandpa trotted out form the back with his Grinch tie on.  Vivie was not impressed.

Rubberband plane

Could have been one of the best presents.  I think Phil figured he'd be outside ofr one run, it'd crash, and he'd come in.  Turned out it really flies well.  Maybe Phil should have worn shoes.  Or at least socks.  They were out there about a half hour!!

Meg opens a present

Meg wasn't really getting the concept yet this year.  She appreciated the unfettered access to paper, but was not thrilled to have me confiscate the small bits she was eating.  Ultimately, it took us all evening to open hers.  I had to corral her at the dining room table to open this one.

Presents galore...

Santa did not disappoint.

Suzy Q!

It was really incredible to see Suzy this Christmas.  She's a force of calm assertion.  She knows her way around the joint, is confident, and smooth.  At one point Jen and Matt tried to put her to bed on the futon in the basement.  Not three minutes later she came toddling up through the kitchen, having climbed the stairs and pushed open the gate by herself.  Wasn't upset, wasn't even bothered ... just maybe annoyed we tried to continue the party without her!

Suzy and Matt on Christmas Eve:

Opening presents:

Hanging out Christmas Day:

With Jen and her cousin Meg, hopefully will be close friends!

Visiting George and Jen!

Had a great visit with George, Jen, Al, Rhiannon, and Ever on Christmas Eve.  Megan opened her first present.  

As expected, thought the paper was the gift.

Here's Al with Meg, a safe spot to hang.

Ever, watching the presents unfurl.

Meg getting to know Iggy (or Marley?)

Pip loved the trains again this year.  He still prefers to run them at the highest speed possible, but otherwise he was careful with him.  Maybe we could get a set without immediately breaking it.

Rhiannon earning some cash playing Star Wars Operation.  Eeeeee--Ooooow!!!

Wrapping Presents

I'm tinkering with the idea of opening a gift wrapping sweat shop.  Pip and Viv would be my employees.  I may have to purchase tape and paper by the boatload, but they'd actually like it.  Maybe Santa's elves need a break?

Their favorite activity while we were home visiting Grammie was wrapping up "presents".  Then they'd hand them out and surprise folks with things like Grammie's candles, a small rock from one of her plants, a coaster, or an ashtray.  Went through a couple of rolls of tape and paper each, but kept them entertained.

Meg's first words

Ok ... maybe I can't really count these, but I really really want to!  Wait for them, it's worth it!

Vivian's skip dance

Have to have your hands at your sides, try your best to stay in place!  Viv's newest dance/skip craze!

Legos

Check out the handi-work of Pip and Jameson Velez!

Cookie Decorating!

Cookie decorating!!  We had a great turnout this year as we were excited to have so much room in the new house to host.  I think there were at least four formal iterations of decorating and lots more done in between.  There was also a marauding band of evil pirates running rampant, creating forts, and jumping in the hot tub.  Occasionally the girls would join in stride for a round.  But it was also sweet to find them pairing up and coloring together quietly.

Here are some of our decorators!

Phal even came with Mahi!  

As the night wore on we all got a little crazy.  The garland was beginning to get torn down ... so Pi phad the great idea to decorate Dad like a tree.  I recall we did it last year too, so why not?  Here are the kids and my smiling man.