First Night Celebration

First Night Celebration.

Watching Ronald McDonald's 2012 Countdown.

  {Bechtler Museum of Modern Art}
  

{Wells Fargo Atrium on South Tryon Street}

 

 Monkey See.

Monkey Do.

 Monkey Share.

Monkey Fast.

This year flew by in a flash.

We are so thankful for the memories

we made with all of our family and friends.

We can't wait to see what 2012 brings us.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/12/22/2869418/giant-ornaments-an-ice-rink-and.html#storylink=cpy

Christmas, Tea, and Smiles

Christmas in NY

 Tea Party with GPS, GMS, and Cousin "Bear-me"

 Alekzander loved running laps in Grandma and Grandpa's house!  

Getting chased by Grandma was even better.

More Snow Fun

Shoveling the sidewalk for GPS

 Giggles and window-kisses for GPS

Snow-baby

Trekking through untouched {backyard} snow

Syracuse Snow

First snow in Syracuse :: 3 inches.

Fresh. Fluffy.

Perfect for eating!

Northern Friends

There's never a dull moment when we are with our Northern friends, the Roes'.  

One of the last times we saw them, we had to wait out a thunderstorm 

in a random boathouse along the St. Lawrence.

This time we slipped and slid our way down the hill to visit them 

in the first winter snow for Central NY.

The little boys are adorable.  

Just like brothers and long lost friends.

The big boys are both wonderful daddies, 

and love to have fun with their little boys.

 Successful padded hug.

The next time they attempted this {in boots}, they both ended up on the floor.  

Even once Bryson rolled off, Alekzander just laid there unable to move 

because he was so bundled up

{thanks to Bryson's winter wardrobe}!

 Sledding to meet Bryson's Grandma and Grandpa.

 Pure delight!

 Going down the hill on their own!  So fun.

Loving it!

Irresistible snow-monster.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

 Sweet Boy :: A Present Opening Pro

After church on Christmas Eve, before our dinner with the Woodmans, we made a "birthday treat" for Jesus' birthday.  Alekzander helped and was so excited.  When he woke up on Christmas morning, he asked to lay down on his bed of blankets on the floor in his room.  After a few seconds of stillness he excitedly said, "Upstairs."  I reminded him that we were upstairs, and he corrected himself and said, just as enthusiastically, "Downstairs!"  I asked him why he wanted to go downstairs.  {I didn't think that he knew there would be presents under the tree because we didn't really talk about it and he was scared of Santa.}  He got a big smile on his face and rolled over to face me and said, "Jesus birthday treat!"  Even after the excitement of dinner and opening presents with his little girlfriends, Alekzander still remembered ... the reason for the season.

Though we didn't let him have Jesus' birthday treat for breakfast, we did share it with Mia, Gruffalo, and Aunt Tessa Bug later that day and blew out birthday candles for Jesus.  

{That moment happens to be one of the only moments not captured by a camera, but I promise, it was perfect.} 

Christmas Eve - 2011

Christmas Eve with some of our favorites.

{Hali - 3.5; Ella - 11 months;  Alekzander - 2; Lila - 5.5}

We love these little girls.

And they sure love our little boy.

While Hali's Grand-Daddy was blessing the food at dinner, 

Hali had a little moment with Alekzander 

and held both of his hands {and he let her!}.  

There may have been some air kisses and lip smacking

during the prayer ... and a little suppressed laughter

from the Swistak side of the table.

After a yummy pot roast dinner 

and homemade maple mousse for dessert, 

we shared bedtime stories about Jesus and his birthday

before tucking all the sweet babes snug in their beds

to anxiously await the arrival of Santa Claus and

dream about Jesus' birthday cake.