Toys are Fun

Jack has just started to take an active interest in toys. The girls may just have to start sharing all of those fun toys he received for Christmas...or trade him a Little People house for his train!

Pretty Princesses

Kaitlyn has always loved dressing up like a princess, and recently, Claire has shown some interest, too. But there's a catch. Whereas Kaitlyn loves to attire herself as a specific princess with dress, jewelry and hairstyle, Claire prefers to make up her own combinations. For example, that's Rapunzel with the bunny ears ("I don't think you want to wear that crown," says Kaitlyn. "Yep. I do," replies Claire.) And that's Aurora mixing it up with a pink tutu and a snowman tee for ice skating on the kitchen floor. I think I have years of wardrobe battles ahead of me!

A Visitor!

Last weekend my cousin Melissa surprised us with a visit, and the girls could not have been more delighted. Like our daughters, Melissa is a sugar hound, so the weekend was spent eating maple syrup-covered pancakes, homemade chocolate chip cookies, and a 3-pound box of Gorants chocolates. Melissa is also an artist, and there was much coloring and rejoicing! Jack just liked the snuggles. It was a great time, and we all hope Melissa comes through town again soon.

Santa Follows Us to Canfield

There was plenty more holiday cheer to be found in Canfield. We had a lunch date with G.G. in Sebring, decorated butter cookies with grandma, and played around in the snow. Then we opened presents for three days straight! Princesses reigned supreme with the girls again this year--a four-foot palace, dress-ups, doll babies, books, etc.--but we also got some cars, trucks and a train for our little guy. I just hope that Claire is ready to share when he's old enough to play with them!!

Santa Comes to Piqua

There was snow waiting for us in Ohio this year, as we began our holiday celebrations in Piqua. The kids did amazingly well on the 8.5-hour car ride (has this Santa thing finally registered?!), and we enjoyed four great days of eating, sledding, eating some more, opening presents, sneaking M&Ms (what's that red stuff all over Claire's shirt?), going to Mass, and playing nonstop with toys new and old. The girls even made it out to see Tangled in the theater...while the guys took Jack to his first bar!

Snow Angels! Snow Balls!

We finally got enough snow to make snow angels today. Kaitlyn was ecstatic. Claire was curious. Jack wanted back in where it was warm!