Christmas roundup!

Well, here we are a few days after the Epiphany, and so far I haven't posted a single thing about Christmas! It always feels so bittersweet and sad when the Christmas season is coming to an end. Nothing fills me with as much melancholy as the prospect of taking down the tree and other Christmas decorations. So we will go over and relish those Christmas memories and perhaps eventually this year we (I!) will be ready to move on from the glorious Christmas season back into ordinary time and the doldrums of winter (and soon, Lent!! hard to believe!)

Our Epiphany Centerpiece

Picking out our Christmas tree was quite the the experience.

Despite the balmy (HOT even) temperatures, the Christmas tree farm was determined to give all patrons an authentic experience, and had a big fire in a trash can . . . yes. You can see the smoke in the background as Kateri and Sebastian check out who has replaced Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and all the rest.

My precious little family! :D

The Very Best family picture we got!

We found a very nice, though rather short, tree, and, determined to keep ever.last.inch possible, Pat made sure the cut the trunk as closely to the ground as possible.

Sebastian however had his own ideas about the perfect tree!

Check this one out, guys!!

Kateri closely supervised the proceedings!

Can you see the stump that Pat left?

It is safe to say we were able to get every last inch of tree!

"Really, guys! I know you just cut down a tree and all, but can we please just get this one??!!"

We also were able to go see Santa, which was a very awe-inspiring trip for Kateri. Santa first came out and knelt by statues of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus and told the story of Christmas! So beautiful. All the children gathered around and listened. Then he climbed up his chimney to sing songs and answer questions from the crowd!

Sebastian was really not sure what the heck was going on

They both loved looking at the Cresh scene.

Then we waited quite a while to see Santa ourselves and take a picture with him!

Kateri very solemnly mounted the steps to Santa's sleigh and handed him the letter she had written with Pat's help, then promptly turned and tried to get down as quickly as possible! She did NOT want to talk to Santa or sit in his lap at ALL. Sebastian felt the same way, and so we tried a family shot, and not one picture came out, but they were all rather hilarious!

It was rather special. At the end, Santa gave each kid a lollipop and a little holy card of the Holy Family signed by Santa Clause himself!

Christmas day was wonderful and very busy. Unfortunately, I only took a few pictures at home and none with the rest of the family! But here are a few of the ones we got!

Kateri's new "smile for the camera" smile

Showing papa her new movie~ Cinderella!

Sebastian helping Kateri open her big gift

Testing out one of the new trikes!

All in all, it has been such a wonderful Christmas season but it has really flown by far too quickly. So thankful for everything and everyone in our lives!!

A few stray 2015 pictures!

I was just looking through some of the photos from last year that I never shared, and, since my uploader is in the bedroom with a sleeping toddler, this is a perfect opportunity to share these pictures that would never otherwise be shared!

 

The wonderful side-board from Nonie and Nano's has been perfect in every way, from storage to providing a little prayer station to blocking off the railing from any toddlers curious climbing efforts! It has also been the most ideal place for a game of hide and seek!



 

Where, oh where, did Bashy go?

However, it must be admitted that both Kateri and Sebastian become so excited when they are hiding, that they find it utterly impossible to stay quiet until someone has found them, and always come bursting out with great enthusiasm!

Kateri has always been an eager help in the kitchen, and will go to any extant to make sure that she is right there in the action!

The other day, she carefully lifted out the crock pot, and then (unbeknownst to me) made many trips to and from her room bringing in shoes. Then she called me over and informed me we were having SAUSAGES for dinner!

Yum! Doesn't that make you trust our crock pot meals??

So many mild days in November meant that some popsicles had to be enjoyed at Mihi and Grandpa's house! Here is the aftermath:

And of course one the greatest excitements of the year was Jeanne's new hedgehog, Periwinkle (or Pinklewinkle, as Kateri says).

Canoeing

"Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats" ~ Wind in the Willows

One of the many highlights of the cabin was going out in Mike's canoe. Our cabin was situated right above a dam, which meant that even with a low water level, it was possible to canoe far up the river. Which was about 42 (Kateri's favorite "BIG" number) times better than when we got stuck in the shallows last year!

Sebastian absolutely loves the canoe, and though he has never actually spent time in it while it was in the water, he has enjoyed it on several occasions.

Kateri was thrilled to be able to go out in the canoe again, and Pat made sure that she was invited every time he went.

On her way down to go canoeing

Kateri was a big help in getting the canoe down near the water.

And she was careful to take all safety precautions!

And to follow all the rules.

It was splendid to be out on the water again!

Sebastian watched longingly from the shore.

He will have to wait until he is two!

Thanksgiving At the Cabin

We had such a beautiful Thanksgiving at the cabin this year! Kateri and Sebastian were both very excited for the festivities, but were far more interested in playing with the plates and napkins then in actually feasting on all the deliciousness.

Cheesin for the camera smile

Setting the table

Mac and the end result of his hard labor: deliciousness.

Jillian at her very first Thanksgiving, she slept right through the feast. 

Teamwork and flying rolls gets the job done!

Nanny with all all the scrumptiousness she prepared!

I did not make a single thing for Thanksgiving! It was really such a treat :)

The plan had been to drive back to Manassas for dessert with the Myers Family, but I was feeling rather exhausted and we ended up staying out at the cabin. We missed everyone, but it was the right decision! Energy is an oh-so-precious commodity and as we all know the days of sleeping in/catching up on sleep are in the past!

Thanks to the Greniers for such a glorious and festive feast!

Frying Pan Park

We saw unusual sights . . . 

Grass growing quite happily in the truck bed . . . Made me wonder why on earth we have such a hard time with it considering we grow our grass in SOIL!

Charlotte was excited to find a chicken that had escaped the coop and lost no time in making her aquaintance. Kateri, ever cautious, shouted, "No, Sisi!!! NOOOOO!"

The two of them had a splendid time running around the grounds.

Intrigued by the duck eggs

And the cow!

No visit to Frying Pan Park is complete without checking out the tractors!

Sorry to include you on your phone, Lu! But Danny was so cute I couldn't resist!

While we were there, there was a large horse competition going on inside the barn. Outside, many of the horses were warming up and going through their paces. Kateri was so impressed with all of them and wanted to just watch the horses the entire time. I am really hoping she will be able to take some riding lessons at some point!