Christmas Eve

Nonna and Uncle Andrew drove down on the 23rd so we spent the morning of Chrismas Eve with them. Then we headed down to Mimi and Papa's to have dinner and lots of fun. Before we left, we snuck in a little photo shoot to get pics of the kids all dressed up...

The best family photo we could get once we arrived at Mimi and Papa's:

An old school Christmas Eve dinner in Mimi and Papa's basement, complete with a busy, noisy kids table...

Madeleine, in her little elf PJ's...

Nora, was tuckered out after all the excitement...

Mid-December

Dylan has started helping me out in the kitchen...Here we are making cornbread to go with the chili we had for dinner that night...And here we are making Christmas cookies!
Nora is learning to sit...

...and still rocking that ponytail!

Dylan is starting to get used to the idea of sharing his play space with his sister...it will be a process...

Naked Santa baby! Nora is getting ready for her first Christmas...

Christmas Card Photo Shoot

Here is what you saw if you got our Christmas card:

Here is the cuteness we couldn't fit on the card....

"I'm ready for my close-up!"
You should have seen the things Mimi and I had to do to get these smiles...

Sweetness:)

Isn't he handsome?

November in Review

Early in November, Nora woke up with some BAD hair. But as our friends, The Imagination Movers say, "Bad Hair Doesn't Have to Make a Bad Day".I tried to contain the craziness but Nora is not sure how she feels about her first ponytail.

Making forts while stuck home with colds

Tim's friend, Colin came for a visit and we took a hike up Turkey Mountain right here in Yorktown Heights.

Mapping out our course...

Snuggly.

Burly.

We spent Thanksgiving up in Weedsport, where our camera began to act wonky. So, we don't have many pictures but did take Nora's all important monthly picture (albeit, a day late).

Tough guy Uncle Andrew holding Nora.

See you in December!

The Rest of October...

Sorry I have been on hiatus from posting! Here are some highlights from the end of October.

Pumpkin carving: Dylan wanted nothing to do with the pumpkin's innards. It was "too squishy".So I was left to do most of the carving myself...
We took our first hike as a family of four. Pelton Pond in Fahnstock State Park - we did this very same hike last year around this time, as a family of three.

Peek-a-Boo!

Fun times with cousins at Uncle Dave's...

Nora turned 4 months - can you believe it?!

Slow down little one!

Raking leaves is a month-long project around here...

"Uh, Dad? I'm in here!"

And, finally, HALLOWEEN! I had two opportunities to get the kids all dressed up. Our playgroup had a little get-together during the week as a warm-up to the big day. Then on Halloween itself we had everyone in the playgroup at our house, accompanied by the mommies and daddies, as well as some good food and drink. And some trick or treating! Here's our little Nora flower:

...with our little Cat in the Hat!

Trick or Treating!

Apples and Pumpkins!

Last weekend we had some perfect fall weather so we decided to take advantage of it and get out for some apple and pumpkin picking. Here we are on Nora's first hayride ever! (She slept through it.)

Scoping out the pumpkin patch to find the perfect one.
"So many pumpkins!"

Taste testing...

Pirate ship playground!

Nora didn't seem to mind the fact that she slept through all the fun fall activities...She was all smiles at the end of the day.

Nora Catherine's Christening

Nora's big day was October 3rd. She wore the same Christening gown that Aunt Lisa and I both wore as babies. Katie and Grace each wore for their Christening, as well. I never realized how pretty it is! And how pretty does our little girl look in it?
Dylan is still quite tentative around his little sister.

Mommy has 2 babies!

Proud Godparents: Uncle Dave and Aunt Lisa.

Mimi and Papa

Happy Family!