Emerson and Lisette were here....: January 2014

Here are some more pics from our 2013 Winter Break. They start with Lisette's holiday sing-along at school (which I missed because I was stuck at work and am still feeling guilty about), our annual trip to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens to see the lights, and a couple from Christmas Eve with the Smiths. Then pictures from Christmas in RVA and Christmas holiday in RI.

~kv

Lisette and Annie

Christmas Eve with the Smiths

Our Tradition of Opening 1 Gift on Christmas Eve

Treats for Santa and the Reindeer

Christmas Morning

Santa Scored Major Points with this Gift

Proof the Man was Here

Christmas Part II at Grammie's

Lisette Coming in for a Snuggle

A Yummy Meal with the Girls

Emerson Let Linny French Braid His Hair

Getting Read to Ride our Scooters from Santa

Getting Some Love from Auntie Heather

"I am the King of the World!!!"

The Surf at Moonstone

Snuggling In with my Ladies

Snuggling in with my Linny

One Sassy Girl

It has been WAY too long since the last post. But….. tis the season to turn over new leafs and make resolutions. I will try and get this blog updated monthly (since I have now put that sentiment into the universe it will undoubtedly happen). I have loads of pics from the summer, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. But I will begin here with Christmas and our trip to RI.

We got our tree a couple of days after Thanksgiving (maybe even the day after) and as is our tradition the Christmas music blared (Michael Buble is the current favorite) while we put the lights on the tree, decorated the house, and placed the ornaments on the tree. Emerson lamented the lack of house decorations ("Is that all?") while we tried (and failed) to get Lisette to stop rearranging the ornaments on the tree. That night, "Tuckaway the Elf" showed up in our tree (he usually shows up the night we get our tree) and then began the daily morning hunt for that mischievous little fella. As Christmas day neared the excitement built. We hosted our annual "Gingerbread House Making Party." Christmas Eve our friends The Smiths came over for a near approximation of the Italian tradition of Seven Fishes. Christmas was as magical as always. The morning was spent opening gifts from Santa, eating a big breakfast and drinking lots of coffee (for the adults and Lisette). That evening we headed over to Monika's for some ice skating and amazing soup. The following day we got on the road and headed up to RI. We made the trip in a RECORD BREAKING 8.5 HOURS, which was honestly one of the highlights of the whole vacation for Kevin and I. The time spent in RI was great - though too short - and Em was so sad when he discovered we were leaving after only a week. I feel so grateful and happy to see him so connected to his family that live so far away. It was a great week, hanging out with Kate and Linny, bowling with Whit and Jules, dinner with Michelle and Greg (that included a long and mostly uninterrupted adult conversation), spending lots of quality time with grammie and poppi, walks on the beach, a visit from the Northfield Pelletiers (pictures in the next post…) and a boisterous dinner with Michelle, Ashley, Kevin and all the kids. It all feels like it happened ages ago though it hasn't even been a month. I find myself already thinking about next year. (I'll post more pictures tomorrow - but now it is time to watch some West Wing with my beloved!)

~kv