Just some Christmas cuties!

Just a few cute ones I wanted to make sure make it on here and stay here, even once I change the top pics, etc!

'Twas the night before Christmas...

Christmas Eve morning was pretty low key... We hung out here at home, and the neighbor boys (Miles, Owen, & Jonah) and their dad came over to play videogames in the basement for a while. When the kids went down for a nap, I ran to one quick store... A tradition I love, that Tony thinks is nuts! After naps, Mike & Brenda came by with some gifts for the kids... Lucas got a zillion cars in a tube bigger than he is, and a Razor scooter. Lottie got a play tent/tunnel that we've always thought were cool... The best part is that they both LOVE both gifts... Thanks Mike & Brenda :)
Around dinner time, we headed to Uncle Roy & Aunt Barb's, who live right next door to Mommom & Pop. There was tons of yummy food - kind of a miracle since their power went out earlier in the day and had just came back on when we got there... They had to take the food to other people's houses to cook it... But, it was well worth the effort! There was our first ever family Chinese-auction, some cousin present exchanges, and handmade wooden tops made by Pop... As usual, Lucas and Lily couldn't get enough of each other!!!
By the time we got home, Charlotte went right to bed. Lucas put on his pjs, set out some cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer, and sprinkled some reindeer food outside in the grass... And to bed he went.

Other December stuff

Just a few other random shots of our December... Ravens parties, baking, Lucas' school Christmas program, trips to the mall, and hanging out with friends...

First snow

Back in mid-December, we had the year's first snowfall... Only an inch or 2. Schools closed an hour early, but it probably should have been earlier. For the first time EVER in my driving career, I was sliding all over the place - scary! And the next day, I slid into a pothole that landed my car in the shop til the middle of January... Thank goodness for insurance... But the kids sure did look cute playing in it!

Gobble, gobble

For Thanksgiving, we once again headed to the naval base in Sugar Grove, West Virginia. We left Wednesday right after work. Other than Charlotte screaming "MomMY" at the top of her lungs for the first 2 hours, the 4 hour drive was pretty uneventful. We got there around 7 and unpacked while the kids played with the grandparents/cousins. Instead of the 2 bedroom cabin we had last year, we had a 3 bedroom trailer right next to the one that Tre, Pat and 4 kids were sharing with Grammie and Grampie. It worked out quite well...

Thanksgiving morning, we ate at the mess hall for breakfast and then played outside a bit between trailers before hitting up the playground...
Then we had a snack and headed down to the track. We didn't bring bikes, but Keira and Lucas shared her pink one very nicely!
After that it was naptime and then FOOD time... During naps, I took a nice run... Before dinner, there was more playing and coloring of place mats for the kids' table...
After feasting, we took a walk back to the playground until it was just too cold/dark to stay out any longer!
Next, it was dessert and bath time...
The 3 older cousins had a sleepover! Lucas woke up 3 times crying and asking if he could go back to his own bed and have Max and Keira go back home... Funny!
But, we all survived the night. Headed to the indoor gym in the morning...
Lottie was really cranky there, and by the time we got back to the cabin, she was running a 102 fever... Boo! Poor girl has been sick so much this fall already...
While the kids napped, I went for another run... and Tony came with me for the first time in years!!! After naps, there was a dance party, followed by present opening.
Tony made us a nice fire once it got dark...
Saturday morning, we ate at the mess hall again... It was SUPER cold and windy. Grammie and Grampie were leaving at lunchtime, so we made sure to get a shot of them with all the kids...
Then we piled into cars and headed back over the mountain for lunch and a super awesome playground... Well, super awesome on a nice day, but not that day. It was sooooo cold. Charlotte was shaking cold and stayed wrapped up in my arms in coats and blankets. She still wasn't feeling well, and eventually fell asleep in the swing.
Once we got back, there was a glow stick dance party, followed by pjs and a Christmas movie.
Sunday morning we were up, packed, and on the road by 8. Only took 3 hours and 10 minutes to get back! Yippee!!! It was great to see everyone and especially to see all the cousins play together...