New Year's Eve

A two year tradition now (though not in a row) found us celebrating New Year's Eve with our neighbors Mark & Sue

The kids certainly had a blast!



and how did we "ring" in the new Year (well it was 9 PM NY time, but I am sure it was midnight SOMEWHERE): the old pots and pans of course!

and then to end the year on a healthy note at 9:30 I took the kids for a walk around the block and we came home to again ring in the New Year with some pots and pans outside (again I am sure it is new years somewhere in the world!).

ditto

Just a repeat of yesterday, with more fun and food! :-)

Friends

That's what friends are for.



Welcome home E family -

Sledding in the snow

With the warmer temps (relative to the below zero feel) - we took to sledding......



building a snowman....

more sleigh riding (at the neighbor's house)

and finally snow angels!

Whew this Mommy is ready for bed :-) Hope you enjoyed your day as well. And with the snow slowly starting to melt, we are hoping for another Blizzard sometime soon!!!

Blizzard 2010 continues

More post-Blizzard 2010 fun to share with you.

Matteo at the entrance to his igloo



Chloe May preferred to take in some zzzzzzz's this time (which enabled me more Matteo time)

And really let's face it, who was the igloo REALLY for.........

DADDY!

In other non-Blizzard 2010 news, Chloe May's signing has really taken off these past 2 weeks. I think Chloe May signs approximately 20 words, and she really is very verbal - - trying her best to say "yes please", she says: "Mama, Daddy and Baby" spot on. She has started saying "no no no" which is something Matteo never did - then again Matteo didn't have an older sibling. She enjoys pictures of animals and making the sounds they make. Really turning into our little sister for sure! Also, the amount of teeth she has is increasing past 4 - she now has 3 on the bottom (with the fourth poking through) - and three on the top (again forth poking through) and one in the back which has appeared! At this age (a few days away from 17 months), I think the dentist was recommending Matteo for braces he had so many teeth! hahah. j/k of course. Thanks for checking in on us - the Blizzard was quite fun and we were thankful it didn't come Christmas Day hence allowing us time to visit family.

Lastly happy 90th birthday to our Dear Neighbor Helen!!!!

Blizzard II

We awoke to a little more than a foot of snow today - however the winds were so strong that our lights flickered a bit!

Due to the high winds I thought it best to keep Chloe May inside.



However very little keeps Matteo in!

What does bring him in is an argument with Daddy, so he took some time to use his new wooden pixie sticks - great for his hands I told him (though the whole time he disputed this!).

Chloe May enjoyed the most simple "toy" of all - a box.

And when they finally made up, back out they went:

And anytime there is a snowball invovled, Matteo is all smiles!


And with a smile like this, you know the igloo was a success!

Blizzard

The weatherman said the snow was coming and he was not kidding! By 8 AM the flurries had started and so an hour or two later, the kids were outside snowpants and all!

our friend Yuuki saw us outside and wanted to join in on the fun!

Poor Chloe May reminded me of the Christmas Story - where it was so difficult for her to walk!

And by 4 PM Matteo was out there with Daddy shoveling and building igloos.

Two hours later, he was still shoveling (of course there were many stops for jumping in the snow).


When I was finally able to get Matteo inside at 6 PM - this is the snowfall total:

May your evening by joyous and peaceful.

St. Nick

With the children all nestled in their beds

Santa came.

Christmas morning at home

And though all still very tired from last night, we were up a bit later than usual (though not too much) to enjoy all the surprises that Santa left.

A loop-de-loop that Matteo so requested (and here I thought the car days were moving behind us).



And though we have numerous ride-ons, Chloe May absolutely loves this car - she was always trying to sit in another boy's at soccer this past Fall! And with us being such outdoor people, I know this car is going to get many miles - it already has inside the house.

And though I thought this to be babyish - a few people advised that the children would love it - - - and well I too sit there amazed by it, it's very relaxing to just watch the balls roll and pop, roll and pop (though I wish it were not SO loud!).

Matteo got his 48 piece US puzzle that he has been asking for since JUNE - though he does it way to quickly, I think our Matteo is not challenged enough and thus needs 100 piece puzzles for the future.

Chloe May's dolly finally got a carriage - though to be honest, Chloe must think the carriage is for herself, because she is always asking me to push her in it.


Chloe May took some time out for breakfast (not so much Matteo)


And my best present:

Grandma's house

So all dressed up

and off to Grandma's house we go

still trying for the girl cousin photo!

I got each of the cousins 2011 glasses -

Chloe May got some play food (thanks for the suggestion Sarah) - that everyone had fun "cutting" and playing with (even the older kids - yes me too!)


The excitement was so high, well that meltdowns are bound to happen:

and this has never happened before....... (yes, I did find it amusing).


But alas we regained composure, and it was time to open the stockings. If you have never seen the stockings at Grandma's, well:

now you know!

This hat wound up being Chloe May's - - though Grandma got it with the intention of me in mind.......


really Grandma, do you not see a difference in circumference???

Sisters

Me and my sisters - another priceless Christmas gift!

Nanny's house

We then continued our day with a trip to Jules' parents' house.

Matteo enjoyed his standard Hess truck (among other things) from Nanny



Poppi was more than kind to take his time to make the kids some homemade blocks - a homemade gift is always best I think!

Matteo enjoyed speaking to Uncle Rocco

and yes the fun with our headlight continues!

And so our journey homes began...

rest up kiddies, the snow is coming!