Decemeber Photo Dump

Our Christmas tree almost delivery service from previous years moved to Farmville this summer, so we were on our own to hunt down another 7 ft frazier fir....b/c nothing else will do! I will admit that I'm a Christmas Tree snob. A cute little farm in Greene County came through for us!

Margaret has become quite the helper at the Dentist. I love the team effort!

We still visit JJ weekly. Thinking our lesson was over this particular day, Margaret went potty, then bolted out for her clothes. But she wasn't done with the pool and hopped back in on top of the tarp, which JJ used to help enforce the floating sensation. This WILL be the last time she skinny dips, right???

Already working on his bday party invitations..."Kristopher Kirkeide you are invited to my birthday party. It is March 12. Love Andrew."

Viewing Christmas on the calendar, decked out in Emily's Scottish outfit for her.

Candle making at the Waldorf Holiday Bazaar. Such great activities for the kids at this event! And even better to spend the morning with a childhood camp friend. Looking forward to reconnecting with Celeste sans kids!

Caleb's bday party at The Big Room

At Anne's on Thanksgiving, I taught Matthew how to shimmy down the stairs backwards, on his belly. I showed him once and he's been like a mastered pro ever since. He's now got full reign of the house and we all enjoy his freedom. Emily asked when she was visiting, "so who watches Matthew when you're each dealing with Andrew and Margaret?" Uh, no one? We don't believe in baby gates, either. Hopefully we'll get through Matthew's wobbling stage without regretting that.

After four years back East, I finally made it to my high school's pageant again in which I sang for 5 years---a unique, beautiful, music-only, 4-part harmony experience that words cannot describe...and I remembered all of my harmonies. Thanks to Dody and Granddaddy for watching Margaret and Matthew (and snuggling with her on their new back deck) before the stomach bug set in all night:(

Matthew is so proud of his chair from Dody and Granddaddy and crawls into every day and night to chew on a DVD or take a rest from the action.

"The firetrucks are coming...with Santa on top!!!"

After 10 years of hearing about the Lights on 34th St. in Baltimore, we FINALLY made it! There have been several misfires in the past, but I now know it's because we needed to wait for our family to be complete. We arrived early to get a parking spot, enjoyed barely-lukewarm-"hot" chocolate at a local pizzeria (with slices as big as a pie) and enjoyed the street where homeowners commit to 6 weeks of public invasion every year, traffic helicopter included.

Snowmen sculpted from bike wheels

Three stories high and across the street the lights ascend.

The hubcap tree

Grandma came through with the Karaoke machine - Margaret couldn't get enough of serenading Steve.

Happy Grandma.

Holiday dinner party with the Bronsons (including Andrew and Becky in from Thailand) and Vogels. What an amazing evening. Secret Santa "no gag gifts" got interesting:) Can't wait for next year's rebuttal!