Family Get-Away

Mike was off most of last week.  Since I am home everyday, it just isn't vacation to me to be at home when Mike is off, so we decided to take a little overnight to Williamsburg on NYE.  I think it was the first time we have been anywhere overnight just the 4 of us.  We have been blessed to always be with grandparents, which we love.  So we decided to live on the wild side and venture out on our own!  It was SO FUN!  Stress seems to disappear when someone else is cleaning and cooking.  We picked a place that had an indoor pool so we could all go swimming.  Sadly, my camera battery died after the first (blurry) picture at the pool.  

It was so nice... we just played and played and looked our kids in the eyes instead of just "managing" them.  It is nice to feel like you can live from a child's perspective when you're away and don't have the responsibilities of everyday life.  And I've been getting the feeling/glimpse lately of 2 kids (not babies) who can do some things on their own (like walk, not be strolled, communicate, don't need 600 bags for every outting, etc)... its won-der-ful!!  After the pool, we went out for yummy pizza.

  And don't my kids have the nicest Daddy!  I love him and like hanging out, co-parenting with him a lot!  I could do vacation more often!!  ;)

Mike and I stopped for our favorite drink at Food Lion ;), toasted in the bathroom (gross!) after the kids went to sleep, played iPhone games, then hit the hay at 10pm!  Midnight isn't so appealing anymore!  

Lily and Peter enjoyed some good hide-and-seek the next morning at the hotel...

aren't they just too cute!! 

 WHERE'S PETER?!

 loving some big brother hugs and play time!!

 The next morning we hoped to go to this museum... but then realized it was New Year's Day so CLOSED... :(  Oh well, it was vacation, no need to stress.

 But Peter got to run thru some snow so everything was OK in his book!

 Later in the day, we found these sweet gingerbread children and scooped them up to bring home with us!

Mike was so sweet to sit in the van with the kids while they napped so I could shop at the outlets!!  It was such a nice trip... it mostly centered around me and my need to not be at home.  Mike was so sweet to love me by taking us away so I could be away from everyday chores & responsibilities.  Thank you, Michael!  I heart you!

Oh, and on the way home, we stopped for a wonderful dinner with the Andrews!  Bonus!!

Murder Mystery Dinner

Mike and I had the MOST FUN date night during vacation week.  We counted this as our big NYE event.  Our friends, Brian and Megan, hosted our small group for dinner and a murder mystery.  I'd never done one before!  It was the most fun!  We laughed SO HARD.... it was hilarious!!! Everyone came dressed in costume (tho I think we were the best- & Blair :)-, if I do say so myself).  I was an airline stewardess (but really an FBI agent in disguise).  Thanks to Kathy and her sisters for coming up with my "extras"- the scarf, hat, and wings on my suit jacket and hat.  Mike was a bodyguard to Greg (really a KGB agent).  This pic doesn't give the full effect of Mike's greased back hair.  Mike's game name was Roberto so he did a bad accent the whole time and had all of us in tears laughing at him.  Yes, I've pulled my husband down in the humor category.  HE IS FUNNY!  I am ready for another party already.  Brian and Megan were amazing cooks and hosts.  Big thanks to Kathy and Ski for watching our kids late into the night!

snow much fun

Tuesday was BRIGHT and SUNNY and with snow covering everything, a clear BLUE SKY... it was sooo BEAUTIFUL outside!  Some sun therapy in winter!  

Maw and Paw had to go to work so our little family bundled all up and headed to the sunny winter wonderland.

 We headed to the hill on the back of M&D's property for some sledding...

Mike found these cool boogie board sleds at a yard sale last spring- it was perfect. 

 heading back...

 "tha Coppa dawg" joined us like the good ole buddy he is...

 Peter LOVES Copper.  He totally thinks they are best friends and that he is Copper's caretaker.  The only way I could get him to walk back to the house after sledding (instead of asking to be carried) was asking Peter to help Copper walk back... "Come on Coppa dawg, walk dis way, good boy..."  It was the sweetest thing.

 (back at the house, Peter loves getting treat bones out of the jar for Copper.  He calls Copper over to his blanket and tells him where to lay on his bed, by the fire to get warm.... all in the sweetest little caring voice.  We are not dog people so its a perfect that he gets to love on sweet Copper at Maw and Paw's house.)

After sledding, we built a snowman!  The snow was packing so well so I wanted a TALL snowman.  Peter helped a little but...

 then he was "done" and off to here...

... to drive the tractor!

 The kids were getting tired so we never decorated our snowman but he was still handsome and had a nice shape ;)

 ("over there, look at the camera pete!")

 and our snowman family foto!!

It was just so great to be outside that day.  The sun... yes, so bright (i love me some sunshine!), and the little bit of physical activity to get warm enough to unzip... and just all playing together, it was SNOW MUCH FUN!

Snowy Winter Retreat

We arrived at my parents house on Christmas night.  We had such a good time there.  We stayed for 3 days and it was oh so relaxing. I kept telling Mike that I was pretending we were at a snowy woodsy retreat house (and we sorta were... the service and price and setting were perfect!)  Mom cooked and cleaned, even did our laundry and I hardly lifted a finger- that was the best part.  

We were welcomed with this wagon full of gifts!

Lily wore her pretty new outfit from Aunt Carrie :) 

 We did gifts the next day.. Lily's big gift was a baby doll... her smile in seeing the "beebee" was so precious

 Lily's new motion/sign for "where?" or "what?" (hands & tongue!)

 On Sunday, Lily and I got all bundled up for an outting with the guys... but by the time we got out there, they were no where to be found.  So we enjoyed the snow on our own.  :)

Isn't it so pretty?!

Lily wasn't a big fan of actually standing in it... she just wanted to be held- who can blame her?!  It was to the top of her boots (not much to the CO and MN relatives!)

 On Mon eve, P&L's third set of grandparents arrived for their fourth gift opening session... slightly spoiled I ask?

 Peter got Raggedy Andy for his second Christmas, so this year Lily got Raggedy Annie.

 and fun Melissa and Doug toys... always a hit!

Lily LOVED her stacking rings--- I am hopeful this means she'll be neat and organized ;)

Their most fun gift was this tent and tunnel... Daddy joined the fun...

it looks like he's being eaten by a giant caterpillar!!

 Not sure what we're doing here but a happy pic with my 2 fav men :)

The final day there was my favorite- that will be its own post :)

Thanks Mom and Dad for "pouring into us" & serving us to replenish our love tanks!!

greasy Christmas morning pics

This was the first year that we've spent Christmas Eve Night and Christmas Day at our house.  It was wonderful!  

 We caved this year and bought an artificial tree (my brothers croak here.) but it has been the best thing ever.  I am sold.  They are expensive (I was suprised!) so a little painful initially (but it will pay for itself in like 5 years!) but I have loved it.  Mike was happy to not have to set it up in the stand.  I was happy to not get pricked as I put lights on it and my joy goes on and on and on about not cleaning up pine needles daily and for months to come as it dies days after going up.  It still looks beautiful this week!  My only complaint has been the lack of Christmas Tree smell (and instead some bad smell- trying not to think about some bad chemical odor that could be) but a Christmas smelling candle nearby does the trick.

 me and my oh so sweet baby love

 Peter got a Curious George book that he LOVES!

Lily got an el-cheapo baby stroller... they both love to push it, not ride in it.

I'm a broken record... she's still so sweet looking even as she cries.

 She also has her Daddy smitten.  They cooked us a yummy Dennis breakfast- grits, bacon, and eggs... yum, it doesn't get any better!!

We chilled here all day and then leisurely headed to see Mike's grandparents, then on to L'ville.  And a beautiful snow graced our drives.  I feel like we finally found our Christmas groove this year.