Sleepy

Charlie snuggling with sleepy Emma on our way home.

For the Love of the Game

Emma teaching Mary how to move chess pieces. Because we couldn't do
one more game today...

Favorite Presents

Both of the girls got modest piles of presents this year. Santa brought Mary a rocking chair, a new blankie, and her very own nutcracker. Emma received a sleeping beauty doll, a sleeping beauty horse that walks by itself, and a Barbie B smart computer. Mary is spending a lot of time reading books on her rocking chair with "New Ann" (her blankies are always named Ann). Emma is obsessed with a chess game we got her. OBSESSED. We have been playing it every minute of the day since yesterday morning. I am quite tired of the whole thing, as I have played no less than 10 games of chess since yesterday at 2 when we opened up the No Stress Chess game. And, incidentally, she read her first unassisted, unknown word when I put the board down. She said, "Rook! Mama, this says Rook." I asked her how she new that and she explained the whole process of knowing the word BOOK and replacing the "R" with the "B" and THERE YOU HAVE IT. Then she wanted to know what it meant and why it was printed on the board. We've been doing chess playing marathons ever since.

Resistance is Futile - You Will be Assimilated

This commercial is the undoing of all attempts at avoiding media control:


The girls hug the TV when this horrible thing comes on. The worst part? It is advertising TRADING CARDS. You know the girls are expecting fully animated horses that will befriend them and love them.

The robots are coming! The robots are coming!!!!! Save yourselves!!!!

Family Drive

Annual Lightfest

Lights for Dad and Mom

Lighted lighthouse!

Lights!

Creative Mary Toy

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's SUPER BOTTLE! That's from the doll
house and is wearing a tag from gloves. How can Christmas compare??

Another Santa visit

"A rocking chair to sit in by my window and my very own nutcracker".

Stolen Moment

Christmas House Tours

More photos at Kodak Gallery. We had a Christmas in the Village event where people got to see the decorations at 8 houses and we were one of them. It took us 4 full weeks of decorating, borrowing decorations from my Mom and Dad, borrowing expertise and help form my Mother-In-Law, and countless purchases at Michael's. I'm glad it's over!!!!

Holiday Egg Nog

Three chefs celebrate their posset.

Christmas house tour

String quartet on the balcony!

Santa steps

Almost done decorating!