Christmas 2015

We had a lovely Christmas this year. Charlotte talked about her Christmas program for weeks and was so excited that Gibby and Miss Laura could come watch it with us!  Like always she sang with passion and gave it her all. It was a really cute program and it was fun to be able to see her at her class Christmas party.

This year the kids were a little more reluctant to talk to Santa, but we gave C a pep talk and she led O up holding hands. We enjoyed looking at the fish like we have in years past and got to see some up close.

Christmas cookies are a must and the kids and Jay had a blast decorating them. Ollie put edible google eyes on every single cookie he decorated. Jay and Charlotte were a little more deliberate about their cookie designs. We left some of these cookies out for Santa and he seemed to really enjoy them!

We had a great Christmas morning, we slept in until 7:30 and just had a very relaxing morning. I think we must have the slowest gift openers in America! The kids wanted to check out the cookies and milk from Santa, give the pets their presents and hand out the present C made us at school before they even thought about opening their own. Once they got started opening presents they were still pretty slow. Opening one at a time and playing with each toy as they went. We finally got to enjoy our North Pole Breakfast that Santa left us, Ollie must have had six doughnuts!

We are looking forward to 2016 and hoping it is as great a year as 2015 was!

A surprise party for mom

Months ago, dad approached us kids about putting together a surprise 60th Birthday Party for mom and of course we all said YES! It wasn't easy to keep our mouths shut and lie to several people, but with lots of help from family and friends we pulled of a successful surprise party with a Tea/Downton Abbey theme. Here are a few of the pictures from the party last weekend. We love you mom!

summers last weekend

We have been living it up this summer and as the summer comes to a close we decided to go out with a bang!  Our family had a very eventful weekend filled with Thomas the Train, a sweet birthday party and Coney Island with the family.  Here are some shots of the fun we had...

We got to go up and see Thomas in person,

get animal balloons made,

run through a corn maze (we did this about ten times),

and meet Sir Topham Hatt!!!!!

The train ride and tractor ride were both fun too!

Coney Island with the family and we rode all the rides!The giant ship,

and the little motor boats, 

the scrambler, 

we enjoyed some park benches,

while the brave ones faced the whirl a twirl,

the giant slide is a must,

and Melissa's personal favorite the bumper cars!

Of course, we could not forget the ferris wheel,

and some of the good classic little kid rides!

We had a great weekend, and I can honestly say I think we are all tired out and think going back to school is best for everyone!  Both Charlotte and Melissa start school on Wednesday and normalcy will return to the house once again!

one year of preschool in the books

Last Friday was Charlotte's last day of preschool. Here are a couple of pictures from August and some from last week. Can't believe how much she grew inside and out this year. August 2014...

May 2015

August 2014

May 2015

Singing her guts out with her class...

Receiving her certificate from Mrs. Ellis. They practiced this extensively. "I'll shake her hand like this then and then she'll hand me a paper."

Singing a few songs with the entire school...

Charlotte and Mrs. Ellis. Charlotte is going to miss her.

A close up of her cute little shirt and a lollipop to end the day! We are proud of you Charlotte Gray. Stop growing up so fast.