See You Later, Alligator

We made Graham a travel coffee mug with this picture on it for Christmas.  The girls' favorite saying when someone's leaving the house.  

Christmas Fun

Had to be one of our best...time with family, good food, fun presents...

Girls, their stockings, and a not quite awake Mommy.

This has to go down as my favorite present for the year.  Addy made Cora a joke book.  If you know Cora, you know she loves the laugh.  And she has the cutest (and most silly) way of telling knock-knock jokes.

Cora:  Knock knock who's there Addy. (said all as one sentence, which at the end she then waits for your response)
Mom:  Addy who?
Cora:  Over there (as she points to Addy sitting across the table).
Then repeat, going all around the table to anyone who might be sitting there.

I admit to finding the idea of a joke book on pinterest, but Addy loved it and took over the project.  We went through the Internet and she identified 10 jokes she liked.  She helped me type them up and then we printed them out.  Then she illustrated each one.  Someday I'll make a blog post of just the book because the illustrations are the best part.  Addy was so proud and excited for Cora to open this present.

Star, with what has now easily become her favorite toy.

And presents from Santa.  A guitar and drum set.  Rock on!

And, handmade by "Santa's elves," a rainbow train per Addy's letter to Santa.  Each car has a special inscription like "Woodbury R.R" or "Net weight 12-25-2012" or "Cora Caboose Company."

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Pageant, Take 2013

One of our favorite holiday moments has to be the Christmas Pageant at our church.  There's no better way to connect with the spiritual part of this time of year than by being part of the retelling of the story itself.

This year, it was truly a family affair:  Graham, again, as Director; Addy, again, as an angel; Me, again, as angel and kings "coach"; and Cora, making her debut, as a cow.  Our precious wandering cow.

Some of my thoughts when watching this video:

• Graham makes the perfect director - the right mix of line coach and disciplinarian
• Cora must have been teething
• Addy and her friends make a darn cute angel chorus
• And why oh why do we give the shepherds staffs?

Our Christmas beauties, cheesy smiles included.

O Christmas Tree

Having fun at the tree farm

Found it!

Home and decorated.

With extra branches formed into our advent wreath.

"Dance Like You Think No One's Looking"

Graham said that to me as I'm wiping the tears off my face while watching Cora dance.

I love her.  Cora brings a smile to my face everyday.  And usually has me cracking up laughing at least once a day, too.  These dancing videos are just a snapshot into the love of music, expression and love of life that is Cora.

In our playroom, we have a radio/CD player that is there for the girls.  Cora loves to turn it on and crank up the volume, often to static, but just as often to her Kindermusik CD's.  These times, she managed to find what we're quite sure are the worst radio stations broadcast.

And with that, I introduce Cora.  The dancing queen.  Enjoy.

Part I: The Warm-up

Part II:  Jumping to the Beat

Part III:  The Interpretative Dance Encore

Addy's 5!!!

And what better way to celebrate than a Beach Party at Ben & Jerry's!  (In December, in Cleveland!)

With some of your closest friends.

They made ice cream from scratch.  Cookies and cream.

They played games.  Duck, Duck Goose and 

Freeze Dance

They even tie-dyed t-shirts!

And of course, a piñata.  A beach ball :)

Addy picked a tie-dyed design for her cake.  And her two ice cream choices - phish food and phish food.

Make a wish.

Cora approved of the cake.

Making her ice cream cone to add to the birthday wall on her way out.

Her 5-year-old autograph...keeping it real with the mix of upper and lower case letters.