Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

This winter has not been off to a good start in terms of the weather.  Last winter, we got more snow than our family up in CT and the trend is continuing this year.  I can't figure out what has happened to our mild winters in VA!  This is the second time in a week we have had snow on the ground.  This time around, we only got a couple of inches but it stuck immediately and school has been out for two days which is so silly if you think about it. 

We are very busy getting ready for Christmas with my family this weekend and our trip to CT, but I took the girls out for a short bit this morning to play in the snow.  Madelyn and Ellie loved riding on the sled together and playing with our beach toys in the snow.  Madelyn was making a cake for everyone and we had to sing happy birthday after the completion of every cake.  She had a blast!

This snow was perfect for our little sled because it was only a couple of inches.  I pulled them around the neighborhood a couple of times and they loved it!

Sweet Ellie is 9 months today!

Cute little lips!

For our family in CT, this is our street after only 2 inches yesterday!

Madelyn making a cake!

Madelyn refuses to wear gloves for very long.  However, it really wasn't very cold this morning! 

Ellie hanging out in the sled watching Madelyn play!

Madelyn also loved pulling Ellie in the sled!

Ellie wasn't a big fan of the sled at first.  It's probably the huge snowsuit she hates, but it's the only thing I have that covers her hands and feet!



Ho Ho Ho!

We make it a tradition every year to go visit Santa with Nana, Meme,  Aunt Amy and Cora.  Other than the year when Madelyn was 3 weeks old, we haven't had any success with Santa.  I was sure that this Santa visit was going to be another picture with me holding a screaming child (I even wore a red sweater just in case I was in the picture).  To my surprise, Madelyn walked right up to Santa a little hesitant at first but stood right in front of him and even held his hand at one point.  Ellie was just confused at why this man in red with a white beard was holding her and kept looking at Cora screaming on the sidelines.  Needless to say, this Santa visit was a success for us!

All ready to go visit Santa!

We usually like to see the Legendary Santa at the Children's Museum but with us waiting until the week before Christmas this year, we thought it would have been a disaster standing in line all morning with three little ones.  Instead, we went to Regency and the kids loved the Polar Express theme with the snow!

Madelyn and Cora could have stood in the snow globe all morning with the snow falling!  Little did they know, they would see real snow the next day!

Our successful Santa photo!

Ellie loves to Clap!

Ellie's newest accomplishment is clapping.  She claps at everything these days and is so proud of herself.  Here's a little video of Ellie sitting in our family room before dinner.  You can hear Fenway's highly annoying barking in the background!

The Velveteen Rabbit

On Saturday morning, Nana and I took Madelyn to see The Velveteen Rabbit.  It was a wonderful little play (nice and short - only 50 minutes), and it was the perfect thing to do with Madelyn during the holiday season.  Our seats were on the first row which was fun. We also bought a little package where you get a rabbit, drink and cupcake to eat after the show.  Madelyn loves her little rabbit and they gave it to her early so she could hold it during the show.  The cupcake at the end of the play was also a huge hit.  However, Snowbear was walking around and Madelyn was not a big fan of him.  We had such a nice morning!

Excited to get her little rabbit before the play!



Madelyn waiting for the play to begin!



After the play, the actors walk around and sign autographs which is fun for the little ones. The main character of The Velveteen Rabbit (the little boy) walked up to our table and we snapped a picture!

Gingerbread Decorating

This morning, Madelyn and I decided to be festive, turned on the Christmas music and decorated gingerbread men.  I had been eyeing the gingerbread houses but figured the men would be a little easier for a 3-year old.  This activity entertained Madelyn for an hour and a half.  She mostly decorated the icing with candy and I let her use a small butter knife to spread icing on the men.  She had an awesome time and now wants to do a gingerbread house.  We'll have to put that on the list of activities for next Christmas!  However, during this process, I realized that I'm very messy and impatient with icing and am terrible at decorating gingerbread men.  I just had to show a picture of the finished product because our men were a little scary (Madelyn called two of them witches) but Madelyn absolutely loves them and had a ton of fun!

Christmas Parade and Cora's 2nd Birthday!

We had a very busy weekend of kid's birthday parties (3 to be exact).  Long gone are the days when Bill and I would have 1 - 2 holiday parties a night every weekend in December.  On Saturday, we celebrated Cora's 2nd birthday at the Richmond Christmas Parade in the morning and a party at Nana and Pop's house that evening.  It was a very cold morning for us Southerners so we bundled up and headed downtown for the parade.  On Friday night, I started worrying that Ellie was going to freeze so I ran over to Macy's and picked up a one piece snowsuit type thing.  It was a little ridiculous once I put it on her and she got lots of comments and laughs at the parade.  She looked like the younger brother in the movie "A Christmas Story" when his Mom bundled him up so much he couldn't move.  Ellie had no problem at all staying warm at the parade!  Madelyn and Cora did a lot of dancing and clapping at the parade.  They got most excited about all the marching bands.

One of the most memorable parts of the parade was when Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer came down the street and got stuck on a stoplight.  Poor Rudolph died right in front of us!  Poor kids, but it was pretty funny watching the head deflate.

Here are some pictures from our weekend:

Ellie and I waiting for the parade to start. 

Cora and Madelyn eating donuts and watching the parade!



Poor little Ellie.  She looked like a stuffed animal!



Poor Rudolph!

The cousins watching the parade

Madelyn kept putting her arms around Cora while they were watching the parade.  They take care of each other which is so cute!

All smiles!

Madelyn and Cora decided to lay on the ground under a blanket.  It kept them entertained for a little while!

Nana and Ellie staying warm!

UR had a great float!

Cora and Madelyn testing out Cora's new table from Nana and Pop!

Cora loves Mickey and Minnie

Ellie thought she was such a big girl sitting with her cousins.   It's amazing that they are all about a year apart in age!

Ellie loved her Mickey ears!

Sweet Ellie

Cora's new Redheaded Cabbage Patch Kid from us!

Opening her new Cabbage Patch

Happy 2nd Birthday Cora!

Ellie and Lindsey!

Madelyn had a blast at all of Cora's birthday festivities.  She has become a birthday party pro after this weekend!

First Trip to the Dentist

Since Madelyn is now a big 3-year old now, she made her first trip to the dentist.  Madelyn was a little hesitant when we walked in the room but as soon as they mentioned balloons, stickers and a Dora toothbrush, she jumped right into the chair.  She was also a very happy girl when they handed her a pair of sunglasses to wear in order to shield the big light.  We know how much Madelyn LOVES sunglasses! Madelyn's teeth looked awesome and we were told to keep doing whatever we are doing.  However, braces may be in our future!   Here are some pictures of Madelyn's first trip to the dentist:

The dental hygienist showing Madelyn the vibration of the toothbrush on her hand!



Cleaning those pearly whites!



Such a big girl!



Madelyn very proud of herself and waiting for her new Dora toothbrush to arrive!