Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve came too soon.  We were lucky to have Nana, Papa and Todd come up to spend the night and Christmas morning with us.  After going to a 5:00 church service and touring Richmond's Tacky Lights, we headed back home for a relaxing evening waiting for the big guy to show up.

Snacking on some appetizers

Doing some final prep for Santa's cookies

Hope he likes sprinkles!

Tasting a checkerboard cookies

Yum!

Getting to open a Christmas Eve present

Lightning McQueen slipper!

He kind of loves them

My guys

Attempting a family picture

The Lanes

Reading the Night Before Christmas

Prepping Santa's plate

Looking yummy

James spent an hour after bedtime on this

All set

Christmas Preparation 2012

We had a fun time preparing for Christmas this year!  With mom on evening/weekend bedrest and dad starting his new job in Goochland, Grandma and Grandpa came up to help out.  It was great fun having them join us for the holiday season (though they headed home just before Christmas).  Charlie was also soooo into Christmas this year.  3-year-old Christmas is the best (until 4 I'm sure)!  He takes interest in every little activity and was so curious about it all.  By the end of the month he knew every word to The Night Before Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolf, The Charlie Brown Song (Hark the Herald Angels Sing), Santa Claus is Coming to Town and of course Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel (thanks JCC).  We had an awesome month.  Below are some pictures....

Pulling out the Christmas tree as soon as we got back from Thanksgiving:

Helping me spread out the branches

Richmond Christmas Parade:

Playing the trumpet

Visiting Santa at the Mall:

Posing afterwards in the car with the crown Santa gave him

Checking out the new train to go around the Christmas tree:

Mom's art project... an advent calendar of envelops for each day:

Charlie's letter to Santa:

As he dictated it... it was his activity on day 15

Making fudge with Grandpa:

Decorating a gingerbread house:

A rare appearance by mom

Christmas Card Outakes

Our annual Christmas card shoot is always something we look forward to.  After getting the boot from the card last year because of her apathetic facial expressions, Marley made it back in this year and was more beautiful than ever :)  Can't wait for next year when we have another "prop" to work with!

A little sugar for sis

The shot we used

Someone is having fun!

Moving to the Gooch!

With James new job comes the opportunity we've been waiting for to move out of the city into a house with an actual yard and garage and a bedroom for the new baby.  After looking at every house possible in Goochland we found a great one and finally agreed with the sellers on a price today!  Closing day is 1/30.  We have a little work to do before them but are super-excited!

Thanksgiving in Atlanta

We spent a fun few days in Atlanta for Thanksgiving this year with Grandma and Grandpa, The Tweedys and Gigi.  Below are a few pictures from the week!

Making a turkey on the window with Grandma

We pulled out some old dollies in the basement and found "Mikey" for Charlie to play with

Two turkeys = Marley Heaven

The whole crew

The spread

My guys

Grandpa and the little boys

On the way home we stopped in Charlotte to visit the Brays and their new baby girl.  Of course, I didn't get any pictures of them but got about 20 of Marley and her brother Beans.  They are pur-ty though :)