Happy New Year!

This year, for the first time, Al had to work a full day on the 31st. So, although I was quite exhausted with this massive cold, I decided to head out with the kids anyway. After a week home of vacation my choices were either stay home and referee all day, or head out and enjoy the company of our friends. (Read, have help refereeing). So, we opted to hang out with our lovely friends the Stevens family. Aisling and Braeden have been friends since pre-school. They get along so well and are so fond of each other. Braeden's little sister is close in age to Siobhan, so it's nice that they can all play together!

We started the day by going to First Night. We watched an amazing group of young thespians do a version of Romeo and Juliet, Dr. Seuss style! The kids were just fantastic! Aftetr that we watched a group of 25 dancers from the McFadden Academy of Irish dance do their thing. These were all the older dancers of novice through champion. Aisling isn't there yet, but I am sure that someday she and Siobhan will be up there dancing! I never tire of watching the McFadden dancers. They are just amazing and I am so proud to be a part of it.

After all that danceing we made a stop at a drop in craft event where a few of the kids got their faces painted and did a little crafting. After that we wnet to a bowling party at the local bowling alley. We did this lasdt year as well, and it was even mroe enjoyable with the company of ouir friends this year!

The amazing cast of the Very Merry Theater:

The amazing Miss Beth-Ann McFadden! 

 And her oh so talented dancers

 Connor making a magic wand

 Waiting to get faces painted

 Before:

 During:

 

 

 After:

 

 

 Al strikes a pose while bowling

 An actual smile from my handsome boy!

 Railyn trying to blow her bowling ball faster and faster down the lane...

  Maybe if I lean it will go where I want it to....

 

Al and his perfect form.....:

Siobhan setting her ramp up all by herself. 

Cute blue puppy!

 

Limbo contest

Tired, tired, tired girl. 

 

The buds! 

All in all it was a fantastic day. I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year!

Feeling the love!

We had an amazing weekend this past weekend. We were able to head back to Massachusetts for the weekend for the O'Connor annual Christmas party. That was on Saturday. On Friday we were able to (finally!) reconnect with close friends of ours from our graduate school days. We had not seen Shel and Dave since, as they remembered, Connor was running around in a diaper while we were camping a few summers ago! (just a few...!) Reconnecting with them was wonderful, and felt like we were picking up right where we left off! I am thrilled to know our children have finally met, and cannot wait to get together again! (Perhaps in Vermont this time?!)

While I have not had time to take pictures off of my camera (these classes are getting so hard!) Shel wrote a wonderful blog post and shared some great pictures. I will share it here.

http://ouronesweetfamily.blogspot.com/2011/12/like-peas-and-carrots.html

In addition, we had an amazing time with my family. Although my childhood was full of ups and downs, my children are certainly experiencing some wonderful family times, and for that I am very thankful!

Getting the Christmas Tree!

Each year we get our Christmas tree from White's Tree Farm. It's a family run business, and we've been going there for at least seven years! This year it was extremely warm, which felt unseasonable, but was nice for tree gathering! This year we also brought Wyatt with us for the first time ever. He seemed to have a good time, although he had to walk quite a bit!

The farm where we get the tree has a beautiful view of Mt. Mansfield.

We found the one we like!
It's shocking that Connor is sticking out his tongue...



Siobhan really has that pose down!




Connor helped cut it down; although it was pretty challenging.
Aisling tried to help:

Connor helped carry it to the car.

We brought the trailer this year; there was no snow so that was an easy choice!
Wyatt got in on the posing action:




Getting the right tree calls for cartwheels:


And somersaults:


Joyful running:


And celebratory dancing!