New Years Eve

For New Years Eve we had the Antonuccio's and the Paquette's over to help us celebrate. Taylor next door and her friend Teresa came over to watch the kids for a while and they had lots of fun playing in the playroom with the girls.

There was lots of food, fun and we did a countdown around 8:30 so that the kids could celebrate before Jake went to bed. They had fun drinking their sparkling beverages out of their fancy glasses.

Happy New Year! Hopefully 2011 brings us all lots of good health and happiness!

Brayden's 1st Birthday Party

Today the family went up to Connecticut for cousin Brayden's 1st birthday party. The kid's had a lot of fun with their cousins. There were games, food, yummy ice cream cake and cupcakes.

But that is not all... there was also sledding and playing in their front yard. It was perfect for sledding, although Taryn wasn't really up for it. Instead she had snow ball fights and played in the snow with Grace.

Once they finally got Jake in all his snow attire he went down the hill with Daddy, but after a few trips down decided just to watch instead.

The Blizzard of 2010 :)

Well we had to leave Grandma and Grandpa's a day early, but it was certainly for good reason. Sunday night we got snowed in! Daddy didn't even have work Monday. We got a lot of snow but the wind was so strong the snow drifts make it hard to see exactly how much. But you can see from the view on our back deck there was a lot. Good thing Daddy got a snow blower for Christmas!!!

Once Daddy was done with the driveway it was time for Taryn to help him shovel the deck so I can go out when I need to and so that Taryn and Jake can play outside. Unfortunately, Jake was very tired still from the Christmas excitement and was napping every time we had the opportunity to go out. Taryn still had a blast! Especially when she realized she could throw snowballs at Daddy!

Christmas Day at Grandma and Grandpa's

We got to Grandma and Grandpa's at about 11:00 Christmas morning.

Jake loved his new Buzz Lightyear chair and all his other gifts...but didn't show it as much as he might have because he never lets Uncle Danny put him down if he is near. Jake is quite obsessed with Uncle Danny and wants nothing really to do with anyone else if he is around.

Taryn had a great time opening her gifts and playing with McKenzie. And both kids liked their new bikes from Grandma and Grandpa and enjoyed riding them in the garage.It was a great Christmas for everyone! Especially since Uncle TJ had made his special guest appearance. At 2:00 the rest of the family came over and we had a great night (Mommy went to bed way to late finally falling asleep after 2:00 because of the poker game that went on way too long!) Unfortunately, we had to leave as soon as we woke up the next day because of the blizzard that was headed our way!

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning Mommy and Daddy were up bright and early to shower and get ready (well shower then get back in their PJ's) so that they would be all ready to go to Massachusetts after the gift opening with us in the morning. Since it had been a late night at Aunt Ginny's Mommy and Daddy let the kids sleep until 7:15 then got them up to see what Santa had brought. There was so much for everyone! Some scattered in various places around the house. As we brought Taryn down the stairs she said, "Did the reindeer eat the carrots we left them?" It was so cute.

Jake really liked his sled as you can see and sat in it the rest of the time opening presents from there. Taryn was super cute opening all the presents very slowly and thanking Mommy and Daddy so much for each gift saying it was just what she wanted. Mommy loved the Charms that Taryn and Jake picked out for her bracelet (All by themselves a crayon box and a lady bug) and her new ring from Daddy. Daddy especially loved his new snow blower!

A video of some sled action.

The final part of the gift was the playroom in the basement which the kids had not known about. They were very excited. Here are some videos of the kids finding out about it.

Very shortly after the kids discovered their new playroom Uncle TJ got to the house and we headed off on our trip to grandma and grandpa's house.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve afternoon Mommy finished getting all the food and desserts ready just in time for Uncle TJ to come by and give the kids their presents. He actually made one gift (Jake's Dinosaur) a Hanukkah gift because a few days earlier in the car Taryn had said to Mommy and Daddy, "When do I get my Hanukkah present... Cosmo at school got a dinosaur for Hanukkah." It took Mommy a lot of explaining and I still don't think Taryn gets it, but I guess that is what happens when you go to school at First Hebrew Nursery School :)

After presents with Uncle TJ, Mommy tried a dress on Taryn that she never got to wear last year to see if it would fit this year. It did not, but Taryn refused to take it off saying she was Cinderella and going around like the princesses did at the princess breakfast in Disneyland asking if we wanted our picture taken with her and an autograph.

Then Mama, Papa, Aunt Angela and Uncle Jim came over to exchange gifts. The kids LOVED everything especially the American Girl Doll and Workbench.

Then they headed over to Aunt Ginny's for Christmas Eve with the Bruno's. It was so much fun, there was so much food and Laura even brought a gingerbread house to make with the kids!