Christmas!!!

Sorry, mom. I almost called this Christmas/Chanukah, but truth told, in our multi-cultural household, there was much more excitement over Christmas. We did however have a blue and white Christmas tree, and blue and white wrapping paper. It was so much fun seeing Mabel's first Christmas where she had some idea of what was going on. We kept talking about Santa and opening presents and she was really very into it. The best part was being able to say "Do you want to get presents? Then you better be nice." It worked like a charm.

Christmas at our house

Christmas bounty

Egg nog!!!



And Christmas and Grandmommy and Grandad's

Christmas photo shoot

And this one is not from Christmas, but I just had to capture on video, Mabel's funny little habit of yelling "popcorn" into the fan.

Guess who got a hold of the camera while Mommy was at work

I also have a mildly amusing 40 second video if anyone is interested...

And then Frances had to have a turn. Here she is taking pictures under the dining room curtain where she loves to play.

Mabel waking up with bedhead

Frances's smiley face dessert. Double smiley face.

Mabel being a ham, then getting camera shy

Good Times!

It's been a hectic few weeks for Mabel between Halloween, birthday parties, and a dine out for her school complete with the fire company. I don't think Mabel is complaining.

Dinner Out with the fire company, Mabel was little freaked out by the truck though.

Then there was her first trip to Chuck E. Cheese. Help us!

And if that wasn't enough, there were the double lollypops on the way home.

And then Fiona's birthday party which was a blast for the girls (and mommy and daddy too!)

Complete with bouncy house.

Cake

And goody bags!

Halloween

We started with a fun day at school and parade. Mabel was a computer (or cell phone or calculator) in her hand-made by Frances costume.

Tricycle Break

And later that night trick or treating of course!

Mabel was a timid trick-or-treater, but she still managed to score.

Songs

Going back to work = less action on the blog. Sorry.

Mabel's new thing is singing... all the time. Warning: Some are pretty long and potentially boring to the average viewer - only diehard Mabel fans need proceed.











And here's my little gourmet - her favorites lately are babaganoush and tzaziki. Call me crazy, but I think listening to a 2 year old talk about babaganoush and tzazkiki is pretty darn cute.

Our Trip to NY

Mabel's second trip to New York to see our friends and family, and what a difference from our first. This time, it was just Mommy and Mabel, and she totally took everything in. She really got to know everyone and can't stop talking about Lindsey, Nick, baby Heloise, Momo Kitty, Auntie Jill and Grandpa Ed. Sorry there's so many pictures, but it was such a full trip.

She was very excited about the airplane, and wound up sitting in the lap of the kind lady who had the window seat next to us. For some reason she kept talking about boats.



We stayed with Lindsey, Nick, baby Heloise and Momo kitty. Thanks for putting us up guys! These 2 couldn't have been cuter.









It was really very kind for you to put up with us



Dinner with Grandpa Ed - we went to a niceish French restaurant, but Mabel was quite well behaved (unlike the unruly table next to us)




except maybe for the blowing bubbles



We went to this awesome kid's museum with Auntie Jill

Cork box - brilliant idea!




Crazy water structure


And music





And if that wasn't enough fun, we got ice cream from the ice cream truck afterwards (because that's what you do when you're in New York!)


Mabel had so much fun out and about on the town:

window shopping in Soho



making faces in the mirror at Uniclo


more shopping - Harmony gift shop - Frances favorite, and apparently now Mabel's favorite too!

and of course eating:

lunch in Chinatown

Lunch at B&H - one of Mommy's oldtime favorites.

And a family get together at Aunt Joannie and Uncle Steve's. Sorry the pictures are so blurry.



We had to buy a new ugly pink stroller because I left mine in the trunk of my car. At first Mabel really seemed to love it, but by the end, she had had enough and decided she should push it instead. I had to appease her, because it was so stinking cute.


Thank you New York for such a terrific trip! We love you!