Merry Christmas!

We had a nice, long Christmas weekend together, complete with snow on Christmas day - very nice! We got a little crafty too since we were "snowbound" for a couple days.
Feathers are fun.
Finally got a shot of Helen's new bedspread and sheets that Grandma made and sent a few weeks ago - totally adorable!
H applying the sequin appliques to G&G's gift box they sent for x-mas.
She was quite pleased with the packet of gummi bears inside.
Showing off her new Abby slippers that Santa brought.
Opening up her cool octopus present that goes along with her yellow submarine on Christmas morning. We were a little disappointed that all the people in both presents are brawny dudes that look like they work out 3 hours a day at the gym and drink raw eggs in the morning. D looked it up on the net and apparently there are other people out there that are miffed there are no females in this fisher price series. My few feminist embers from college are getting fanned lately with these kids toys, I swear! She seems to take it all in stride though and likes to take her "guys" in her coat pocket when we go out to keep them warm.

Peas in a Pod, Take 2

Aunt Naomi and cousin Sebastian came for a Christmas visit this weekend and we had sooooooo much fun hanging out with them. Helen just adored Aunt N'omi and cousin S'bastian - she had a delayed reaction to them leaving - she cried and cried and cried as soon as we got home from the airport. She was really bummed they would not be around for another round of night-time baths and singing on the bed.Sebastian is so cute and happy.
H and S with the keyboard under the christmas tree. The two cousins got along as best pals the entire weekend!
They always kept an eye out for each other.
And played together so cutely.
Did I mention cute?
Nighttime was tough - Helen couldn't bear to be away from Sebastian, so we all stayed up late.
We went to our favorite "rope park", but it was really chilly.
We still had fun though!!
Merry Christmas - XOXO to everyone!

Christmas Cookie Palooza, 2010

Aunt Judy and Aunt Jane came for a christmas-themed visit this weekend to bake cookies, listen to Christmas music and watch Christmas shows. Aunt Jane's visit was a TOTAL surprise to me - I did not catch on in the least that she was coming too. Helen had great fun with her aunties!
Here we are frosting and sprinkling the famous Grandma Coleman buttermilk sugar cookies that melt in your mouth. Judy knows the recipe by heart and whipped a quadruple batch, I swear, because we have cookies coming out of our ears!
Here we are making the frosting. Helen helped me pour the 1/2 and 1/2 (so much better than milk!!).
Frost frost
Sprinkle sprinkle
Shake, shake off tons of extra sprinkles
Here is Helen's first official frosted and sprinkled Christmas cookie, all on her own. She was very serious while she did both. Very.
After some encouragement, Helen decided to try the frosting and kinda liked it.
Mmm mmm. (Don't worry dad, she's not a licker yet - this licking occurred post cookie decorating!)
We also made chocolate covered pretzels. We all felt really sick after that task.
Snuggling.
Here is H today, after everybody went home. She found my old glasses and wore them around for a bit.
Here she is a couple weeks ago, in the same outfit, hamming it up.

Thanks to Judy and Jane for making the trip and enduring your awful ways homes today (Jane delayed 3 hours and Judy probably 2 thanks to some snow showers, wind and freeeezing temps here today), then Judy home through a snow storm once she landed... uggg! And thanks to Jane for some pics off her facebook! ;-)

Oh binkie tree