Christmas Eve & Morning

This year we were invited to a few holiday bashes and while we couldn't make them all the ones we did attend were very kid friendly, as most of our events these days are. I love watching my kids interact with one another. Ava is very sweet towards her brother, she's always looking out for him making sure he's ok, Aiden on the other hand, not so much.  Careful:  tons 'o pics!

Just the girls catchin up

Aiden entertains everyone with his jumping skills

Here is our attempt at a family photo

First attempt

 

Over here Ava!!

Jordan wants to be with his buddy

Not quite...it never happened

These parents aught to be ashamed of themselves, letting their children play with knives



Christmas Morning!!

Someone was happy to get her first Barbie

It was a very Hello Kitty Christmas

Candelight Service

Our church had a candelight service in a loft space in Chelsea.  It was pretty swank and great for all the kids to run around since it was a family-friendly service.  There was this white curved wall that the kids would try to run up and then fall, monkey see, monkey do.  We sang Christmas carols and all the kids did really well and a few went up on stage at the end with the worhip team.  Wish I had gotten a picture of that.  The reason you don't see Aiden in any of these pictures is becasue he wasn't there, he was with Lela...we know better.

All the kids were lined up laying down on the wall, it was darling but I couldn't get my camera out quick enough and this is the shot I got.

Fourteen stories abouve Manhattan, over looking the FDR and Hudson River, it was a beautiful evening.  We found a patio that Josh thought was super cool.

Ava's Christmas Concerts

Christmas is truly for children. Everything is centered around them this time of year. Ava was in 2 concerts this year one at her school the other at church. Needless to say I just missed her school performance of 'Mi Burrito Sananero' because of the stupid E-train. When she saw me arrive at her school in the middle of the day he was so excited she started to cry, it was the sweetest thing EVER. I even got teary eyed.  Here's a few photos from her party.


 

 

At church the kids sang Christmas carols, it was very cute.  You never know what will happen when you get a bunch of kids together to sing on stage. 



Christmas Chaos

While I would love to say we decorated our tree, sipped cocoa and caroled the night away that was soooo not the case in our household.  Let's be honest, someone played with the lights, broke ornaments and wanted nothing to do with Christmas music, so we opted for the Bubble Guppies and kept everyone happy.  BUT, our tree is decorated and ready for presents to be wrapped and left beneath.  Boy, Christmas is not always how you plan it when you have kids. 

Practicing Christmas carols on her guitar.

 

Avita before school one morning.  She is my sweetie pie!!

Our furry child

We love our dog, Bailey.  Although, I threaten (almost daily) to give him away, I never would.  He has brought such joy (and misery) to our lives and we have a responsibility to him.  I love that my kids get to grow up with such a great dog, Joey and I both grew up with dogs.  Bailey is very gentle with our kids and they love him tremendously.  Aiden on the other hand is not so gentle.  Bailey is behind the gate purely for his protection.  Our youngest loves to shower him with milk and throw things at him.  That kid has an arm, perhaps a pitcher for the Yanks??

One day my sister was visiting us and she offered to walk him and as soon as she went for the door with Bailey Ava cried, "you can't take my Bailey!!"  From that moment forward any dream I had of getting rid of him was crushed.  True story.