New Year, same cast of clowns...

Christmas was a success.  A first for Theo and Cullen.  Both seemed to enjoy having everyone home.  Cullen totally comprehended unwrapping and receiving gifts!  He enthusiastically played with his new toys.  The kids were happiest with the gifts they got each other.  Ethan got Fiona a huge wall sticker of two lovebirds on a perch.  Fiona got him a "Perplexus" (which keeps us all busy).  After presents and plenty of relaxation we piled in the car (dog, bird and all) to head south to my parents. They were kind enough to host us for the night.  Figured it was easier to get there in the evening, rather than rush the next morning.  As always Mom and Dad put out an amazing spread, and it was great catching up with family and friends about the last years adventures.
     In keeping with tradition, the kids spent a few nights later that week at their Gammy and Gampy's, ringing in the New Year with their cousin Ellie.  The best part is that Meagan and I get a few nights to be alone with our husbands.  So relaxing... Plus I love knowing how much outdoor fun the kids are having with my parents.  On our way home from dropping the kids off in MA, Scott and I decided to climb Mount Agamenticus (near Kittery in southern ME).  It was Cullen's first hike and he did a splendid job! 
     Things we are looking forward to in the next few months...
-Auntie's birthday
-Ethan's birthday
-snow tubing
-having Ellie with us for February vacation
-visiting with friends and family

Awwww...What a sweet Dad.

Hmm... or slightly creepy...

We had some tiringly good fun at open skate.

Yup.  That's my Dad at the top of the play structure on a recent visit to Maine.

Snow steps!

Ethan's swell new pj's!  He's a real astro-snot!

Cullen thought that was a riot!

Gift exchange with friends.  They all got each other the sweetest and most thoughtful gifts.

Fun with fire and grandparents!

Spoiled.  Rotten.

On the mountain top with my boys.

Perfect way to start the year.

Cullen was aggressively loving on the car ride to my parents.

His breath in my face THE WHOLE WAY.

We had a lovely visit with Scott's Aunt, Uncle and cousins.  This is Eve.  

She's a show stopper.

My sister gave us the gift of owl pellets.  AWESOME!!!

Best science lesson in a while.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like.....you know.

So, like we expected, snow came early to Maine, and a good dose too!  Not to worry!  I was actually prepared this year.  Snow-pants, sleds and boots were at the ready!  Kids have been sledding a few times now, and we have two super hills to chose from.  One we had seen this summer and were waiting for this opportunity.  The other was suggested to us by our new friends Scott (not my Scott), Yevah and Zabel.  What a hill!  Feels like you could shoot right into the ocean!  It took real courage to aim the sled downward and let go.
This month is running on high speed...as usual.  The Merrimac Christmas Parade was canceled this year due to rain, but we still had a fantastic visit with Gammy and Gampy.  Kids helped decorate their house and tree for the holidays.  We are looking forward to an overnight visit from my parents this Friday.  They are headed north to see the kids art work in a show that Friday evening.  We are all excited.  My guess is that the next time I add to this Santa will have come, and all the hustle and bustle will have simmered down a bit.

I had to leave the room...too messy to watch.

Great blue-grass band Scott and I went to the other night.  We are loving the availability of awesome shows here.

This years first snow was a beauty.

Fiona's cookies.  Always made with love.

First hill.  It's O.K.

Second hill.  YIKES!

All four kids trying to stick together.

Kids decorated their own cupcakes for a Harry Potter themed movie night.

On our way home from vet.  Cullen was a nightmare patient!

Big kids, big help.

"We got this Gammy!"

What happens when I tell them to "Strike a pose".

What happens when I say,"Make a face!"

Family train.

Cullen Camaro Jason

Oh how wonderful it is to have a dog in the house again.  He gets so excited when we come through the door...even if we are gone only an hour!  Each morning that we let Cullen out of his crate he bounds around in circles nibbling us and whining, tail whipping everyone to pieces!  Cullen even enjoyed his first car ride to Gammy and Gampy's.  He said he could get used to a fire place and huge yard!  I find it hard to believe that we haven't had him longer than a month.  Such great little adventures we have had this past October.  Fiona made Ethan's Halloween costume as well as her own this year.  I was so proud of her!  I think she enjoyed gathering compliments more than candy for trick or treat!  We enjoyed a family hike along the ocean last weekend.  It was Cullen's first long walk.  He did well, with a nap at the half-way point.  Yesterday we packed into the car and landed at my parents to celebrate three birthdays in one swoop!  Gampy's (10/16) Gammy's (11/8) and Ellie's (11/17).  Sandra joined us and it was a perfect family gathering.  Cake, rice crispy treats...and Uncle Jason's "magic burgers".  I am pretty sure November will move along at lightning speed.  I can only try to keep up!

The kids love this little island.

Can you find Fiona?  Hint: top right

Most of these leaves are long gone now.

But it is always fun while it lasted.

Nice local hike with my parents a few weeks ago.

Our first big walk with the dog.  

Check out that big shadow.

My beautiful butterfly!

The Powerful Zeus!

Kids are getting ripped!

The playground down the street just added this new structure!

Fiona ordered a metal detector with her Amazon cards.  So far she's found 51 cents!

Gammy, Fiona and Cullen investigating a newly dug hole in Gammy and Gampy's yard.

I used to swaddle the kids and swing them in this tire...

Birthday tri-fecta.