Winter (?) fun (!)

Tessa fed a Christmas tree to the goats at the zoo. Yes, this was permitted.

Just one of the gang

Tessa often requests that Eric be Sulley, who strangely sounds a lot like Cookie Monster.

Enjoying the snow while it lasted.

We visited Jessica, Aaron & Mima (we missed you, Kor!) and went to the Winter Carnival, where Tessa danced to the various musical floats and debated with another little girl about whether a dragon would be in the parade. Point, Tessa. Oh, and she's a member of the Vulcan Krewe, whatever that means.

Uncle Aaron!

Tessa patiently waited for 5 minutes while a mom tried to take a picture of her teenage daughter and a friend with her iPhone. I'm so glad I own a real camera.

I can't speak for Tessa, but my buns are still thawing. Sorry, tmi...

Meeting Brooks

We loved meeting Baby Morgan Brooks during New Year's weekend. (And I miss my girls!)

Gigantic

Tessa's recap from preschool: "We were spider girls, and we captured giants...not the football team, REAL giants. Big ones!" (Guess what we watched during the weekend...)

And a happy new year

Tessa & Thomas dancing with Grandpa

They made foam gingerbread houses.

Tessa was happy to receive this guitar from Grandpa & Grandma.

Grandpa Bill's chocolate-covered cherries are kid magnets.

Sooooo many people and toys to play with!

Fun with bubble wrap!

Bell hat!

Cool kids — they had their first cousin slumber party when Tessa joined John, Matt & Natalie at the hotel (without Mommy & Daddy)!

When three small children have noise makers...watch out! (Thanks, Nat!) :)

Hands down, John wins best cookie. I feel my teeth rotting just looking at it.

Sugar+kids=happiness (and hyperactivity)

The cookie crew with Grandma

All the best in 2012!

We wish you a merry Christmas

We're happy Tessa knows what Christmas is truly about. Every chance she got, she sang "Glory to God in the Highest" to Baby Jesus.

It's also a joy to watch a child's excitement on Christmas morn...Tessa has so many questions when watching "Beauty and the Beast."

Thankful hug

Buzz Lightyear from Mima & Kor!

Lip gloss!

Beanie Babies from Great-grandma Bevie!

Disney princesses! (Their little pointy shoes are killer to step on!)

Kory & Tessa post dance-off. Yes, we had a dance off. I won.

Tessa considers herself part owner of Kory's cat, Karen — er, I mean Silas.

Tessa loves Greta.

Mima & Tessa whipped up a chocolate (flour-less) cake with ganache and amaretto topping, complete with strawberries...from scratch. Say what?!? Julia Child would be proud.

Kory estimated it to have only 8,000 calories. But Mima actually did the math and came up with 300. Eric: "Who cares?!? It's delicious!"

Tessa gets her first haircut from Mima

Tessa was so happy/surprised to receive gifts from Santa Claus that were on her list. Eric and I gave her a lot of clothes for Christmas, and she had this reaction when she opened the gifts: "Oh, no! Not clothes AGAIN!" :) She loves the hooded robe:

We hope you had a blessed celebration as well! xoxo

Preschool Christmas program

Presenting..."Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"


Tessa takes a break to wave at me (in the audience to her right) and Eric (recording in the center aisle)



And jump up and down with excitement
*Wave at mom and dad!*

P.S. Eric gave Tessa three roses before her big performance

It's the most wonderful time of the year

We had a surprise for Tessa on Saturday. We went to Shriver Square to see someone special. She did a happy dance when she saw him...

Tessa told Kris Kringle (she prefers this over Santa Claus) what she wants for Christmas, learned that chocolate chip cookies are his favorite, and...

Gave him two hugs before wishing him a merry Christmas. Later, she mentioned how he forgot to say, "Ho, ho, ho!"

Stayin' classy

Anxiously awaiting the horse-drawn carriage rides downtown

Tessa and Eric did some rock climbing to pass the time.

Notice the absence of snow. Eric said a light snowfall would have made it more Christmasy. I'm not one to wish for snow, but he was right. However, we enjoyed the 42-degree excursion.

And, we're off! Tessa had a great seat. "The horses are wagging their tails. That means they like me!"

I wasn't the passenger who dropped her purse during the ride. :) But thankfully, a Good Samaritan tailed the carriage and returned the purse at a stoplight. We ended our Christmas extravaganza with a drive through the holiday light display at Falls Park. (The snowman was there again, but Tessa wasn't as impressed/infatuated this year.) We ditched Delilah since Tessa wanted to provide the Christmas tunes. It was such a nice change, especially since she hasn't learned George Michael's "Last Christmas."