A Glimpse at New Year's Eve

We celebrated New Years with friends at our house, including Sanders (age 4), Riley (3) and Etta (0).  It was a fun (and loud) (and sugar-filled) night...

Claire has lots of dolls she likes to play with, but this time she got to hold a real baby. Good thing for Etta that Claire didn't try to do to her what she does to her dolls -- strip them naked and swing them by their feet. And also sometimes hold them underwater.

Twinsies!

This sundae buffet went a long way toward helping them see midnight (except Claire, who will have to give it another try in December 2013).

Happy New Year!

So here is what it sounds like when New Years is celebrated by the Disney Junior set:

Dino-Mite!

Happy New Year from Henry and his friend Sanders, who visited Fernbank Museum this afternoon!

Santaceratops says hello.

Scientists have discovered that dinosaurs' faces were much more human-like than previously believed.

Dem Bones

Thanksgiving, etc.

Henry's kindergarten class got into the Thanksgiving spirit this year by performing a short play.

Here, Henry explains what the "N" in Thanksgiving might stand for. I bet you think it's "November," right? You're wrong:  it's "neighbors."

The next week, we went to North Carolina to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Cousin Aliza was there...

...and Grandma Sydelle...

...and Grandpa Marty!

On the way home, we stayed one night at the Great Wolf Lodge in Charlotte (which Henry inexplicably called "the Fox Zig") with Luigi and Uncle Ryan. It has a giant indoor water park, magic shows, a miniature bowling alley and is pretty much just an awesome place to bring your kids.  Plus, they got to sleep in their own "cabin" inside our room which included bunk beds, making it much easier for the grown-ups to stay up late and watch a little TV.

Unrelated:  Claire gives her pediatrician's ticker a quick check before getting her own examination.

Monster Mash!

Happy Halloween from a red M&M and a blue skeleton!

This one doesn't melt in your mouth or your hands.

We trick-or-treated again this year with Ryan (Harry Potter) and Sydney (Super Girl)

Seems like Super Girl should be doing the heavy lifting here, but what do I know?

This one was taken while Henry was already coming down from his sugar buzz.

Save this pic for the rehearsal dinner...Claire and her good friend and neighbor Johnny laughing at how easy it is to score free candy from grown-ups.

Looks Like the Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

Between Claire and shopping, that is.  Compliments of Mindy's (MiMi) phone, here is a photographic record of her first trip to Nordstrom Rack...

Claire's First Haircut

Technically, this is not Claire's actual first haircut -- she's had one other quick trim.  But for purposes of this blog, let's go with it!

As you can see, she had a lot of hair to work with.

Red lollipop = no tears.  I don't have an "after" picture because I'm a terrible person, so you'll just have to believe me when I tell you the finished product was at least 90% less mullety.

...Flim Flam, Bim Bam...

Huzzah! It's football season! Which means lots of great things, not the least of which is that Claire gets to break out her sundress.

She spent a lot of her time on the dessert end of the table.

She also spent a lot of time with her new friend Sarah.

 Meanwhile, Henry wrapped himself in Mardi Gras beads and got a bird's eye view of our tailgate. Naturally.

You wouldn't know it from this picture but Henry is a screamer at football games.  He yells "DE-FENSE!" and "I-FENSE!" [sic] with equal amounts of gusto. 

On Sunday, Henry took a ride in his buddy Sanders' Jeep. Now I don't know about you, but I'm not sure if them Duke boys is gonna get outta this mess...but that's just plum the way it goes in Hazzard County.

Sunday night we were lucky enough to accidentally stumble onto this free Jimbo Mathus concert in Taylor. In related news, Claire likes to dance.