Welcoming 2013!!!

 

 

 

Christmas 2012

Christmas Eve took us down to Great Grandma Ollie's in Harmony.  Mama has spent all of her Christmas Eves here and finds it quite special that now each of her children have also spent at least one there as well.  Amongst the fun of time with family, games, and food, we are happy to say we made it through the hour long church service from 7-8...which is usually when our bedtime routine occurs. 

 

You silly girls were very willing to pose for pictures this night...not a norm but we'll take it being you are so cute!





 



Harrison was his well-mannered self throughout the entire evening...also of course cute!

Theodore you were hard to capture on the camera being you were constantly in motion, except for a few instances of looking at a book or when in Grandpa's or Papa's lap...and you were looking cute too!

 

 

 The cousins, of course without Harrison...next year...nice belly button T with thanks to B!

 Showcasing some fun glasses received by all...

We headed home following church and went straight to bed being it would be an early morning in anticipation of Santa's arrival.  Indeed we were ready and going by 6:30 AM, led by you Madelaine, who exclaimed it was morning and we needed to get downstairs to see if Santa had visted.

Look, Santa lost his stocking in the fireplace...

Theodore felt it was okay for him to finish what Santa and his reindeers didn't want...

 The excitement started with gifts in our stockings...

Harrison, you just sat and took in all of the noise and energy... 

 Next we moved into the living room where Santa left our gifts...

The morning was off to a good start... 

After opening presents from Santa, and Papa and Mama, we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's for more Christmas fun...



E, you are looking way too old in this picture... 



Loving how Harrison stuck his little Santa bumper out while Grandma loved on him...



M & E are excited to join cousin Leela in the American Girl Doll world.  Madelaine you wanted Marie-Grace...



Eleanor you wanted Caroline...



Theodore, this is how you landed when we arrived home...already worn out and the day had just barely started...



Next it was off to Grandma Dee Dee's where more treasures were opened...



And we also received our first doll house outfited with furniture for every room...love, love it!



 

Theodore, Mama has no clear pictures of you as you were an awesome paper opener this year and moved quickly between gifts but the theme to your gifts can be summed up as TRUCKS, TRUCKS, and more TRUCKS...of course all of them with noise, lights, etc.

 We also went to Grandpa Kip's the following day and Mama forgot her camera, but in addition to more wonderful treasures we 3 big kids enjoyed repetitive games of hide-n-seek and thoroughly liked the spiral staircase in their new home (yikes!)...

Blessed again we were, blessed to all be together, blessed Papa and Mama are to have you four treasures!!!!



Tis the Season...

The Christmas spirit entered the Gore household the weekend after Thanksgiving with our annual trip to the Festival of the trees.  Madelaine you reported feeling a bit under the weather but still came along, spending most of the time being carried by Papa or in the stroller. 

Theodore was clearly mesmerized by the elves around this Christmas tree, thinking they should be communicating with him... 

Eleanor posing in front of one of her favorite Christmas trees...



Harrison, who slept his entire first experience at the Festival...



We also started decorating the house the weekend after Thanksgiving.  What used to take 1-2 days is now ranging between 4-5 days and we still aren't using all of our decorations.  Everyone got involved and of course had fun.  M and E did a much improved job of hanging their ornaments, being able to go a bit higher this year, though Mama still needed to do a lot of rearranging and add the most special ornaments to the top.  Thanks to Theodore the glue gun has gotten a lot of action this month!



Taking a break from decorating and being silly...

Placing window clings...a safe activity for Theodore being not breakable, and Harrison enjoyed supervising!



A favorite to put up every year, the tree in our bedroom with our letter decorations...



Taking part in Christmas activities around Kasson...cookie decorating



Visiting Mrs. Claus with cousin Leela...much less intimidating to us as compared to Santa Claus.



In addition to routine trips around town looking at lights, we also enjoyed driving out into the country one evening for a display set to music...





 We finally got some snow this month and were able to enjoy the large flakes.  Theodore you weren't too sure about moving in the white stuff but did enjoy watching Papa make the first snowman of the year... 

 Papa working away, you girls named him Frosty, go figure!  Madelaine you ate the first carrot Mama sent out for the snowman...silly girl (also note no hats, not how you were sent outside, but apparently you were warm enough).

 Shoveling out on the deck and while enjoying eating the clean, white fresh snow...

 

Harrison, staying warm and of course cute in the house with Mama while the rest played outside...it was very, very quiet!



And of course an annual trip to see Santa Claus.  Harrison you obviously sat in Santa's arms without difficulty...

Girls you came the closest ever to Santa and actually had a conversation with him.  Mama thinks the fact Santa was sitting on the ground with a book of nursery rhymes made him appear more approachable...hope we are on to a new trend for Santa visits in the future.

Theodore you kept your distance and gradually came this close, likely being enticed by the story Santa was reading...



Sending Warm Holiday Wishes to all!