Snow Day

The last month we've had quite a bit of snow! We took advantage one day and took the kids out. Will only wanted to shovel and Ella wasn't sure what to do with any of it. She did like the sled, even though the pictures don't show it!

Getting ready to go out. Bundling up in Will's old snowsuit... gotta love hand-me-downs!

Everybody is ready and nobody can move because they are so stuffed into their coats and pants!

Seriously, can we just go outside already???

Woo hoo!

You mean you are going to push me down this hill on this piece of plastic??

"Will hoveling" as Will says.


Daddy's girl...

Snow baby.

Baby on the Move!

A picture of Ella walking with the play hamburger in her mouth. This is the Stewie look...



And a little video of her on the move!

Exciting News!

So Will said to me the other day, "Mommy, Ella walka walka." And, he was right! Ella is walking! At just a week before her 9 month mark she took about three steps unassisted and now is taking about 6 before she "ba booms!" as Will says. She grins like crazy when she's going on her own. My brother calls her Stewie from The Family Guy because she has this little evil genius look when she's getting into things. I will most certainly post a video soon!

Congrats to our little walker, Ella!

Santa... nice guy.

This is Will's favorite phrase as of late... and with good reason. We've had quite the Christmas season! Will has been obsessed with "Hanta Quas" (trans. Santa Claus) and Baby GeeGee (trans. Baby Jesus) since we started talking and reading about Christmas after Thanksgiving. I really didn't know how much he would understand this year, but he certainly got it, and was really excited for all of the events. We've been to numerous light-up nights, train shows, and Christmas celebrations. We went to Mass Christmas Eve in Connecticut at the high school auditorium where the kids of the parish do a Christmas pageant. Next year, they can eliminate the narrator because Will narrated the whole thing- "MARY! JOSEPH! BABY GEE GEE! SHEPHARDS! ANGELS!" During the Consecration, they rang bells and Will felt free to start singing Jingle Bells. People for about three rows around us couldn't keep their composure and burst out laughing.

Here are some pictures of our fun, blessed and beautiful extended holiday season!

Getting the tree! It was REALLY COLD, so we picked quickly...

It turns out to be a beauty!

Santa came to our house a little early as we were headed to Connecticut for the real deal. These are some pics of our "Christmas Eve" at home.
Will, getting rested up in his Elmo pj's.

Leaving cookies, carrots, and binkies for Santa.

Dad, putting things together after the kiddos went to bed. Christmas Eve was complete with a midnight run in the snow to the local convenience store for very expensive batteries... of course.

WHOA, Christmas morning.

Hmmm... not sure what's going on.

Christmas in Connecticut!


Will's workbench from Grandmom and Grandpop. Look out...


Christmas with the Antonetti's!
Reading with Uncle Damon.

Everybody's favorite noisy new toy, the ball popper from Nan and Pap.


Will's third Christmas dinner... chowing down.


Merry Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas Card Rejects...

Thought you might enjoy a few of our not-so-good attempts at taking a Christmas picture. I was seriously tempted to put the last one on our card, because it so accurately represents our never-sit-still children!! (We did finally get quite a few good ones that I will post after the card goes out!)

Not the nicest background. Ella playing with the tree decorations waiting patiently in the bin.

Playing peek-a-boo by the chair.

Eating the blanket.

BUS!

"All I want for Christmas is your nose."

"Who is this kid in my shot???"

We call this "Big Cheesy Face"

Running away...

Giving Thanks!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in PGH this year! We spent the day watching the parade, eating way too much, and going to the Festival of Trees. The kids sat on Santa's lap, and hated it!! We just had to laugh because it was quite a scene. Some pics of our fun!

The turkeys hiding in the fog in our backyard Thanksgiving morning!!


Will at Nan's with his Happy Thanksgiving Elmo slippers!

Prior to stuffing our faces. Will's shirt says, "Who are you calling a turkey?" So appropriate...



Will and my grandmas eating pumpkin pie.

At the Festival of Trees, a family tradition!

Will hugging the snowman.

Nan wrestling with squirmy Ella.

Watching the model trains. Mesmerized.

And Santa... and tears. Perhaps not the best Christmas card shot...

Ake the eves...

So one of the things that attracted us to our house were the six beautiful oak trees in the front yard. The novelty of these trees promptly wore off the first fall we spent here. Since then, we've gotten used to the piles and piles of leaves we have to rake, and truly appreciate the beauty of these trees. This year, Will loves to help "ake the eves" and even demands it some days. Happy Fall!


Will and our next door neighbor Anthony. They are best buds.

Will just LOVES Anthony.

Aking...

Hanging out...

Ella and I share the same sentiment about the leaves...