Winter Program 2016

All I Want for (Next) Christmas...

The other tooth is out!

In other Cody news, he graduated from speech therapy a couple weeks ago. The lisp is almost gone!

 And then, he got a belated award from last school year — the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence. It had something to do with being smart and having good character. He was SO surprised, and proud. He said, "I can't believe the President took the time to write to me to tell me how proud he is of how kind I am and how hard I'm working! I don't know how you'll feel about this, Mom, but I think I probably really like President Obama."

 So, each night, they all spend a lot of time "organizing my stuffies." Of which there are now hundreds. All with names, all with personalities. When I went in to check on them the other night, I could not find Cody. Can you?

 Look all the way up top. Yep. He's sleeping perpendicularly across the bed with his legs hanging off. Because "I made an altar out of my stuffies."

 The next day, we went to the library, where once a week they have a therapy dog come to visit and read with the kids. Emma loves Ella (the doggie).

 Cody was less impressed. He actually didn't even notice, because: comic books. He's his daddy's little boy.

Christmas 2015

So, one of my New Year's resolutions was to be better about timely blogging. But due to a confluence of events, I've revised it — now I'm determined to stop feeling bad about it and just do what I can. :) Here's a roundup from Christmas 2015. You'll notice that in very few pictures does Emma actually have an entire outfit on. She has been going through a costume phase, and to her delight, everyone obliged her wishes. So in 85 percent of my snapshots, she's either naked, or about to be, because: costume changes. 

I love this one. Dad is doing so much better! He was happy to have his grand babies around him this year. I know last year he worried he might not get to this point, and we could not be happier to have cheered him on as he kicked ass cancer's ass and came out on the back side. (The man loves a pun.)

Emma commandeered Cody's new Kylo Ren light saber.

Granny and Cody at Christmas Eve Mass. 

 

 Santa went a little nuts this year. Maybe because he really likes New Jersey.

Granny and Cordelia, just having a talk. This one makes me weep; it reminds me so much of me and my own Granny. We are both blessed. 

 It was the only pleasant day of our trip, so the kids went straight outside. Only one of them had pants on.

 The festivities went on all day. Best Christmas ever!

  Emma turned THREE!!!! WHEE!!!

 

She and Cordelia made her cake together. Not that there was much batter left.

While she was "napping," the big kids decorated it!

 And then we dug in.

 Fiona, not surprisingly, made the most headway. How freaking cute is she?

 Then: more costumes!

 More cake!

 All that celebrating can wear a girl out. She conked out MID-coloring.

We closed out 2015 with an ice cream sundae party with Fiona, Kelly, Mark, and Aunt Juli. Fiona quickly caught on to Emma's nudist tendencies. Note the crown and amulet.

We rang in the New Year at Zoo Lights — a huge hit!

Here we are, celebrating the feast of the Epiphany.

And…scene. It's almost Valentine's Day. I'm doing my best! ; )