Happy Chanukah!

:)

F

Getting ready for the holidays.

Oh, to be a child again at the holidays...

I snatched a few shots of O this evening after our bath and before bed time in front of our wonderful Christmas tree. I love the way it lights everything up, so much so that it's always so sad to take it down at New Year's.

In planning for this holiday season, and coordinating schedules with siblings, I remember what it was like to celebrate the holidays as a child. Amie texted me today, amidst a discussion about what time we would be over Christmas morning. "Great! Come have nugget (Oliver) wake me up like you and Sarah used to do." I also distinctly remember being able to hear my brother (through the air vents) wrapping our presents with newspaper last minute on Christmas Day.

Sure, I celebrated holidays in Connecticut, New York, California, Louisiana, Colorado, and many places in between... but nonetheless, the excitement that surrounds the entire season is unmatchable. I can't wait to celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah this year with Oliver, and next year when he's bit more clued into it all - and we can do Elf on a shelf :)

I'll post sometime soon about a fantastic story we got from my Dad and Candy, about a little boy who celebrates both holidays as well!

Walking man...

I think my "yaaaaay!" may have scared him to fall :)

I'm a Theta, she's a Theta....

Today was like a mini sorority/college reunion in NY. Three friends (Melissa, Melissa, Stacy) and I hung out while semi-watching (?) some football. Melissa #1 lives in Boston (Hi Flem!) and it's been over a year since I've seen her, but we Skype pretty regularly so it never seems like it's been as long as it has. She just got engaged, bought a dress (gah!), set a date, and is in full wedding mode - with an awesome ring too, all three of them ;-) Melissa #2 lives in Pennsylvania and drove up with her adorable two kids (Chloe, 2 1/2, and Avery, 3 weeks younger than Oliver). Stacy and I get to see each other every two weeks or so now that we're so close, but she hadn't seen either of the Melissas in 3 and 4 years! It's always nice when friends get together, we had a blast. Oliver was also pretty infatuated with both Chloe and Avery. He was chatting away with them at lunch, and was so excited about the day in general that he (oops!) forgot to take his afternoon nap. He did snooze for about 10" while we were walking Stella which made for a fun dinner/bedtime. Anyway, here's a self-timer parking lot photo of all of us:

l to r: Avery, Melissa #2, Chloe, Melissa #1, Stacy, O, Moi.