Crazy Kids

One night, Ben wanted to wear his plaid shirt and striped tie, Rosemary wanted to wear a ballet outfit, and Charlotte wore “Baby’s First Christmas” (it was her second) footed pajamas and kept falling over whenever she walked on the wood floor. They were quite the trio.

Christmas & New Year’s Eve in Eustis

We headed down to spend a few nights in Eustis to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve with my parents. As soon as we arrived, we exchanged gifts.

Later that day, while Charlotte and Ben slept and while my dad and Jonathan put together my parent’s new grill, Rosemary, Mom, and I went to Mt. Dora. We shopped a bit then stopped in for tea.

Waiting to be seated.

Eating our tea biscuits.

For New Year’s Eve, Mom and Dad put together another delicious smorgasbord for us to graze on throughout the night. Dad and I had spent the morning hanging a new chandelier in one of the bedrooms.

Most of the gang

Charlotte was ready to eat.

Charlotte ate dinner with us, but she soon headed to bed. The rest of us watched Enchanted and played some Bananagrams. Ben and Rosemary were doing their best to stay up until midnight.

Finishing up Bananagrams

Ben made it until about 11:10pm. I tried to wake him up at 11:50, but he was totally out. I picked him up and moved him to my lap and he just would not wake up.

The rest of us counted down and toasted at midnight.

The next day, Ben attempted to eat a HUGE sandwich.

I can’t remember how much he ate, but I don’t think it was all of it. But goodness, does this boy love his fruits and vegetables.

And here’s mom and dad in front of their new house.

Christmas Day 2012

For the first time, we spent all of Christmas day just with the kids in Gainesville. On Christmas Eve we went to candlelight service at church then got milkshakes from McDonalds and drove around to look at Christmas lights. The kids headed to bed and got us up on Christmas morning around 7am.

Ready to get things started.

Checking out the bows.

Rosemary went right for this present.

She had asked for the American Girl 2012 Doll of the Year, McKenna, and was so excited when she opened it. Rosemary had been checking the American Girl website and saw that McKenna was sold out so she was convinced that we somehow bought the last one. The thing about the doll of the year though is that all of her accessories are now gone.

Opening Dash or Ferdinand.

Ben was excited about his Gator jersey

And both Ben and Rosemary were excited about Swiss Family Robinson from Uncle Jason and Aunt Nikki.

Rosemary and McKenna

Charlotte and Cinderella

Ben got a lion costume

A pretty little butterfly

Ben was excited to get Bucky!

Some of the aftermath. The kids watched Swiss Family that afternoon.

The girls got matching nightgowns for Christmas and it was warm enough to wear them that night.

A quick pic of me and Ben.

It was a wonderfully relaxing and fun day.

Christmas Tree and Décor 2012

Here are a few shots of this year’s Christmas decorations.

The 2012 tree

Century Tower ornament

From our Labor Day camping trip

Ben made this adorable little painted egg at preschool

From our Philadelphia trip in April

From our Amelia Island anniversary trip in July

From our Williamsburg trip in October

Christmas Eve night and ready for the next morning

And a few shots of the rest of the decorations this year:

The nativity on the armoire

The foyer

Christmas cards that we received

The chandelier

Our new reversible kitchen sign that I made on my birthday and the boxwood wreaths

The ligustrum wreath…on its last legs