Top Ten Times Two

I originally planned on making a top ten list of my favorite blog posts from other blogs I read.  But, suddenly New Year's Eve was upon me and I just don't have the time to look back for all those posts now.  Rather than abandon the list idea altogether, I went the narcissistic route (because blogs are, for the most part, all about narcissism) and compiled a top ten* list of my favorite posts from my blog.  It's not meant to highlight great writing or photography, because goodness knows I'd have no posts for a list based on that criteria.  I just thought it'd be fun to review some of my favorite blogged about moments from this year.  Click on the titles of any posts your interested in seeing.  They are almost, but not quite, in chronological order.  See you in 2011!

Pie Seminar--My Aunt Karen kindly agreed to teach me the ways of pastry making and it was a lovely day.
Birthday Fun--This was just a fun day and one of the first times I got to use my new camera a lot.
Mommy and Me Lunch--Maddie and I had one of our last lunches as just the two of us.  I was emotional both to think what a baby she still was and yet would soon be a big sister and also to realize how much she was a little girl and no longer a baby.
Avonlea Jess--Avvie's birth day post!  Looking back, not sure how I managed to post such a long post only a few hours after giving birth.  I guess I was just so excited to share our sweet Avonlea with the world!
Pretty--Seriously, how did I get so lucky.  Man, I love my girls.
Spring is Sprung--This is the first "big" outing that I did by myself with the girls (into the city to go to Rittenhouse Park).  The kids had so much fun, I had a great time visiting with my friends and it made me feel like "I can do this!"  (Care for two children and leave the house, that is.)
May Fair--Because if you can't insist on wearing a tutu to a fair when you're two, when else can you?
Family Fun--I just love the swaddle pictures of Avonlea and Madeleine. 
Good News--Sometimes what you hope for most actually happens.
Luckiest Girl Alive--I still feel that way.  (And that chubby, sleeping baby--oh my!)
Summer Fun--Perfect summer day.
PopPop and Avonlea--I just love it.
Miss Blue Eyes--Roly poly baby.  'Nuff said.
Some Cool Bubble Pictures--I so love when Maddie gets to play with her cuz Nate.
Beach Babies--Cute in bathing suits.
Great Grand Auntie Alice--Sweet, sweet, sweet.
Virginia is for Friends--Fun with friends we see too little.
Sweet Sleep--Zzzzzzz....
More Wedding Pictures--My little sister gets married!  This is just one of a few posts about that wonderful day.
Santa's Reign of Terror--Oh. My.


*Did I say top ten?  I meant twenty.  And to cut it to twenty took a lot of restraint!  I guess you could say it's been a good year.

Which Do You Prefer?

Emphasis on the blue tones of the ice and snow...

Emphasis on the pinks, reds and magentas of the sunset...

Or the picture as shot, completely unedited...

Snowy Night

PS Yesterday's post was my 500th post!  I've been blogging since February 2007 although almost half of my posts are from this year.  I guess as busy as my girls keep me, I still have more time for things like blogging than I did when I was working as an attorney!

Christmas Day

Christmas morning dawned after a night of lots of wakings by both girls.  We were a bit bleary eyed, but excited to show Maddie the gifts under the tree.  She came into our room to tell us she was hungry and thirsty ("drinky" as she calls it) and we had to remind her that there just might be a few gifts waiting for her.  She was quite excited to first see the fishbowl with two goldfish and exclaimed "This is what I told Santa I wanted!"  (We actually haven't talked much about Santa with her, but it's amazing how she could figure out the Santa system with such little prompting!)  We started with stockings and then worked our way through gifts, stopping every so often to play with a puzzle or toy.  Maddie was thrilled with the whole morning and although there were a few moments when we had to calm her down because she was taking Avvie's (very few) presents or getting a tad too hyped, she really was good and didn't make any fuss when all the presents were done.

 Wrapping paper by Ikea

Andy had fond memories of getting lots of silly little things in his stocking as a child so I made sure to do the same for Maddie--stickers, bath foam soap, etc.

Avvie just couldn't wait for breakfast so we dragged in her high chair so she could watch while Maddie tore through gifts.

I told Donna that Maddie might like a baby carrier for Christmas since she likes to bring her babies all over with us.  Donna got her a mini Moby wrap--how trendy is that?!  I think it'll take some getting used to, but I think Maddie will really like it, especially when it gets warmer again and we start going for walks again.

Maddie wore a pink princess costume that Uncle Justin and Elisabeth sent her. She has a rapidly growing dress up collection that she loves!

Overnight brunch for Christmas breakfast...a decadent strata/souffle type dish that is oh so good.

Andy's gift this year was an iPad, although I'm starting to think that Maddie gets to use it more.

Maddie was exhausted and eventually passed out for a long nap on the chair with her new sleeping bag and the huge Minnie that Donna got her (she also got the girls a matching Mickey!)

We decorated a gingerbread house in the evening.  Maddie spent the first part just eating candy, but eventually contributed a bit to the decorating mostly building elaborate paths.

Christmas Eve

First of all, Merry Christmas!  Even though this post will be about Christmas Eve, I can't post today without sharing Christmas tidings!  Our Savior is born--and risen from the grave!  I know that's the Easter message, but I think it's the Christmas message, too.

We have had a lovely morning so far, but I'll post about Christmas Eve right now since our Christmas day isn't even near over yet.  Yesterday afternoon we (Andy, Maddie, Avonlea and Donna) went to my Aunt Karen and Uncle Franco's house.  It was a classic family (well, for our family) gathering--lots of delicious and decadent food and relaxed conversation.  We had a ton of appies, a tasty dinner and then raced off to church.  My parents and Donna stayed behind to watch the grandkids and the rest of us worshiped at Aunt Karen and Uncle Franco's church.  I adore singing Christmas carols--almost as much as Easter hymns.  I'm so glad that singing is a big part of how we express worship, it's just lovely.  After church we came back for a delectable spread of desserts and shortly after we headed out as one by one the kids succumbed to melt downs. 

 Nate's outfit was Edward's when he was a little boy.  He looked so cute!  Perhaps Beth will have a picture of Edward wearing it as a little boy to post on her blog.

Maddie was taken with Aunt Karen's nativity scene and actually asked if she could take some pieces.  Um, no! 

We attempted a picture of the cousins but it was a failure.  I've included some outtakes (if none of the pictures came out, does that make them all or none outtakes?)

 

Almost...

 The fire mesmerized Nate.

Aunt Karen had a special nativity book to show Madeleine.

There was a lot of arm flapping.  This morning she almost flew away.

Maddie and MorMor share an affinity for birds so among the *many* gifts that MorMor and PopPop had for her to open there was a bird with lifelike sounds.

And then there were the Cinderella shoes...they were hysterical.  My parents went to great lengths to purchase them (they were very hard to get) and man, was it worth it.  They have little heels which looks so silly and they light up while she walks.

 

 

 Beth and Edward just came back from Hawaii where they did a very cool Lost tour (it was five hours long!)  She shared their pictures which we got a kick out of.  I had to leave the room a couple times since Andy and I are only part way through season 4 and there were some spoilers.

 Avonlea enjoyed the angel food cake.

Time to go home and wait for Santa!