Post Christmas Activities

The adults shared a fun evening out in the downtown area. While I only have one shot, it is a great shot of Pa Mark, Uncle Tim and daddy. We'll have to do this more often.

The day after our adult evening out, we rented a mini-van and all drove to the Chattanooga aquarium and Children's Creative Discovery Center. Despite a traffic hiccup on the way home, we had a fun day. We all slept well that night too!

Kaitlyn and Madelyn looked at an interactive screen.

Madelyn tried to explore on her own. She walked a bunch that morning.

Daddy helped Madelyn get a better view of the fish swimming around.

Uncle Tim lifted Kaitlyn up several times to see the shark and huge turtle.

Kaitlyn and Madelyn got captured in a shark cage.

After the aquarium, we stopped for lunch and daddy tried their beer sampler. They gave generous pours. Madelyn missed this event as she fell asleep at the aquarium after all her running around and slept through all of lunch. Now I know how to wear her out!

A well rested Madelyn played in the water. She loved it!

Kaitlyn loved being an archaeologist.

After a fun day of swimming, drinking hot chocolate, eating ice cream and cupcakes, we all enjoyed some homemade pizza and salad. It turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.

Kaitlyn and Mary Ann made little pizzas, which Madelyn scarfed down in minutes.

Before Pa Mark, Mary Ann and Uncle Tim headed out, everyone joined in a fun game of Pallina.

Since we're all about food at our house I couldn't help but show our cucumber and hummus hors d' oeuvres that we made for New Year's Eve. They tasted great!!

It's Christmas!

Santa and his elves stayed up awfully late trying to get the bike for Madelyn and dollhouse for Kaitlyn put together. He also snuck in to their rooms and left them candy canes full of candy.

Kaitlyn excited to see her dollhouse.

Kaitlyn checked to see if Belle (gift from Madelyn) can play in the dollhouse too.

Madelyn could not wait to go outside to ride her bike. We took a break from opening presents to go for a test ride.

Kaitlyn flew like a fairy. Thank you Aunt Niki and John!!

So many presents...

Madelyn tested out the Leap Frog computer from Uncle Tim.

Madelyn was not willing to part with her bowl of M&M's from Santa. The candy cane plastic made it difficult to eat them.

Uncle Tim made his delicious breakfast plate after helping cook.

Buttermilk pancakes, sausage (one link missing), and fresh oranges and grapefruit slices. Yum!!
Out for a real ride on Madelyn's new bike. Kaitlyn also used her new skates from Gamma Linda and Pa Clinton.

Uncle Tim and Pa Mark before dinner. Pa Mark and Mary Ann arrived early enough to share in the Christmas fun.

Everyone ready to eat a delicious dinner.

We feasted on crab cakes (great job guys), a Bibb Lettuce Salad (thank you Thomas Keller) and grilled vegetables batons. Of course, the adults enjoyed a nice Robert Sinskey Pinot Noir too!

Kaitlyn at dinner - this time she tried and ate most of her crab cake. Yahoo!!

And the feasting continued with dessert...
Dobash from a special St. Louis bakery and a Paris Brest (French pastry) made by mommy. We also had some Traverse City cherry pie hiding in the background. Oh, this was dessert heaven!!

The Paris Brest is a Christmas Eve tradition for some folks in France, so I decided to try it for Christmas night. It was pate choux dough on the top, bottom and in the middle. The pastry cream had a homemade almond paste infused in it.

This dessert is based on the Paris Brest bike race, hence the look of a 'bicycle tire' when you cut it up.

Madelyn enjoyed her Dobash.

Gift time...

Madelyn did not enjoy unwrapping presents in the morning, but she went after these on Christmas night.

Kaitlyn practiced on her new Bouncer. She loves it!!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas Eve Feast

We spent a wonderful Christmas Eve day and evening with Uncle Tim. We enjoyed the wonderful smells of corned beef cooking from dawn until dusk while enjoying the day. Our dinner menu included corned beef brisket with semi-homemade dressing, potato latkes, and broccoli. We all enjoyed cookies for dessert.

Kaitlyn received a hula hoop from Miss Crystal and Hannah, so she practiced all day. She got pretty good...

Our fun little family before Christmas Eve service.

Daddy and Uncle Tim

The chefs making their plates.

Getting ready to feast, feast, feast, feast!

Look at those beautiful latkes. They tasted even better than they looked.

Almost forgot the picture of the corned beef with sauerkraut and dressing.

Kaitlyn enjoying her dinner.

Madelyn feasting on a superduper. They really are super!

Happy Christmas Eve!

Santa Cupcakes

Kaitlyn's teachers asked me to bring a sweet treat for the class holiday party. I decided to make chocolate cupcakes with M&M's decorated like Santa. I did most of the work, but Kaitlyn helped a little.

Kaitlyn decorated this Santa all by herself.

In a perfect world where I didn't have to worry about Santa falling over in the car, I would have made these for the kids. However, I did not see the Santa's surviving the car ride.

So, I opted for a mostly frosting version of Santa. I think the kids still enjoyed them.