Christmas Part I

Last weekend we celebrated Christmas with Nana, Pop-Pop, Aunt Nicole, and Uncle Matt. Here are some pictures from our little get together. Matt and Nicole hosted at their house, which by the way, is absolutley adorable. It reminds me of a dollhouse. They cooked up a storm for all of us and it was much appreciated. BB went ga-ga over her very own Bitty Baby. Now she does not have to steal her big sisters. BP screamed when she saw Kit's stove and her yellow flowered dress. Thanks for everything!

SNOW...

We have a lot of it. About a foot, I think? Quite a way to kick off Winter! BP, BB, Daddy, and I played in it the other day when the sun was out and the temp had not dropped to single digits yet. BP is all about making snow angels this year. BB, as you may have guessed, enjoyed eating it!

For the Green Shopper

One of these collapsible shopping baskets would make a great gift for just about anyone on your Christmas list. I found this picture at Garnet Hill, but I have seen these baskets at Marshall's and TJ Max also.

Sparkle Chucks

I love the holiday cheer these Converse sneakers from Chasing Fireflies would bring to the season... Just wondering if they come in pink sparkles? BP would freak for them!

Christmas Cookies

Pouring, mixing, rolling, cutting, baking, and decorating... that is what The Barefoot Princess and I did during The Barefoot Baby's nap this morning. Our goal in the end was to make at least 18 gingerbread cookies for BP's class and teachers. Tomorrow is her last day of school before the two week holiday break. She wanted to bring each of her friends a gingerbread cookie. As she decorated the cookies she said, "this one is for Sophia, and this one is for Max, and this one is for Tilda," and so on. Just as the last batch came out of the oven, I heard a little "Hi!" from upstairs. We finished just in time!

BOGS

We found these boots a couple months ago when Winter surprised us in October and we realized we were not prepared for the weather. At BP's school they play outside at least twice a day regardless of the weather. So when it is a school day, BP leaves with her snow pants, ski jacket, hat, mittens, and her BOGS. I love these boots for five reasons...
1. She can put them on all by herself. (check out the handles.)
2. They are warm up to -30 degress. No cold piggies with these babies!
3. They matched her snow pants and jacket.
4. They are super stylish.
5. They have great traction.

We purchased BP's BOGS from Garnet Hill for $49, but I later noticed that Cabella's kids had them also.

Oh Christmas Tree

Our Christmas tree this year is by far the best we have ever had. We have had some really sad Chrismtas trees in the past. Some we had to wear gloves to decorate. One, which I picked, was very bare and skinny. One year, before children, the top of our tree snapped off when we were trying to get it in the stand. We looked at each other laughed, and seriously considered just lighting a menorah, which we do have. This year we fianlly got it right. We have a rather large, very full tree. I have to thank my sweetheart for it though, because we left the decision up to him, and BP helped a little too. She definitely helped decorate it yesterday. She was really into that this year. BB just points at the tree and runs toward it. She loves it and every now and then hands me an ornament quite proudly. I think Christmas is more fun every year!

Advent Calendar

Here is our advent calendar that I made with A LOT of help from my dear sweet friend Allison. Thanks again Allison!

I went a little overboard with the corkboard, but that was the only size I could find at Wal-Mart. There is a square and tag for each day from December 1st through December 24th. And on the back of each tag a is fun Christmas related "thing" to do. BP loves the calendar. She looks up at it each morning at breakfast and asks what we are going to do today. Then we count the days until Christmas. I will keep this calendar and this new tradition for many, many years.

Christmas Parade 2008

We think this was our sixth Cape May Christmas parade, maybe seventh? It was BP's fourth and BB's second. It is definitely become a family tradition, although we missed Mama and Papa again this year. They had a wedding this year and last. The parade lasts for no exaggeration three hours maybe even longer. It never disappoints us and it is always cold. This year we snuggled the girls in their wagon with a blanket and headed into the town for some california rolls. After dinner we headed over to the halfway point of the parad, claimed our spot, and waited patiently for the first sight of lights or sound of music. We oohed and awwed over firetrucks, floats, antique cars, high school bands, string bands, dance troops, Mummers, and last, but not least the Coast Guard band, my favorite. When the parade was half over, BB fell asleep in my lap and we had to take turns carrying her 30+ lbs. home. BP was ready to warm up and was pretty exhausted too.

Santa's Lap

BP would have absolutley nothing to do with our jolly friend in red last year. This year was a whole new story! We got both BP and BB on Santa's lap and then BP asked Santa for a Tinkerbell costume. That is all she wants for Christmas. We met this Santa after our trolley ride with Mrs. Claus.

A Cape May Christmas

December 5th-7th, 2008

Home Sweet Home

Fingers crossed and lots of prayers that this will be our new door in a couple of weeks. The Barefoot Family will hopefully be on the move sometime during the holiday season. We found a place to call Home Sweet Home. We are just waiting for some "red tape" issues to be taken care of, but thus far the process has been a smooth one. We are ALL so EXCITED, GRATEFUL, and BLESSED!!! More details to come when our dream comes true...

American Girl

We took a quick trip to the city the other day. Very quick. We left our house at 10 am and we were in the American Girl store by 11:20. That is record time, and I swear I was not speeding. No traffic and easy directions were the reason. That and a perfectly placed parking garage. BP was so excited to meet her friend Marissa, do lunch, and buy Kit a Christmas dress. BB did not like being in her stroller, but was a good sport about it. She thinks she should be able to stroll around Manhattan like her big sister. Not going to happen. Sorry BB, but you are only 1! We had a delicious lunch in the store with Kit, Bitty, and Bella (Marissa's doll) and we were home by 4:30. I love our proximity to NYC and the fact that my girls get as excited as I do at first glance of the tall buildings, and then shriek as we go over the GWB. There is no place in the world like NYC!