Making Ornaments

This year is the first in many that we'll be getting our own Christmas tree, and we're very excited.  However, we have very few ornaments to hang on it, so we decided to make some of our own.  First, Serena and I stirred up a batch of salt dough and rolled it out:

Then we used cookie cutters to cut out shapes:

 After we'd used up all the dough, we put the ornaments on cookie sheets and baked them:

Once they were hardened and cool, Serena and Bryn got to work painting and decorating them:

We're very proud of the finished products:

 And today is another day to create more arts & crafts!

Aaaaaaaand -- we're back!

Baby love.  How cute are these two?!  We are busily preparing for Thanksgiving by making turkey napkin holders out of construction paper:

More to come.  It's good to be back.  :-)

Back to Work

Hi y'all; it's good to be back.  After such a long hiatus from the web I'm a bit nervous about blogging again, but I figure my poor husband is sick of hearing every single thought I have, so I'll spare him and put them here instead.

These two are my favorite animals at the moment - they don't need to be walked three times per day, are unlikely to poop on the floor, and don't have to shave their faces.

Our Vacation - belatedly

Well, our vacation was over a month ago, so these pics should have been posted in September, but whatever. I'm busy.

We travelled up to the north-westernmost corner of Vermont, to the border of Lake Champlain and Canada and stayed at a family resort called The Tyler Place. Think Dirty Dancing but with toddlers and sand pits rather than hot & heavy dancing teens. It was great because Serena got to play with a bunch of kids her own age every day, and Matt and I got to eat every meal in peace. We loved it.This was our cottage, which was called Hickory:



There was an aquarium at the boat dock, which Serena loved. It was pretty mucky, but there were several native fish glugging around in it.

An afternoon at the pool:


On a hayride. Serena is sitting on the right side next to her counselor, Britta, who was from Northern Ireland. Before you worry about the dangers of falling off this thing, know that it was driving more slowly than Serena walks.

Sleepover!

On Friday night, Serena's two favorite big girls Grace and Georgia came for a sleepover. After enormous bowls of spaghetti & meatballs, everyone (except the photographer) settled in for a bit of Looney Tune viewing.




Then we set up the inflatable mattress and there was a snuggle fest!

More Painting

Some paint did actually make it onto the paper, but not much.

Professional Tooth-brusher in the House!

Serena is now getting quite good at brushing her teeth all by herself.

It's the Elmo pajamas that kill me, though.

Totally gratuitous, I know.