Goddard Christmas Program

Larkin is dressed up and ready to go sing and dance at her school holiday program. She, and the rest of the Monkeys are singing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", which she has been practicing at home. The audience let out a big "Awwww" when the kiddos came out in their reindeer antlers and blinking noses, it was so cute. In the group photos below, Larkin is on the right in the red dress, but in the video she's more towards the middle. The video is cute to watch if you have a minute... Larkin doesn't move for the first bit of the song (I mean, literally, does not move or sing at all!), but then we takes center stage with a bit of her jumping/dancing. Fun!

After the program, Larkin got to sit on Santa's lap again, and gave him a big hug too. She loves Santa! He gave her a mini-candy cane after she sat on her lap which she cherished. She was crushed though when it broke into a bunch of sharp slivers inside the baggie, because she knew we don't let her eat them like that. She held it up to me, while she sobbed, and cried "Choke Hazard!" I couldn't help but laugh. Then, we went and got another and all was well.

Here's Larkin with her good friend Carter, showing off their reindeer noses. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Advent Calendar and Santa Hats

"Elle" our Elf on a Shelf leaves Larkin a small gift each evening in December in her Advent Calendar. You can see the advent calendar behind Larkin and me in the first picture below. This particular night, Elle left Larkin a Mardi Gras bead necklace that she so generously decided to share with me!

Larkin has confiscated my Santa hat from me since it now fits her head and she now calls it her Santa hat... go figure! So, here is Larkin with Daddy and Sera, all festive in their Santa hats. But, can we go back to the fact that Larkin's and my head are apparently the same size... that Hittle head!!!

MRI's Children's Christmas Party

CC Breakfast with Santa

Our neighborhood hosts a breakfast with Santa party each year and this year Larkin was all-in. She loves sitting on Santa's lap and we literally have to hold her back so other kids can get a turn. When it was finally her turn, she ran to him, jumped up on his lap, had an in-depth conversation with him (telling him she wanted a "princess doll") and then gave him a big hug before reluctantly getting off his lap.

We then went on a fun horse-drawn carriage ride around the streets with her good friend from school, Duncan, who also lives in the neighborhood. It was cold but huddled up in the blankets, we had a great time.

Then, it was time to go down to the gym to get a balloon present made from the balloon elf and to dance on the stage. The first pic is what the balloon elf gives to kids who allow him "artist's choice". It was a "carrot" sort of hat and it was hilarious. The little boy swatted at it for quite awhile while his older brothers played with their swords. Too funny.

Larkin had trouble deciding between a few of her favorite things right now: a helicopter, a butterfly, and a reindeer. But she ended up asking the balloon elf for a helicopter and she was so pleased with her choice. The elf put the helicopter on a stick for her so she could fly it around and she loved it! She then took it up on stage (after a singing performance was done) to dance with a few of the other kids. Larkin thinks dancing and jumping are synonymous so she did a lot of jumping that day! Below are a few video stills so you can see her helicopter, but you can check out the video to see it flying (and her dancing/jumping) in action! Enjoy!

First Day as a Monkey!

Larkin was so excited to move up classes to become a Monkey at the Goddard School. Her best friends Ella, Carter, and Duncan were already there so this was an exciting day for her. This is the room that they master potty training, so that's good. Here is a mini-photo shoot we took of her with the family this morning before she headed out to school to officially become a Monkey.

Happy 37th Birthday, Brian!

Happy Birthday to the best husband and father us lucky girls could ask for! Brian turned "toy-dee seben" (per Larkin parlance) today and we had a fun family party to celebrate. We got Garozzo's Chicken Speidini Georgio for dinner (his pick) and then a chocolate cherry cake that I made for him. Larkin helped me bake and helped Brian blow out his candles. What a helper!

Happy Birthday, honey! We love you!!! ... And many more!

Lunch and Loose Park

We decided to take my parents into the city for lunch at a place Brian really likes called Europa and then go a fun playground nearby at Loose Park. Since today was actually Brian's 37th Birthday and Larkin's 2 1/2 birthday, Larkin got to celebrate by having a lemon cupcake (or "Happy Birthday Cake" as she calls them) for her lunch! Yum! We then got to check out the gingerbread house competition going on between the local shops and then Rockefeller Center one was my favorite.

We then went to this magnificent playground and it was super busy and fun. Slides were everywhere, fun places to climb, etc. Here are a few pics of me and Larkin tandem sliding!

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

Happy Turkey Day! We hosted Thanksgiving at our house this year. It is one meal that I really enjoy cooking, and this year we had turkey, homemade cranberry sausage stuffing, sweet potato casserole, corn casserole, cranberry sauce, peas, rolls, gravy, and two desserts. Larkin had all of her grandparents together and so you can imagine how much she loved that attention. Here are a few pictures of the lot of us enjoying our meal. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for.

Goofy Grandparents

Goddard Hippo Thanksgiving Party