December 13, 2017

Christmas Gardens

We went to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens again this year with the Moynihans.  We have been going here at Christmas time since the babies were six months old!  It was pretty chilly this year which made it feel extra Christmasy.  We also always get a photo with Santa Claus, which has gone really well in the past.  This year, Harper was not a fan.  We are happy to have such a nice tradition with our friends.  We all decided that this year was the most fun so far, but also the most tiring.
   
They have a choo-choo train circling the yard when you first go back into the gardens.  The kids spent twenty minutes chasing it around.
    
Winter wonderland
    
    
    
It was harder to get our annual "kids in a Christmas tree" picture with two active babies.
    
    
    
    
    
     
    
    
    
     
    
     
    
Harper loved the water fountain.  It didn't bother her that it was twenty degrees outside or that running under the fountain sprays you with water.  She ran back and forth many times.
    
    
    
    
     
Harper girl
    
    
    
     
  
Our family Christmas picture!

December 10, 2017

Gingerbread House Competition 2017

We went over to Tessie and Katherine's house last night for the annual Gingerbread House Competition.  There were some new faces this year and the competition was fierce as always.  Harper made her first gingerbread house and was the official candy sampler.  We did not win this year, but are already planning for our comeback next year!
    
Happy ginger-breading!
      
     
     
     
      
Harper picked all the candy for our house.  About half of the pieces made it onto the house and the other half into her belly.
       
    
    
    
An unstable Rudolph 
    
Lisa made a Uhaul truck with all her belongings in the back!
    
    
Tessa made the tower from Tangled. 
    
Alex made a prideful L'arc de Triomphe. 
    
Harper's first gingerbread house!
    
Go Panthers, go!
    
The Shire
    
Happy birthday Tessa!!!
     
    
     
Katherine built Tessa a birthday cake from gingerbread.
     
Bay and Debbie's cabin
       
Christmas lights, an Alexa device, and a drill were all involved in the making of this house!

December 8, 2017

Charlotte Christmas Village

We went to the Charlotte Christkindlmarkt with Sean and Kate last night.  It was chilly, but we had nice time!
   
Harper loves Christmas lights.
      
    
 Warm apple cider!
      
 We ate fresh mini donuts, pretzels, bratwurst and Gluhwein.