The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I can't believe it's the middle of January and I'm just getting around to posting about Christmas! Aahh! Life is busy! Sorry there are so many pictures and that I'm working backwards from the most current events. I have to say that we really had a wonderful holiday. Blake was able to take a week off which was such a treat. He swears that sometimes it's worse when he takes time off because then I go into shock when he has to go back to work. His first day back, the kids kept walking around saying, "where's da?"

We were able to get a trip in to the city before his break ended. We decided on a whim to take the kids in and brave it. We've never taken all three kids in so we had no idea how it would go. Luckily Nicole, TJ and Rob were able to join us so it was great to have them there (and for the extra hands)!

Here's the tree at Rockefeller Center. We had someone take a group shot of us but unfortunately, it was only of us....no tree!

We stopped off at F.A.O. Schwartz since Ethan had never been there. Of course we had to take him to the giant piano! Ethan also got to go to the Lego store at Rockefeller Center. Thank goodness Nic, TJ and Rob were willing to brave that because it was PACKED! Ethan was in little boy heaven and, of course, got hooked up with some Star Wars Legos. He plays with them ALL THE TIME! Thanks Nic, TJ and Rob!

We also walked through Central Park and watched the ice skaters. Let's just say that trying to get a double stroller through the park after it had snowed is not the easiest task. Luckily Blake took on that challenge. My challenge was Addison. Grant was a champ and sat content in his stroller just about the entire trip. Addie on the other hand, absolutely refused to cooperate. She screamed hysterically if we put her in her stroller and would not give in. So, I had to carry her through the entire city (because she wouldn't let anyone else hold her). By the time we got home, my arms, neck and shoulder were totally out of commission. But, we still had a terrific time. I'm looking forward to another trip in once it's warmer and the kids can play!
Our families were very accommodating and were all willing to come to our house for Christmas dinner. We had so much fun having everyone over. The holidays just would not be the same if we didn't have our family around. Here's the Pettitt side of the table!
And, here's the Cooper side of the table. (Nice of Ethan to show you the yummy food he's eating!:)

Christmas morning was so much fun. The twins didn't totally get it but Ethan sure did. I think he's been asking me how many days until Christmas since...let's see....yep, last Christmas!
Here's Addie with her new little table and chairs. Maybe next year she'll be ready for a tea party at it! She ran right up to the table first thing and had a seat. It was so cute!
Ethan's big gift this year was a toy firetruck jeep. Unfortunately it's a little cold right now to use it a lot but it didn't stop him Christmas morning from bundling up and going for a drive. (I was so excited because I found this - I mean Santa found this - at a garage sale for $50! Score!)
When Grant walked into the room, he went right for the pony and hopped on. It was SO cute! It's like he knew it was just for him. He's been rocking out ever since!
The kids Christmas morning (so sad that Addie isn't in her matching jammies because she threw up on them during the night. ugh!)

Christmas morning photo on the stairs. Mommy looking tired...Ethan ready to explode if we don't get moving!
Trouble...When we decorated the tree this year I had serious concerns about the babies getting into things. But, to my amazement, they did incredibly well and didn't really touch the ornaments. UNTIL....one morning I went to the other room for LITERALLY 2 minutes to check my e-mail when a strange realization came to me....it was QUIET. REALLY QUIET. Any mommy knows that no noise with three kids in the house is never a good thing. So, I started my search. Lo and behold, there were Grant and Addie...sitting beneath the tree with smashed ornaments ALL around them. My best guess is that they figured out how to drop them on the slate by the fireplace and break them into tiny pieces. I'm seriously amazed that they didn't get cut. This picture is just a small part of their handiwork.
Treats! Ethan loves helping me make treats at Christmas time to give to our friends. My friend Colette shared this fun idea on her blog which I loved. Put a mint Hershey kiss on a pretzel and melt in the oven and top with a Christmas M&M. YUMMO!

For our December playgroup, we went to a gingerbread house display in Morristown. This is no ordinary gingerbread display. These were seriously INCREDIBLE. Here are a few pictures from my phone - sorry they are kind of crummy.
Based on the tv show "Hoarders"
The Taj Mahal
The Night Before Christmas
The Eiffel Tower (of the Rifle tower according to Ethan)

All in all, we had a wonderful Christmas this year. We feel so incredibly blessed to live in this country, to have the gospel, and to have wonderful family and friends. Merry Christmas!