Bookends

In part, 2011 was the year of the zoo!  We kicked off this year with a trip to the zoo and today, the last day of the year, we're at the zoo again.  Part of me wishes that it just randomly happened that way, but I planned it because I wanted bookends.  We went to the zoo ten times this year and I think that's pretty good considering we live about an hour away, and Alice was born in February.  I even went back to take the same pictures of Kate saying hello to the fish.

Today we met our friends Emily and John Inca and their cute kids Holden and Lauren.

Holden played with the plastic sheets that cover the doors (to prevent birds from escaping from the pavalions).  Holden played with them every time he saw them.  Kate joined in once.

We brought the wagon today for the first time.  Alice loves the wagon.  I'm still on the fence.  The wagon is not good for sleeping in and there's no where to put stuff.  We'll see what happens next year!

Lauren is such a pretty little girl.  She and Alice are two months apart.

I love that Kate and Alice are standing the exact same way.

I love the pygmy hippopotamus.

Alice loved the fish.

Lauren loved the fish too.

And today was an extra-special day because Alice went for her first ride on the carousel.  It was a little sad though because of the noise.  I think there's a reason that carousels don't normally operate in the winter time.  The noise was incredible, I'm not quite sure how to describe the scraping/grinding noise.

This year has been such a full year.  This is post number 172.  I'm not sure if I'll maintain the blogging frenzy next year; I do love it though so who knows.  Our family has been so blessed this year, the year of the zoo and Alice!  (Ken says I should stop trying to sell the zoo.  I'll take that under advisement.)  Happy new year!  See you next year!  

On Cloud Nine

 

Pity all newlyweds.  She cooks something nice for him, and he brings her flowers, and they kiss and think:  How easy marriage is.  ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960

We haven't had many bumps/hiccups/issues therefore when I think of our marriage I often think of it as easy.  Not entirely easy, but pretty nearly.  Now, two kids later... eek!  It isn't so much that it's hard now, it's just very full of children.  Sometimes I miss Ken very much.  I'm excited to report that we're going on a date on Friday night.  Our fifth date in three years.  I think this is something that we need to do regularly from now on.    

I love my sweet Ken more than ever.  He is the perfect man for me.  I love the father he is to our daughters.  I love the best friend that he is to me.   Happy Ninth Anniversary my love!

Boxing Day with the McCartney Family (well part of the evening anyway!)

Poor sweet Kate woke up with a fever today and she's been a sad sorry sack all day.  Ken's family Christmas was scheduled for today in Waterdown.  Originally we were going to head over in the early afternoon but we kept waiting for Kate to perk up.  The 'perking' which finally happened around 4 in the afternoon, lasted about 15 minutes and was really only the result of administering some advil, but we took it and bad parents or not, we dragged our sweet girl out to see her cousins.

When we got there Kate cried to go home for a few minutes but then thankfully quieted down and mostly just watched everything from the couch.  People were still eating when we got there and as always there was tons of good food.  The present opening began shortly after we arrived.  The last two years we've drawn names and each cousin chooses the name of one cousin to give a gift.  This year we had Anders and Rachael.  I think all the kids enjoyed their presents.  And of course there were presents from Nana and Papa.

Anders opening his gift from us.

Nana and Papa looking at the framed pictures of the girls.

Sarah opening a gift.

Kristen and Ken helping Rachael open her gift from us.

Joaquin, Laura and Brittany

Kate opening her puzzle from Lisa's kids.

William and Brenden helping Alice with the gift from William.

Sarah doting on Alice.

Rachael playing with the phone we gave her.

Cute Ezra (who is two months younger than Kate) did not want his picture taken.

Caitlin and Braden.

Meagan and Kristen.

Kristen, Lisa, Aunt Sandy , Uncle Hugh and Eric.

Kate and the doll her Nana made her.  This is pretty much what she looked like the whole evening.

It was warm at Maureen's and Alice was a new woman when I took off her top and left her in her onesie and pants.  She does not like to be overheated!

Konrad and Braden.

Joaquin, Laura and Jennifer.  (Did you two both wear plaid on purpose?)

This is when I noticed that Eric was asleep.

ALICE!

While his mouth was hanging open everyone else noticed that Eric was asleep and MANY photos were taken!  At least he didn't snore.

I'm glad we went even though Kate wasn't feeling 100%.  She didn't seem to be adversely affected by it and it was nice to see everyone.  Plans are in the works for everyone to get together this summer, hopefully the plans will come to fruition!

And just for fun, I started looking through McCartney Christmases past and look what I found...

 

Anders and sleeping Eric, Christmas 2005.