At Home

We've been having a lot of fun at home lately and the holidays have been going really well.  To practice for Thanksgiving we broke out the china for a night at the "Olive Grove Restaurant".  Here were our fancy kids at the restaurant's opening.

 Ian was pretty proud of a bed well made.

 We've been working on trying to do better at listening the first time they're asked to do something (an ongoing battle of parenthood, we're afraid) and every time they did it they filled up a jar a little higher and worked towards extra toppings on a ice cream sundae bar at the end of the month.  Here was their payday.

We were sick for a week and here are some "beds" Josie made the especially sick with a double-ear infection, Ian.

 Rachel was excited to eat crackers with Andy on the stairs.

 We headed out with the Jeppesen's to the Grand America's holiday tea and took along sweet Suzy.  It was such a beautiful event and we really enjoyed ourselves.  We loved the huge gingerbread house.

 Getting ready for deliciousness.

 This glass held what looked like a nut and when it was steeped in boiling water for a couple of minutes it opened into this beautiful flower.  It was an herbal tea at that point and Rachel braved a few tastes.  You can guess what she thought.

Santa and Mrs. Claus were so sweet and he chose Rachel to help him with a song and the funniest thing of the day was she looked at Bridget and Suzy and stated, "oh darn."  She was a good sport and helped, but it was so funny.

 Rachel with cute Jane and Margaret at the fun toy store.

 With one of the beautiful trees.

 A candy shot for Ian.

 Rachel's infamous helping.

Enjoying a Christmas story.

 Josie is quite the helper in the kitchen and she made these rolls all by herself (dumped ingredients, mixed, and spooned onto tray).  They were delicious and she was pretty proud.

 We had some awesome secret agents at work one Sunday.

Andy continued to try and choke himself by getting a bead stuck on his bottom tooth.  Yes, it was very hard to get off.

 Ian looked....special in a beret.

 Rachel and Andy were cuties.

Josie converted an empty spool into a pirate's pipe.