December started off with a fabulous 4 days in NYC. I say it every year and every year I'm more convinced that there really is no place like New York City at Christmastime. The kiddos and I flew up early Thursday morning so we were able to spend the entire day walking and playing in the city. Friday was spent much the same but included lunch at the American Girl Cafe and then dinner at Artisanal with our favorite NY crew, the Austin family.
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| Savannah riding solo on the plane--such a big girl |
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| fun times in the park |
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| piano time at Eloise's at the Plaza |
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| lunch with Samantha at American Girl |
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| a late birthday celebration |
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| yummy cupcakes |
Oscar spent Saturday with us doing all of our usual festive city things: ice skating in Central Park, seeing the Macy's Santa, taking in the sights around town, and finishing it off with dinner at Balthazar.
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| Walker's first time ice skating |
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| she made it all the way around the rink unassisted |
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| W decided he's too little to ice skate |
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| S made friends with city kids while playing in the park |
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| love these Austin kiddos |
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| yearly family Santa pic |
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| ready to jump on the Polar Express |
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| first time enjoying roasted cashews |
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| my flight buddy on the way home |
Back in Chapel Hill we continued our yearly traditions: picking out their 2015 ornaments for the family tree, decorating gingerbread houses, dinner with Santa, a holiday production, celebrating birthdays, and Disney on Ice.
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| Anna ornament for Savannah |
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| Dusty for Walker |
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| finally a Santa pic with no crying kiddos |
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| my little Rudolph at school pickup |
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| dinner with the PopUp ladies |
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| my first Girls on the Run 5K |
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| Disney on Ice |
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| picking out a real tree |
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| at a live production of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer |
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| Walker's first face painting |
Walker's birthday was on a Friday and his party was the next day at Chapel Hill Gymnastics. I've done a separate post dedicated to his special weekend.
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| My birthday spent watching Alvin and the Chipmunks with these cuties |
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| and because it was my special day both kiddos agreed to smile with Santa |
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| birthday dinner out with my birthday twin |
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| Elf jammies delivered by Wink and Charlie |
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| Christmas Eve love |
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| getting out some Christmas energy on a rainy Christmas Eve |
Christmas morning was full of excitement and surprise! Walker received trains, trucks, diggers, Avengers, Buzz Lightyear, and mini roller skates. Savannah received Calico Critters, Barbies, ice skates, American Girl accessories, and a few other odd and ends. A see-saw was given to them to share.
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| Santa came!! |
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| Bunny Bear is back! |
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| trying out Walker's digger |
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| family selfie with Dad's new selfie stick |
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| lunch at the Carolina Inn |
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| these cuties! |
The week between Christmas and New Years was filled with a lot of rain and two very hyper children. To say that I was ready for the end of Christmas break would be an understatement. My children definitely thrive with a routine and structure which we had neither of during the entire break. Finally it was Thursday and time for the Alvarez family Fancy New Year's Eve party which coincided with Clemson's bowl game (we won! Now headed to the National Championship!).
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| more selfie stick action |
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| and more |
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| how did we ever live without it??!! |
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| ringing in the new year with London |
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| Go Tigers!!! |
And that brings us to the new year. I can't wait to see what all 2016 has in store for our little family. Here's hoping for many more special moments spent with all the people we love.
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