Merry Merry!

Hi guys! It has been awhile. We have just been caught up in the holiday whirlwind. 

Jackson and Olivia have probably grown since last time you saw them. They are always growing.

We had a nice Christmas feast yesterday with my parents. My favorite dish was the Broccoli Rice Casserole from Cookin' Crunk. I threw some French fried onions on top.

I also made roasted Brussels sprouts, candied sweet potatoes, and garlic mashed potatoes.

I made a couple of pies from Vegan Pie in the Sky. The chocolate pudding pie was cool, creamy, perfect.

The maple pecan pie was for Tony. Pecan is his favorite. He said the maple flavor made it extra special.

Jackson and Olivia both helped prepare our feast. They are excellent potato peelers and mashers.

What else has been going on this season? Well just in the past week, we had the dual language party at the kids' school.

The teachers played games with the kids, a nice time to relax and socialize outside of the classroom.

Mitten hi-five!

At the library we did a Polar Express pajama party, and I put my little elves to work. 

They also got to hang with Santa and discuss the intricate subtleties of naughty vs. nice.

Book tree! So pretty.

Oh yeah, and we saw STAR WARS.  Someone was beyond excited.

Jackson and Olivia somehow knew who all the new characters were and ahem...some spoilers...before they saw the actual movie. That elementary school grapevine, man! They still loved every second. Tony and I did too!

Ernie the Elf has even been busy. Before returning to the North Pole with Santa, he baked some gingerbread cookies to leave out on Christmas Eve for the big guy.

It all led up to this morning. Monster was the first one awake, and ready for his annual sacrificial chew toy.

Shouts and squeals of excitement soon filled the house.

Santa did good this year. By early evening, these little ones were completely tuckered out.

Hope you have had a very merry Christmas.