Winter tales

First snow of the season.

Happy as can be. 

Making a Mr. Spock eyebrow reading my birthday card. 

Amalia is a champion puzzler. 

Dressing up with the neighbors

When I asked Lily what this is a picture of she said, "The Nazis were killed by the American soldiers and woodcutters fell in love with Baraka (not shown) so they built us a house and we lived there."

Back to reality, we took the girls ice skating this morning. 

Amalia found a helpful penguin. 

Christmas 2012, Part 2

Amalia in her new outfit from Aunt Stacey, about to introduce Lily's Christmas Day performance

Lily, also in her new outfit from Aunt Stacey, about to play Frosty the Snowman

For some reason, freezing our tails off has become a Christmas tradition.

Frozen Shrek

Frozen girls with Puss in Boots

Hanging out in the outhouse

Sure enough, their faces are freezing that way. 

This year, Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Colin got to join the icy fun.

Pierce-cicles. Did I mention that it's 9 degrees Fahrenheit?

Ice nativity scene

Christmas 2012, Part 1

After waiting until precisely 7:00 a.m., the girls dove into their stockings. 

Colored pens!

Judy Blume! (my influence)

Star Wars puzzles! (Andy's influence)

Always excited for clothes

A bit more tempered reaction (though she was prancing around in it later in the day)

More clothes!

A robot dog/iPhone thing. Lily's friend next door also got one. How did Santa know?

The top of the list robot dog (sensing a theme?)

Lily assembling her American Girl doll bed

Amalia named her dog "Spirit"

Oh so fashionable

Grandma Kathy helping to clothe Amalia's doll

Wake up, Sleepyhead!

Not even noon, the gifts were eschewed in favor of boxes. This, in case you couldn't tell, is a rocket car.

See the seats?

Amalia having fun with empty wrapping paper tubes

Good (Christmas) Eve-ning

Christmas Eve dresses courtesy of Grandma Carol. 

Preparing for her holiday violin performance of Jingle Bells. 

Amalia the announcer. 

Continuing the Christmas Eve PJ tradition!

Nutcracker sweet

Lily was invited to see The Nutcracker ballet with her friend Sophie a couple of weeks ago. 

Look who showed up! It's Ms. Choi--Lily's 2nd grade teacher. 

A week later--decorating gingerbread houses at Sophie's house. 

Want to know how much of that candy is still on Lily's house? Pretty much none.