Ringing in the New Year at Edaville

We'd heard a lot about Edaville, a charming old time amusement park with a train on an old cranberry bog. They have a Christmas Lights Spectacular every year. And this year I'd read they were going all out with lights due to the fact that the park was up for sale and they were hoping for a buyer. We decided to spend New Year's Eve, which was relatively warm, exploring Edaville.

Maddie and Theo both loved piloting these planes.

On Big Eli, the ferris wheel. Gabriel was very unsure about boarding this ride. But, once snuggled between me and Maddie, he was very happy.

Theo couldn't wait!

The lights of Edaville.

Lastly, we took the train through the property. It's a full sized train and about a 15 minute ride. The kids loved seeing the lights and riding on a train. It was a lovely evening followed by a movie at home for the grown ups.

Though my favorite conversation came the next day when Theo was asking to go back to Edaville. I explained that, unfortunately, the park was closing as it was for sale without a buyer. He asked how much it was being sold for and I told him 10 million dollars. He said, "Hmm, let me check my wallet." Theo then proceeded to count out his money with the sad conclusion that he didn't have enough to purchase the park. He then asked if he put in 3 million and Maddie put in 3 million, if the bank could loan them the rest. I said certainly. We'll see if the Sanders will someday be owners of Edaville.

Happy New Year!

Hello Type A

So I couldn't end the year with an incomplete blog and if you've been following it, you know there were many missing posts. My request for Nathan to leave me the house to myself was granted as he took the kids snow hiking. And I spent 5 hours updating! So if you are so inclined, I pretty much updated from the end of June to the end of the year. Happy New Year!

Christmas Week

Merry Christmas! And what a Christmas it was. Each year I swear I'll be better prepared and each year I lament the fact that I'm not. Maybe 2011? That said, thank goodness for the arrival of my parents and brother to provide extra hands and help to make Christmas magical. And magical it was.

Maddie got her wish for a snowy Christmas!

The annual gingerbread house decorating. Uncle J did get in trouble for nibbling on the roof of the house.
Our adult dinner at The Biltmore. A small slushy snow storm curtailed our plans to go to the hottest new restaurant in the area. We settled in at The Biltmore which has been around since prohibition times. They focus on local cheeses and meats. The ambiance was perfect, warm, New Englandy, tin ceilings, amazing beers and holiday cheer!
A pizza party at the Windsor Club. The boys really developed their bowling game this time around.
Gabriel would s-l-o-w-l-y roll the ball down the lane and patiently watch for it to bump a pin.

Maddie's favorite - air hockey. She gave Johnny a run for his money.

Look at the ping pong stance!

And finally Christmas eve! We attended the 3:30 children's pageant, which is pure chaos and noise. Last year, I had two donkeys and an angel in the pageant. This year, I couldn't convince the angel to participate. One donkey refused to suit up. And my lone participant got too hot waiting to make his trek to the baby Jesus that he disrobed debuting as 1/2 a donkey. Yes, there are many jokes you can make out of this.
And as usual, we had an amazing Christmas Eve feast courtesy of Chef Sanders. Salmon rillettes, roasted tomato and burata caprese with arugula pesto, cappellacci (sweet potato ravioli), fish cooked in salt, sauteed broccoli, campari granita, and italian cakes.

Making the ravioli

The red snapper! In a daring display of letting go of control, Nathan had me chose the fish when the market he went to did not carry whole fish. He dictated specifics including a short illustrative story about the plane going down, the pilot incapacitated and me having to step in to fly the plane while listening to instructions from air traffic control. Needless to say, I passed with the highest marks.

The kids sprinkling reindeer food on the front yard.

Christmas morning! Waiting for everyone to rise and shine, the kids inspected the yard for reindeer hoof prints (there were some) and disturbed snow where they nibbled.

The children made presents for each other and were so proud to give them. Maddie painted small canvases and made yarn octopuses, Theo painted ornaments with a picture of himself in them and Gabriel made an ornament for his brother and sissy.
Welcome to the family, Felicity! Our first entrance in the American Girl doll world - and what a world it is. Wow. Marketing like you wouldn't believe. But, one 7 year old couldn't have been happier!
Western gear from Arizona. The boys wore their boots and galloped around the house. Super cute.

Native American made bracelets. My parents met the jewelry maker of mine.

We also had the annual Christmas jam. Unfortunately, my piano "playing" didn't pan out. Dad has picked up the electric guitar so we have high hopes for a full jam next year! Gabriel rocked it on the drum, Johnny tried to be enthusiastic with the shaker and Maddie carried the songs!

It was a boys morning at the Bruins practice on the day after Christmas. Theo was beyond excited. What a find - we can go watch the Bruins practice any old time at a community ice rink!

Pre-blizzard feast at Casa Portugal. The hype surrounding the blizzard was something else. Johnny was due to fly out on Monday out of New Hampshire. He changed his flight to Tuesday, smart move due to the fact that travelers are still stranded.

Sibling play

End of blizzard shoveling. Dad graciously shoveled our entire driveway and walk. We estimated only 10-12 inches of snow rather than the 20 expected. That is a lot of shoveling! It's nice to have a day without errands, to be "stranded" in the house. Mom, Johnny and I walked to Starbucks for a warm cuppa. It was a beautiful walk through the snowy streets.

The kids love this playful uncle.

Adieu Christmas! What blessings we have.

Angier Holiday Fun

Can you believe Maddie was in school until December 23 this year? I couldn't. I feel for the poor teachers. Anyhow, we celebrated winter with a fun party in her class. I think Maddie had the most special visitors for the party!

Her cute styrofoam snowman.

Grammie has been to the past three snowman parties. Theo got to tag along too. Hard to believe next year, he'll have his own snowman party at Angier!

And the best treat of all! Daddy came into the class to sing carols. The kids loved it, as did Maddie and Theo. Three rousing songs later, Nathan was officially crowned a rock star dad!

Ornament Party

Last year I donated a Valentine's Day Craft party to be auctioned off for Angier. To say it wasn't a success, is an understatement. Maddie did not have fun. I hesitated this year but when at a ceramics studio, I saw an ornament party in a box which I thought would be fun. The girls paint their ornaments and then the studio glazes and fires them making for a nice gift. It was a much better party! We had yummy snacks, painted the ornaments and decorated gift bags.

From left: Rachel, Ashley, Bridgett, Amelia, Maddie and Avery. A lovely group of Christmas elves!

Hello Santa

We saw Santa twice this year. Once at my favorite toy store and the other time at a Santa and Cookie party at church. Theo going through his Christmas list. Maddie had one item on her list - a cat... Santa dodged that bullet nicely.

At church, the past few years, I've been in the picture. This year, Gabriel snuggled right up with the big man.

Project Runway Watch Out!

We are so proud of Maddie! She completed her first session at Hip Stitch, a new sewing studio in Newton. Not only did she learn to use the machine, she made a skirt and bag that she debuted in a fashion show. She was poised and confident and walked that runway with ease.

I love this picture of her peeking out to watch the show.

Proud parents (and yes, I have other sweaters, this one seems to pop up in a lot of pictures lately!). Nathan needed an emergency root canal which he postponed until the next morning to see his daughter in the fashion show.

The seamstresses, Amelia, Rachel and Miss M.

Giving Boy

Theo continues to amaze me with his generous and giving heart. At Bowen, they celebrated Las Posadas which ended in a pinata (something I remember from Christmas Eve parties growing up!). He came home with a bounty of treats and change. Completely unprompted, he divided up his loot into three piles and presented Maddie and Gabriel with their own goodies.

Welcome to Brownies!

One of my fondest grade school memories is of Brownies and Girl Scouts. I wanted Maddie to have the same experience so I started a troop. Luckily, I have three amazing friends helping out as troop leaders. We also have a group of 14 girls who are sweet, kind and enthusiastic about Brownies, very enthusiastic!

We'll meet twice a month at the Waban Library Center. Our first official meeting covered a lot of Brownie information and ended with the ceremony welcoming them into Brownies.

The girls are very proud and excited for each meeting. It makes all the work worth it!

The Best Christmas Tree EVER!

So perfect it looks fake. This tree is one for the record books. Fully decorated, it is proud, and perfectly shaped. I'll have to snap a picture of it in all it's glory.

Lots of helpers to saw her down.

Off to our house!