2012 Catch Up

As the year draws to a close, I am noticing that there were a few pics taken along the way that never made their way on to the blog. Without further ado, here they are!
We will begin with a series from a Huntley Dance Party. Such parties occur frequently and are always impromptu. According to Delilah, all the lights must be turned off and appropriate dance party attire must be worn. Parental dancing is encouraged but not required.

She gets into it.

Sometimes Noelle forgets to dance b/c she's so intrigued by Delilah.

Popcorn and a movie. Another regular occurrence around here.

 The next picture astounds me. Not because it is a great picture but b/c I CAN'T BELIEVE it's the only pic we took when the Fraziers were here. Don and Kim have been friends of the Huntley family since Chris and his sister were toddlers themselves. They may not share a last name, but they are most certainly members of the Huntley family. They came out to NYC to visit and we had the most wonderful time. The girls adored them. I don't even think adored is a strong enough word. This pic shows Noelle & Delilah going back and forth between both of them during a marathon reading session. Let it be stated for the record that Kim introduced the girls to Fancy Nancy...an obsession that I think will continue for many years!

Weekly Saturday morning pancake breakfast

It snowed the day after Christmas. Chris was at work, so I bundled up the girls and we headed up to the roof. Snow angels, snowballs, and general all-around merriment.  The girls were so excited to see the snow!

 And I will end with one of my favorite pictures. Delilah's class had a "Family Day" and all parents and sibling were invited to come join the pre-K class for a potluck lunch. It was reading time when we all started arriving. As the parents and siblings entered, all the pre-K kids waved to their family members, but went back to listening to the teacher. Except Delilah. She waved at me, but the moment she saw Noelle, she immediately patted the space beside her and said, "Come here, Noelle! These are all my friends. You'll like this book. Sit here!" Then she put her arm around Noelle and they stayed there for the rest of the book. So precious.

And that's it for 2012!! Happy New Year and see you in 2013!!!!

Christmas!

This post will be long on pictures and short on words. What can I say? Christmas with a 2 year old and a 4 year old is FUN!!!!

Eating Christmas cookies. Managed to save a few to leave for Santa.

Patiently and nakedly waiting to open the de rigeur Christmas Eve pajamas from Grammy Di and Papa H!

Christmas Sock Monkey jammies are a hit!

Delilah getting Noelle on Christmas morning. Couldn't wait a moment longer.

"A Doctor Kit?!?! Just what I've always wanted!!!"

Whack-a-Mole!

A beauty spa kit from Mimi & PopPop..an instant favorite!

Playing Doctor

Delilah painting Noelle's nails. She's actually pretty good!

All tuckered out.

Loved our cold, fun, intimate Christmas. Merry Christmas, everyone. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Parents' Day and Rockefeller!

Okay, the two subjects in this post have nothing to do with each other, but it's the end of the year and I'm trying to cram everything in here!!
First, it was parents' week at Delilah's ballet school, Ballet Academy East. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the joy Delilah feels while dancing is palpable. I told her that in the spring she is going to have to pick between ballet and gymnastics and it wasn't even a question. I've even asked her which one she would rather do right after gymnastics (b/c I figure that's when she loves gymnastics most and it's freshest in her mind), and she still picks ballet every time. And for posterity, she is having to pick b/c right now she takes 2 classes while Noelle does nothing, so we're going to switch and let them do one class each. The cost of Manhattan does not allow for more than one class each. :)
Without further ado, here is Red!


Just before class

About to begin.

How else was I going to keep Noelle from running out there?!?

They were pretending to be Rockettes. Adorable.

Delilah loves her teachers. :)

We also went to Rockefeller Center the Saturday before Christmas to see the giant tree. There is a little bakery right by the tree where we bought hot chocolate and even managed to snag a table amidst the crowds. Not everything about NYC is wonderful, but things like this make it pretty great. :)

Pageant Time!

'Tis the season...for school and church pageants! First, Delilah's school put on a holiday concert. Delilah's class sang two songs and she rehearsed them for weeks!!! Chris was able to leave work for a few hours to see it, which made it extra special. You can see in the photo how into it sweet Red gets!

Delilah and Noelle both got to participate in our church's Christmas pageant; Delilah was an angel, and Noelle was a sheep. I was not able to see it because I had to be in Brooklyn at the church I work for down there. Here is a conversation Chris and I had leading up to the pageant:
Me: Maybe y'all shouldn't go to church on Sunday. It's the day of the pageant and I think Delilah will be so sad she's not in it.
Chris: Why can't she be in it?
Me: Well, I have to be in Brooklyn that morning.
Chris: So? I take the girls by myself to church all the time.
Me: But I won't be able to watch her.
Chris: Let me get this straight. You would rather have Delilah not be in the pageant than have her be in it if you can't watch her?
Me: It made more sense in my head than it does when you say it out loud...

I guess it's still just hard for me to imagine her little life without me there every step of the way!!! She did, of course, participate. And even Noelle, whom I thought would be too young, got to join in.

At the rehearsal Noelle wouldn't put on the sheep costume. So Chris came up with this homemade costume...so resourceful, my husband! :)

I LOVE this photo. Noelle was too scared to go onstage, but in the end she finally ran out. She ran straight to Delilah who put her arms around her. I think Delilah looks like Noelle's personal guardian angel in the pic. Takes my breath away.

I think Delilah may really have seen God. I am not kidding. This is just so beautiful.



 Merry Christmas to all. Happy Birthday, Jesus!!