My Tiny Dancers

We have been a little nutcracker obsessed around here, and when Grandma gave the girls some old dance outfits they began to put on a series of performances for us. I LOVE Violet's bow. Sometimes this girlie stuff is too cute to stand!

Christmas Day 2011

Before the kids got to the gifts.

Pen opening her stocking.

Vi loves candy canes!

Bunny Num Num trying out the doll carrier.

The girls and their new doll carriers.

The battery operated toothbrush was a huge hit!

Watching the squirrels and birds enjoying their treats.

Present opening.

Charles and Steve in their new t-shirts.

Violet opening Charles' gift.

Tom and Pen and Pen's new otter, Lila.

Tom and Vi reading.

Uncle Charles and the girls in their grinch shirts.

Christmas Eve 2011

Pen holding new cousin Isabella.

The girls with their new cousin.

Great Grandma with her tiniest great-grand baby.

Violet checking out her new cousin.

Violet feeling unsure about Mama holding another baby.

All the cousins sitting around the tree they decorated for Great Grandma.

Thomas and Violet in the back, Ashley holding baby Isabella, Pen holding Lily, and Dylan.

Grandma and 4 of her 5 granddaughters.

Steve and Vi

Kelly and Isabella

Vi giving Great Grandma her gift.

Present opening frenzy.

Pen having another turn with Isabella.

I've been holding babies since I was this many Grandma!

Four year old hand holding a four week old hand.

Uncle Steven and Dylan

The girl's oldest cousin and youngest cousin.

Lily and Pen chowing on garlic bread.

Group Hug

Uncle Steven checking out Thomas' new camera.

The kids holding their ears while Grandma cleaned up a chip spill with the loud vacuum.  

Tom's house all decorated.

Choosing cookies for Santa.

Bringing in the cookies.

Bringing in the almond milk.

Milk and cookies for Santa.

Hanging her stocking.

The stockings all hung with care, time for bed.

Solstice 2011

Wrapping her Daddy's Solstice gift with great  care.

Imagining his happiness when he opens his special gift.

Solstice gifts under the tree.

Pen waiting with excitement for Steve to open her gift, and Steve's wearing the hat I knit him.

Pen opening her Solstice dress I made for her.

Vi opening her gift.

I made her a bag.

She was very thrilled with her horse nightgown.

Playing with the new doggie things I made them.

This is what Pen made for her Daddy.

Vi wearing her Solstice dress.

Making treats for the birds and squirrels.

Bird treats.

Bird treat

Cutie with her new bag.

Happy squirrel eating his Solstice peanuts.

Hiding peanuts in the woods.

Steve bringing home firewood we found in the woods.

Getting the fire ready for night time.

Treats for people.

Wonderful dinner made by Steve and Pen.

Our back porch.

Our fire.

 We had such warm weather for the Solstice. We spent much of the day outside, feeding the birds and squirrels in our yard, and then a long walk through the woods, spreading peanuts and seeds all the way for the creatures there. We exchanged the gifts we'd worked on with love and excitement. Penelope didn't believe that I made the things I made, she thought they looked like they came from the store. I thought the same about the frame she made her daddy - even though I helped her make it. I think we are just getting good at making our own stuff. I'm most proud of the girl's dresses. They have t-shirt tops, and the skirt part is made from old t-shirts of mine. Steve did the sun stenciling on them, as he is better at it than me. We made cookies and a beautiful dinner (the dinner was Steve's gift to me - my favorite thing he makes, eggplant with his Grandma's sauce), and ended our day outside again, in front of our blazing fire. Happy Solstice!