O Christmas Tree.

We were very successful tree hunters this year.  Now our generous tree ("That would have cost us over $100 bucks in NYC!") stands in the living room, covered in hand-me down ornaments from Mr. Tea's family and my own, our own small collection, and cocktail umbrellas.  (I'm telling you, a few cocktail umbrellas in front of white lights really make a party.)  And Booboo loves it all.  The first thing she says in the morning:  "Nana, nana!" which translates as:  "We've got to go downstairs right now and look at the lights on the tree!"

And Mr. Tea gave me a fabulous new camera as an early present for Christmas, so I can do more than take iphone photos.  Hooray.  I've got a few nice shots, but want to brush up on the instruction booklet, (yes, I'm one of those dorks that does actually read instruction booklets!) so I know a little better what I'm doing.

I'm having so much more fun this Christmas than last!  Firstly, because last year we had a 2 month old and still weren't out of that new parent haze yet.  And Booboo just loves everything, and it's easy to catch her enthusiasm.  We've started a winter tradition of lighting candles for her dinner, and she is so excited each and every time they are lit, to the point of reminding me, "nana, nana!" if I've forgotten.  (We're still not exactly sure how "nana" is light, but it also goes for Grandma Lala, (also beginning w/ L) so at least she's consistent!  

This time of year makes me think about folks who are far away, and especially lately those on the west coast, which are dealing with such trippy weather lately.  I hope all of you get through this time safely.  Remember, steer INTO the skid.  Mr. Tea adds that judicious use of the e-brake can also be a lifesaver.

Artiste.

Booboo did her first picture this week.  Check her out holding the crayon...she seems to do most of her eating w/ right hand, so we think she's probably right handed, but when she held the crayon, she seemed more comfortable with it in her left hand, so who knows?  She could still be a closet lefty, which would make some of her aunties very proud.

Booboo and the Blue Crayon.

Making my mark is fun!

Caroling, Caroling now we go...

One of my greatest childhood memories is the "teacher christmas party" that my parents took us to every year when we were little.  The highlight as kids was Santa's appearance--he would come in, ho ho hoing, w/ a present for each kid there.  And the food--just hors deuvres and desserts, what's not to like.  But one of my personal highlights was the caroling trip, where we would go door to door singing christmas carols at the top of our lungs, in whomevers neighborhood we happened to be at that year.  My dad, being the music teacher and all, was always heavily involved, as was my mom, whose always up for a group sing.  It all seems so naive now.  But sweet.  I don't know if I'll ever feel comfortable going door to door like that with Booboo, but we did find an outdoor neighborhood caroling not far from where we live, and Gma Lala and Booboo and I went.  Booboo was mostly entranced with all the lights--everyone in the gathering had candles--I think the whole event was more for GmaLala and me than her--it was lovely to sing w/ other people, stretch the vocal chords a bit, and get to sing all those fabulous songs.  It makes me think of so many other christmas caroling occasions, particularly around the Dodge Family piano, in one of its many incarnations, in 4 part harmony, most likely.  I keep telling myself one of these days I'm going to put out an ad in craigslist to get a group of singing types to spend some afternoon singing 4 part harmony christmas carols, but I haven't done it yet.   One of these days...

The Flame, the Flame!

Fun at the Holiday Singalong.

Lights on a local tree.

Standing and Stairs!

So, we have a climber, and a pull-yourself upper, at last!

I got a call at work from Mr. Tea early in the day, and he said he had run upstairs real quick, and when he came back down, there was Booboo at the foot of the stairs, standing!

And later in the day he called me again to report that had just come back down the stairs, and there was Booboo on the 4th stair!  And now she's pulling herself up on everything--the baby gates, (which are plenty, in this old house!) the coffee table, the crib, it's happening.

Here she is, testing the waters at the foot of the stairs:

I tried to get it Vertical, but it didn't work...even w/ help from Mr. Techhie.  We'll work on it.

Thanksgiving.

The funny thing about having Thanksgiving so late this year--we're already smack dab in the Christmas Season.  But before we go there, let's pause a minute to really appreciate this holiday.  A holiday without (too much) conspicuous consumption, just good food, good family, and a good excuse to get out of town for a few days.  Mr. Tea's parents were as lovely hosts as ever, and Grandma Lala's presence was a treat.  We haven't spent a thanksgiving together in years, so it was nice to have her along.  Booboo got to spend some quality time with her Nonnie and Papa.

A leisurely breakfast the day after.

A rare moment on Papa's lap.

The next day, Grandma Lala and I decided to do some exploring.  We had intended to go check out Rhinebeck, the cute chichi town across the river, but my sense of direction being what it is, we ended up going to opposite way and went to Saugerties, instead.

The coolest thing about Saugerties, (which is sort of Woodstock's blue-collar cousin,) besides the old movie theater, cool antique stores, and really great independent bookstore, is the lighthouse/b&b.  This is a lighthouse on a river, and on top of an actual house.  And has a real b&b, where you can stay overnight.  There were huge swans bedded down in the Hudson, big groups of them.  They looked very cool out there.  They weren't quite ducks, but being fowl, Booboo still enjoyed seeing them.

On the way to the Lighthouse.

The Saugerties Lighthouse.

Girl in the woof-woof hat.

Swans on the Hudson.

And afterward, a delicious burrito at Taco Juan's.  Booboo's favorite part was the window full of toys.

How much is that baby in the window?

Senorita Booboo.  (Love the Legos, mommy.  Not so sure about the sombrero.)

And finally, an attempt to get a family pic by Nonnie and Papa's waterfall...

Like father, like daughter.

Wait, wait, cut!  This is all wrong.

I said I need total creative control now, people!

Not bad, but what exactly are we looking at now?

Ah!  We found the waterfall, but lost Daddy!

More with the 3C's!

So Booboo is still in "strangers are scary, I must protect myself" mode, which is how she was most of the 3C's visit.   Until, of course, at the very end of their stay, when she was finally feeling more comfortable with Toddle C and the rest.  We tried to make the most of it, letting her stay up late so they could play together, (or next to, as the case may be!)  (And no, we did not plan for the matching outfits, but ain't they sweet!)

Reading books in Booboo's room.  

Mommies and Daughters

Looking at the castle book.

Old MacDonald.

Day Off.

I know, I know, excuses, excuses, but it is difficult juggling all this stuff and a blog too!  But it's been too long, and I finally have a day off to putter around at home, and enough said, let's get on with it.

We did have a great visit w/ the 3C's.  Not quite as much visit time as I would have liked, but so it goes when there are little ones around.

We got our visit to the Please Touch Museum, and it is worth every bit of the hype.  It's incredible!  I saw just as big smiles on some of the adults as the kids!  First of all, you have this gorgeous building.  And rather than it being a boring, staid, beautiful yes, but kind of dull kind of place, you enter in, and it's painted in this very whimsical way.  The spots on the wall that look like there should be dull old family portraits hanging there, are filled w/ pictures of kids faces.  And that's just the entry area.  The place has been so well laid out, there's fun stuff to do for toddlers on up to older kids.  I look forward to many trips in the years to come.  Gma Lala got a membership for us to share, so we intend to really take advantage of it.  I can't imagine a more delicious children's museum.  And we haven't even gone on the carousel yet!  (See the link for a sweet story of how it was discovered, as well as some great shots of the museum, as it was being transformed.)

Booboo is currently obsessed with ducks and eggs.  Luckily, the museum was happy to oblige, as everywhere you looked there were eggs and ducks.  She couldn't be more thrilled.

Toddle C, being more mobile and a bit more of an explorer, had a slightly different experience at the museum, but seemed to enjoy it all the same.

Booboo and friends at the duck nest.

Eeeeg!  Eeeeg!

Checking out the duck eggs.

Rubber Duckies!

Mommy and Booboo playing w/ ducks.

And later at the nursery rhyme corner, you guessed it!  More ducks and eggs!

Booboo looks pretty pleased with her egg collection.

Get me another one, will ya?

The museum by night.