Emily's First Skiing Expedition

Today we took Stone and Emily skiing for the first time at Gunstock Mountain. The day started off with the kids getting their pictures taken for their season passes. They are only 3 years old and already they have season passes!

The mountain has a slope called the Magic Carpet. It is referring to the conveyor belt that caries the new skiers up the hill.. Stone and Emily did such a great job. By the second run Stone and Emily were getting off the conveyor belt by themselves and were immediately ready for another shot at the slope. It was such a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Pada, Stone and Emily Emily geared up and ready to hit the slopesStone and Emily taking the "Magic Carpet" up the hillAbigail being her goofy little self. Counting the minutes she can put some skis on her feet.Emily's first run

Stone's first run

The end of a long hour of skiing

Thanks Pada, Uncle Bobby, Aunt Bethany, Stone and Dashel for a wonderful day!

Embracing the Holiday Season

What better way to kick off the holidays than making snowmen and decorating our Christmas tree. With that being said, Emily and I tried to salvage what little snow that had accumulated on our yard and make the biggest snowman we could.

You would never guess that we used all the snow in our yard. :)

After an exhausting assembly of our snowman, we decided to head indoors and start decorating our tree.

Getting the ornaments ready.

Emily putting up her first ornament.

Emily putting on the tree topper

Finished product.

Thanksgiving 2008

It is a rare occasion when we can get all the cousins on the Watson side together but this Thanksgiving we were lucky enough to spend the holiday with each other. It is so much fun to see them getting along so well and really enjoying each other's company. It was a great day. Happy (belated) Thanksgiving. Thanks Nana and Pada for having us over.

The Kid's Table

Dashel and Abigail playing.

Karleigh, Emily and Stone

Holidays are usually about tradition. Buying your Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving or opening your presents on Christmas Eve. You get the idea. Well this years tradition on Thanksgiving involed a Redi Whip can. It's funny, the kids didn't think of this idea but the big guy himself. Thanks Pada!

Payback!!
Emmy's turn!

Delaney B's First Sleepover with the Girls.

In college, we would all talk about how funny it is going to be when we all get married, buy houses, start a family. Then we would have another beer and talk about how cool it will be when our kids are going to hang out with each other. Not for a second thinking that it was really going to happen. Well, it has and it is the best thing. We couldn't ask for better friends and their kids are pretty cool too!

Delaney, Kaylie, Emily, and Reese. (Abigail was at Auntie Kris and Uncle Derek's house for the night.)
Like father, like daughter
"Is it gone already?"

Thanks Mike and Steph, we had a great time.

Sisters...

There is no greater joy than watching your children really enjoy each other's company. Every morning Emily can't wait to hear Abigail's little voice. She runs to her door, opens it slowly and yells "Hi Abigail." Abigail just laughs. It warms my heart.

My sister Erin, according to our mom, used to come into my room when I was little and play with me in my crib. I guess it runs in the family.

I only hope that they stay this close forever, but that is wishful thinking. We all know how sisters can be, the fights start with toys, then it is clothes and finally boys. Ugh...I am being punished for something. I kid, oh how love these girls!!!!

"You always have the latest and greatest toys."

Who needs Toys R Us when you have a linen closet and two toddlers..

I don't know who is having more fun, the kids or Kris.

The First of Many Birthday Parties

Tyler, Em's new beau, had a birthday party at the beginning of the month. No one prepared me for the influx of birthday invitations when you send your child to school. It is insane, but well worth it for moments like these.

The plan was to put a movie on so the adults could sit and relax. Didn't work all that well but they did look cute for the first few minutes.

Emily's First Boyfriend.....

As you all know Emily started school this year and she is loving it. She loves even more now that she has a boyfriend that she can't wait to see every Tuesday and Thursday. The two of them are inseparable when they have the chance to play. Tyler does anything he can to make Emily laugh. It is the sweetest thing you have ever seen. Michelle, Tyler's mom, and I just look at each other and shake our heads because we know what lies ahead. For instance, when we were leaving school the other day the kids ran out in front of Michelle and I. We screamed for them to wait for us and luckily they did. As we caught up with them, they were holding hands in preparation for crossing the street. It was the cutest thing I have seen...for now. :)

At least he lets her drive!

Two future heart breakers

Halloween 2008

Halloween this year was quite an adventure. My friend Kristine invited all of the kids over for Trick or Treating and pizza. She is very brave. It was rumored that the neighborhood behind the Blackwelder's house was a goldmine for the "King Size" candy bar. So we start to head out. Two kids in a double stroller, Abigail in her stroller and Maegan holding Harper because Emily took his spot on the double stroller. This just set the pace for the rest of the night.

We go to a few houses before hitting, what we thought would be, the mother load. After going to 2 or 3 houses we take a short cut to the next neighborhood, and by short cut I mean a leaf covered path with tree roots and overgrown bushes. Perfect path for two strollers and one walking toddler. We commence with the trick or treating. The houses were so spread apart that we hit about 5 houses in an hour. Before the 5th house I decided to throw in the towel. I asked Kris and Maegan to use their cell phones because I forgot mine. They didn't have their cells either. Not good planning on our part. Luckily, Kris is very friendly and outgoing. Much like myself.(Yeah right :) ) She asked the owners of the last house we visited if we could cut through their backyard. Thankfully, they said yes.

I spoke too soon. This shortcut proved to be another adventure. Picture three moms unloading kids out of strollers passing kids to each other over a rock wall like an assembly line. Very comical. We left the strollers and sent the men to retrieve them later.

The kids had a great time, the adults good time didn't start until after the sugar high was gone and the kids were in bed. :)

Harper, Emily and Clark

Abigail and ToddEmily as TiggerClark as Thomas the TrainEm and Clark

Thanks Kris for a memorable Halloween!

Emily's First Dance!

Emily attended a dance at Stone's school this past Friday. The two of them were both so excited that they started dancing in our kitchen. Gloria Estefan said it best...."Sooner or later the rhythem is going to get you." Oh, the rhythem definitely got these two.

Emily and Stone posing before they head off to the dance

Emily doing her best Michael Flately impression

Emily and Stone possibly doing the jive???

All Done...

Maybe not!
Dashel getting his groove on.

Emily and Stone doing their thing.

Thanks Auntie Bethany, Emily had a great time!

Last Post for a While...

Sadly my camera is broken so I will be unable to send pictures or videos of the girls for a while.

I will try to keep you updated of what is going on up here in good old New Hampshire.

Hopefully I can get it fixed quickly. Cross your fingers.

The Driscoll's

While we were in CT this last visit we were lucky enough to see our friends, Dave, Keelie and baby Delaney in Mystic. Delaney was born this August just a few days before Em's 3rd birthday. We brought a picnic lunch to a local park and played with our girls. Needless to say this is not our usual day with the Driscoll's when we visit. :) We loved every minute of it!!

Dave teaching Emily how to play soccer. Watch it Dave, that's my job!

Todd and Dave with their girls.

The Driscoll Family

Abigail and Delaney had enough!

Em caught a second wind thanks to her ice cream cone. Can you guess what flavor she had?

Contemplating life.

Thanks for a great day guys!! We miss you already!!

Our Latest Visit to CT

Now that Abigail is doing much better in the car, Todd and I decided to take the girls on a little trip down to CT. We were lucky enough to see Sean play football against Bloomfield. Right as we arrived, we saw Newington score a touchdown and Sean was a key factor in that play. Pretty cool!

On Friday, we, by that I mean Erin and I, decided to take the kids to Lyman Orchards for a go at the corn maze and some cider donuts. By the way, the maze took us about 45 minutes to get through. Not a small corn maze!

Uncle Todd/Daddy showing the way to the next checkpoint.

ReRe and Emily pausing for a quick picture.

James and his mommy. (He wasn't really in the picture mood that day)

Nice smile guys!

We ended the day with a trip to the park. I am surprised the kids made it to the football game that night. (Only smile we got out of James that day!) :)

Abigail and Grandma. Can you tell by the smile on her face that she is up way past her bedtime and she knows it?

It was great to see everyone! Sorry we couln't stay longer.