Happy New Year - and more Christmas (New Jersey Edition)

Happy New Year, everyone!

But before we move on to the new year completely, let's finish up our regularly scheduled Christmas 2012 programming first...

After Jasper, Juno and I opened our presents at home on Christmas morning, we packed the car and headed down to New Jersey to see what Santa left for us there. Well, he didn't leave us any gifts but Babcia, Dziadek, Prababcia, Ciocia and Wujek did! (Thank goodness)

Of course we had to take some pictures once we arrived and survey the scene.

Then it was time for the main event - presents! We received lots of great things. Here are some of our favorites - Perler beads (which Jasper refers to as frisley beads), checkers, fishy game, books, a new train set and a big art kit.

What? You all don't play checkers after a long day of opening presents? Thank you everyone for all of our fun presents!!

What happens in Jersey, stays in Jersey

We had a fun Thanksgiving weekend at Dziadek and Babcia's house, especially since we had some beautiful weather (one day of it, anyway, sandwiched between a couple of much cooler days), and as always while at Dziadek and Babcia's, we engaged in some activities that it's probably best Mommy and Daddy weren't around to see, like this -

(Never mind about why I'm putting dozens of clothes line pins on Babcia's sweater - what are those two plastic bags filled with water doing hanging from the clothes line?!)

Taking naps (or NOT taking naps...)

Eating a healthy lunch (of Philadelphia soft pretzels?...)

Not even sure what to say about this one...

And finally, here's what goes up the day after Thanksgiving in Dziadek and Babcia's neighbors' front yards...

But it's never too early for Santa Mickey, is it?!

Early jump on Christmas activities

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving! While we spend Thanksgiving day itself at home, both resting from our trip to Disneyworld and enjoying the great dinner Mommy made for us, the day after Thanksgiving we headed down to Dziadek and Babcia's house, where we got an early start on Christmas - especially Christmas trains.

We started off with a visit to Macy's Santaland, where we paused for a group picture - which would have been better if I hadn't blinked right when Daddy took the picture...

Then a walk through a Christmas Village right inside the store - and a full recreation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

But the main event at the Philadelphia Macy's, as it is every year around this time, is the annual Christmas light show. This year, instead of craning our necks up from the ground floor, Everett and I decided to head upstairs, where Everett found the perfect watching nook for us...

We had a great view, and so our day of trains begun...

After Macy's, we headed to the SEPTA museum just down the block, where both Everett and I got to drive the city bus...

And the trolley...

Not to mention ample playtime with the Chuggington train table...

And then, finally, the highlight of the morning -

The Reading Terminal Market model train display - an annual favorite!

We loved getting an early start on Christmas festivities - but when do we get to see Santa?!

Don't expect to hear from us for the rest of the weekend...

For obvious reasons...

See you next week!

Dziadek and Babcia's it is!

Those of you who guessed that Jasper and I spent the early part of the week at Dziadek and Babcia's house were of course right - Mommy and Daddy dropped us off there so we could spend some QT time with our grandparents, and so that Mommy and Daddy could catch up on some work. Here's some of what went on while Mommy and Daddy weren't around to supervise...

But in some ways, the early part of the week at Dziadek and Babcia's house were just a warm up for the latter part of the week, which starts tomorrow. Now, can anyone guess where we'll spend THAT?

Photo caption contest

Best caption to go along with this picture wins a prize!

Bonus points for anyone who can guess where Jasper and I are spending the early part of this week (hint #1: the above picture; hint #2: no Mommy, no Daddy, no problems...)

Long weekend wrap-up

Hope everyone had a great weekend and Father's Day. Since our school ended mid-week last week, and Summer camp hasn't started yet, we had a long weekend. We spent some of it in Brooklyn but much of it in New Jersey at Dziadek and Babcia's house - the best of both worlds! And of course, also great since we got to celebrate Father's Day with both Dziadek and Daddy!

Not much to say beyond that, so here are some scenes from our weekend (none of which will surprise anyone at this point...)