Christopher's 7th Birthday / Christmas Eve in New Hampshire

We started off Christmas Eve / Christopher's 7th Birthday with opening of presents. Christopher opened a present from us and one from Anneli. What do you think he got for his Birthday?! LEGOS of course! He got LEGO Creator Beach House. We'll post pictures once it is constructed--which will be soon I'm sure. It was a nice morning! (sorry I have no pics--I was charging my camera!!)

Then we piled into the van and headed to Aunt Amanda & Uncle Miles' home for the annual Laverdiere Christmas Eve celebration. We started out before the Christmas party celebrating Christopher's Birthday with an ice cream cake and presents with the cousins. Thanks Memere & Jim! Everyone had a blast--as you can see.....

Then it was time for us to exchange our gifts with the cousins. There was tons of wrapping paper and super fun presents everywhere! Anneli was pretty excited with all her gifts, like her Strawberry Shortcake dolls! Christopher was delighted with his gifts too, like his Coast Guard LEGOS! He got some books too, which he even started to read while we were there! Crazy boy!

Then everyone else started arriving to Amanda & Miles home where we enjoyed each other's company and had a nice dinner. We also took a bunch of annual family photos around the Christmas tree, but I didn't take many pics--it was pretty confusing with all the cameras snapping pictures. If you are reading this and you have some pics (like our family one and the cousin one), send them our way! Thanks!!
Then we headed home for our annual late, long ride home. (We even saw a lonely lost reindeer run across 495 in Auburn!) The kids fell asleep and Shaun & I chatted so we would stay awake. As usual I think I fell asleep around Hartford. Sorry Shaun! I tried to stay awake! We were up for a bit getting our treasures out and then off to bed we went.....

Letendre Christmas & Birthday Celebration!

The weekend before Christmas, Saturday, Decmeber 19th, we had a little dinner party here at our house to celebrate the December Birthdays: Shaun's (Dec 15), Christopher's (Dec 24th), Aunt Donna & my Dad's (Dec 23rd), and Christmas! Aunt Donna, Uncle Jim, Soup Mem, Ray, and Lola drove from New York to celebrate with us! Thanks for coming!!! The kids were so excited! My parents came too, and Valerie bopped in for lunch quick, since she was working on a Law School Final ALLLLLL Day! Poor girl.

Anyway, the hit of the party was Lola (Soup Mem & Ray's new puppy!)---or should we say 'Paco'--that's what Anneli called her!!

Anneli was very upset when her little friend went home...

Happy Birthday Merry Christmas....

Tonight we celebrated December (Shaun, Christopher & Pepe) Birthdays and Christmas with Meme, Pepe & Aunt Valerie, since they were leaving for South Carolina in the middle of the night. We surprised Pepe (since it was his Birthday today!) with a super yummy fondue dinner. We had steak, cheese & pepperoni pizza pockets, and mozzarella sticks. It was fun sitting around the pot chatting and cooking our food. Fun, fun, fun! (Apparently I was super hungry because I have NO pictures of our fondue party!)

Next, it was time to open Birthday & Christmas presents. It's always a fun time at Meme & Pepe's house since they get a bunch of gifts and have an entire stocking to open. It's like an early Christmas morning! Thanks guys!

We love the UCONN LAW shirts Aunt Val! They will wear them with pride--especially since that's where Anneli says she's going to go to school to be a lawyer! She wants to be a lawyer to help people buy houses! ;)

I don't have a picture of it, but Christopher was super excited about his present from Meme & Pepe. He got his Duck Hunter - Indoor/Outdoor Flying Duck Hunt Game. We'll get some pictures when we try it!

Then it was time for cake...unfortunately, Anneli didn't make it. She climbed under Christopher's new dolphin blanket in front of the tree and fell asleep. She missed a super cute and yummy festive ice cream cake. Good choice Aunt Val! :)

Wordless Wednesday

Fox Family Christmas Party

Our annual Fox Family Christmas Party was on Saturday, December 12th. Poor Christopher was sick so he and Shaun stayed home and Anneli and I joined my parents on the ride to Massachusetts. It was a fun time, visiting with Grandma Fox, Aunts, Uncles, cousins and more cousins! It's fun seeing our cousins children grow up! It's amazing how OLD we are all getting! :) Time sure flies...

To see all pictures taken at the party click HERE.

You Better Watch Out...

"...You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town...".

Last Thursday, our town had their annual tree lighting and visit from Santa Claus at the Fire Station. As usual,(2008, 2007) Santa arrived high up on a Hook & Ladder Fire Truck full of Christmas cheer as he waved to all the parents and children who were waiting for his arrival. It was fun watching all the excited (and freaked out) little kids as he arrived and made his way to his seat inside the Fire Station. Christopher & Anneli don't get that excited anymore. They didn't even care about watching Santa climb off the Fire Truck. I was disappointed because that's my favorite time of the evening!!!! Oh well...

Shaun, the kids & I enjoyed cookies and hot cider as we waited our turn to visit with the guest of honor.

The kids had a nice conversation with Santa discussing what they would like for Christmas. I was totally surprised when Christopher just kept talking and talking to Santa.... I sure wish I knew what he was asking for! I seriously have NO idea what he really wants for Christmas or his birthday!!! UGH!!! Hopefully he won't be too disappointed...

What a great evening to get into the Christmas spirit!!

Wordless Wednesday

Swimmers! Take Your Mark!

This fall, Christopher decided that he didn't want to play fall soccer. I admit, I was not that disappointed. Sorry if I sound like a bad mom, but I'm not a fan of sitting at the park watching soccer practice (or games) as the weather starts to get cold and the nights get dark earlier! Guess I'm not a 'soccer mom'!

Anyway, we wanted him to stay active and take part in some fall sport. We told him about Swim Team and he thought that would be cool! So in September, Christopher started Swim Team with the town Recreation Department. So far, he has taken part in two swim meets with his team. They were long, long days for him and also for us watching him, but he has had fun and done very well! We are very proud of him and just want him to do his best and have fun! Here are a few pictures from his first two swim meets!

Way to go Christopher!!! Keep up the great work!! :)

LEGO Kids Fest

On Friday, November 20th, we went to the LEGO Kids Fest in Hartford. We bought tickets for Friday night in hopes that it would be less crowded--which it was, compared to the crowds they reported there on Saturday & Sunday.

It was fun looking at all the LEGO Creations and playing with LEGOS too! Everyone had a great time!

Santa was even there! I guess he had to make sure he got the kids LEGO Christmas lists!

Look! Even I was there! ;) Usually, I'm the one behind the camera and not in the pictures! Shaun snapped a picture of me here with Mark Twain/Samuel Clements.

After checking out all the lifesize LEGO Models, Anneli has requested a lifesize model of Sleeping Beauty for her new bedroom... I think Shaun & Chris better get to work! :)