visit from Miller-Licons

There's something interesting that happens when you know you are about to live much closer to someone:  you don't take as many pictures when you're with them. "The boys" visited us from 12/26/13 to 1/2/14.  Here are some pictures of our low-key visit:

Going for a walk

 Taking a bath

Being Merry with Mary for Christmas 2013!

Gavin in a holiday concert through daycare (Miles of Smiles)

 Decorating the Christmas tree

 Christmas Eve dinner

Making cookies for "Santa"

 A new Christmas Eve tradition:  new pajamas!

 It's bedtime!  Cookies & milk for the big guy; Sprinkled oats & carrots for his crew.

 Peppermint Pop Rock stocking stuffers for breakfast!

Mia's school did this thing where we sent in money with a bit of info on how much to spend and who to buy for and she bought her own presents for everyone.  Grandma and I got necklaces, Dave got a mug and Gavin got this little alligator he was very excited about:

Real breakfast using Mia's present (waffle maker).  She had been asking for waffles for some time and saying she was going to get me a waffle maker for my birthday so she could have some.  So when Dave and I saw this heart-shaped waffle on a stick maker in Toys R Us for a good deal we had to get it.  It even comes with a powdered sugar shaker which they apply generously.

Some more additions to the pretend play bin.

 Trains and baby things from Libby (thank you!)

 Thank you Mary for spending Christmas with us.  We enjoyed the quality time we all got to spend with you.  

Gavin misses his "Grammy"

The Michelson's visit!

The week before Christmas we were excited to be welcoming the Michelson's to our house.  This visit sprung from our idea to have Alex spend a weekend at our house as our birthday present to him.  It was a child exchange of sorts because, although Mia is not yet brave enough to sleep somewhere without us, Nichole took Mia on a special trip just the two of them.  It started with pizza at our local shop and ended up doing arts and crafts (Mia's favorite) at a local art center.  As for us and Alex, we started off taking him for one of our favorite hikes and then we went to get a Christmas tree.  Finally, Dave took Alex to the movies to see Thor and he had one of his first trips in the front seat!  They had a great time. . . we all had a great time with our nephew Alex and hope that we can still get together occasionally, despite our move to MA.

Here is almost everyone in Mia/Gavin's room

Playing music:  Grandma, Logan and Gavin

Playing with the Michelson's Christmas presents. . . thank you!!

Snow Day!!!!!!!!!!

Thanksgivakah in Boston

Arts and Crafts with Uncle Matt

The "akah" portion of Thanksgivakah

after the gelt hunt. . . getting ready to play dreidel

The adult table

The kid table

Thankful for family 

Oldest and youngest

Sibling love

a long trip home for this fireman

Mia & David

Here is Mia with her first ever crush David.  How do I know he isn't just another friend who happens to be a boy?  Well because after the first day or week of school when I was asking her who she met, who she likes and what made them a good friend she mentioned David and said he was a good friend because he is "handsome". I didn't even know she knew that word!  Well we had to have him and his family over so they joined us for a pizza/movie night one Friday.  I never imagined that he would be just as shy (or slow to warm up) as Mia.  He is also tall like Mia and a great artist like our own David (we saw his work on the walls of the pre-K when we went to our parent-teacher conference).  Here they are with their pizza :)

a visit to the Tillery's

In mid-November we went to visit the Tillery's because it had been awhile and we wanted to see my aunt who was having some health issues.  We love visiting our cousins. . . look at these pictures to see why:

Gavin playing with the boys!

Mia with TJ

Riding bikes around the cul-de-sac

Girly time with Jami (manicure!)

A walk to the lake. . . 

to sit on the dock. . . 

and enjoy the peaceful water.

Aunt Gee Gee visits (and brings her amazing macaroni & cheese)! 

 Robert, Kim, Jasmin and Jalyn come too!!  Mia is ecstatic to be reminded that she is not the only girl cousin in her family :)

Group shot:

I know it will be a further visit to Massachusetts but a) I think we took full advantage of our proximity during the time I was in Philly and then NJ and b) just think, now you'll be able to visit 2 Millers' families for the price of 1  :)  Love you all!!