Goodbye to 2012 in Tahoe

Our time in Tahoe was also filled with lots of snow play and relaxing. 

 

 The sled runners

 

 

Hot Chocolate

 

Happy 2013!

Little Skiers

We spent the week between Christmas and New Years in Tahoe.  As usual, Luke was anxious to get up on the mountain (and enjoys the treats up there as well).

The skiing highlight this week was Mia's first ski lesson!  She was excited to get out there and try it out.  So, our little lady suited up...

 

 

...and headed up the mountain.

Coach Jay was out working with Luke, so Mia's ski instructor was Coach Marty.  He was amazing and PERFECT for Mia's first experience.  She had a great time and even made it up the magic carpet and back down a couple of times.  By the end of the lesson, she said that she loved skiing, but wanted the boots off (who can blame her?). 

We were so pleased with her first lesson and so proud of how she got out there.  So, where did we head next?  For a hot chocolate and a cookie, of course!

Tired skiers heading home



Christmas Day Dinner

We shared an amazing Christmas meal at Day and Paw's house.  Great-Grammy and Papa also joined us for the evening.  We had a delicious meal, exchanged a few more gifts, and ended the evening with a viewing of The Polar Express movie.

 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Morning

Santa came!

Stocking stuffers

 Santa brought a Cinderella Castle for Mia...

 And a Lego rocketship and Launchpad set for Luke

 

 Of course, Santa wouldn't forget Brooklyn (and Linus, too)

 

Luke and Uncle Todd spent the better part of the day building Legos

Christmas Eve

We celebrated Christmas Eve here at home this year.  We had a great meal and an evening full of exchanging gifts.

 

Day, Paw, Mommy, and Daddy started off the evening for the kids by sending them around the house on a scavenger hunt to find clues that would eventually lead to their Christmas gift.  They collected a number of "clues" including a bundle of Disney movies, Mickey Mouse ears, and opened presents that contained Lightening McQueen and Cinderella sweatshirts.  It didn't take long for Luke to put together to clues that we were taking them to Disneyland!  They were both very excited ... and Mia loved her Cinderella sweatshirt so much that she wore it all night.

 

Another favorite gift came from Uncle James, Aunt Kate, Frederick, and Jacqueline.  The kids both received LeapPads.  As you can see below, they were hooked from the beginning.  Uncle Todd and Aunt Michelle set them up with some LeapPad games, and the Vitiellos took care of cases, accessories, and a few more games.  Lucky kids!

Luke was just darling this year and was SO excited to wrap up an old toy of his to give to Mia for Christmas.  This was completely his idea.  He wanted to give her his FisherPrice XL game because he felt like he didn't play much with it anymore and that she seemed to like it.  So, he wrapped it up and made her a card to go along with it.  Here he is presenting it to her.

After a long, exciting night everyone drifted off to sleep and Santa Claus came to visit!

Luke & Mia's Twinkle Photos

Included as part of our family photo session earlier this year was an outfit change.  Due to the fact that the shooting location was outside at a park (not exactly easy to change everyone) and that I actually had no other outfits planned, I asked our photographer if we might do a session with the kids in their pajamas at her studio.  She agreed and said that it was something that she wanted to try anyways.

The photos speak for themselves.  Anna is so talented and I am SO in love with these pictures of Luke and Mia.  Here are some of my favorites from their Christmas PJ Twinkle session: