Friday, December 30, 2011

Our Last Trip to the Baltimore Zoo

November 6th Tessa, Caroline and I had tickets to fly to Boston, for good.  So on the 4th we got together with lots of our friends for a chilly trip to the zoo.  We were so fortunate to make such good friends while we lived lived, it was bittersweet to say good bye.
Izzy, Anna, and Tessa on the lion.
  Evan and Tessa

 Beth with her girls.
 Some of the crew.

 Checking out the fish
 So happy to see Rylan!
 Bundled up, and being a very good baby seeing as though she'd had no nap.
 Talking about elephant teeth.
 Frogs
 The lions were both up and walking around...I have never seen either of them move on any of our 20+ previous visits.
 Carousel time!




 And the tram back to the cars.

Tessa, Caroline, and I had a blast!  Although it did make saying good bye even harder.

Christmas 2011

 We have clearly been VERY busy, moving in on the 14th and trying to get settled in time for Christmas at our house.  I have lots to catch up on (Caroline turned 1!) and we lived with Jen/Nana for a combined amount of 5 weeks, and we said good-bye to many friends in MD.  Hopefully now that blogger has a "better" photo uploading tool I'll be able to post all that stuff soon.

Tessa was a lucky little girl this year, and was able to see Santa quite a few times.  I included the first picture to prove to Caroline years from now, that she was there...that she just didnt want ANYTHING to do with Santa.  And unlike the people that think the picture of the kid screaming on Santa's lap is cute...I'd rater not put her through that.
Tessa wasn't afraid of Santa this year (or ever), but a little quiet (a rarity for her). 
 Making chocolate chip cookies to leave out for Santa.  And I was instructed numerous times to make sure there were enough for her too...
 I dont know why this picture is sideways, I've tried to fix it numerous times, and I'm done trying.  Here are the girls dressed to go to Christmas Eve at Nana's.  Too bad Tessa has her coat on...(and I have no pictures from Nana's because I was too busy)
 Presents from us, to the girls.
 Stocking are hung, and filled.
 Christmas morning, Santa ate everything!
 Tessa was the cutest!  She wanted me, and Tim, and Caroline to open the presents that she had picked out for us, before she opened any of her own presents.
 Merry Christmas Daddy!
 A happy girl with the baby doll Tessa picked out for her.
 Opening her easel from us.
 Santa's present!
 Peaking.
Yay!
 Tessa asked for a fish, and was lucky enough to get a pretty little purple Beta fish and a nice tank.
 This pretty much is the look we got from Caroline all day, "Ohhh"  She was thrilled to open presents.
 Her xylophone from us, and puppy from Santa.
 Harmonica!
 Trying hard...within a few minutes (thankfully) she mastered it and loves to play it!
 Painting
 and painting (I've only been brave enough to let Tessa paint one other time while Caroline was awake, any other time she asks I say she has to wait til Caroline naps...I can only imagine how much fun Caroline would have getting paint everywhere!)
 Christmas afternoon, family arrives.  A dollhouse from Nana.
 Lots and lots of presents from Grampa.
 Our bare family room.
 A talking/singing monkey from Mimi.
 Swinging while Uncle Dan untangles the fishing rod.
 Casting.
 Nose.
 Caroline's favorite person is now Grampa...pretty sure he fed her a whole bowl of ice cream.
And then my camera battery died...

Friday, December 23, 2011