Christmas...... take 3

Last weekend we crammed our car and headed north for the last of the family holidays. I could say that it was a weekend full of warm fuzzies but I'd be lying through my teeth. Bryn and especially Henry were at their worst and managed to make Jay and me feel like a couple of no-good parents. I lost count of how many time-outs Henry had but can't seem to erase the image of him peeing down his pants leg when he didn't get what he wanted. It was unreal. I have now been told by several friends that holidays and traveling can do that to kids but I guess until it happens to you, it's not believable. The contrast between sweet quiet cousin Liam and my screaming, crying, whining children was day and night (night being H and B).

For awhile we thought that we were watching them metamorphasize into those "bad kids" you always see in a grocery store, or playground. You know the ones you try to keep your kids away from. But as luck would have it, once we returned home we slowly saw our always energetic but also very thoughtful children re-emerge. Henry is now back to saying " No thank you" instead of the snotty "no" with an attitude. That is not to say that they are angels, as Jay will vouch for today( one face scratched and one arm bitten before 7:45am) but they are cuddly, spunky, and kissable once again.



Watching their cousin Liam open up a puzzle.

Henry checking out his doll complete with orange bib overalls, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Hinsa!! Aunt Shannon and Uncle Bruce also made them some awesome dress up clothes of their own. In the above pic they are both wearing their capes and below Bryn is modeling her dress with the fun buttons! Thanks guys.

Liam and Henry trotting around the house. Henry not only has the cape but also LOVED the homemade tutu!

Thanks to Shannon for introducing the jump- on -the -Bilibo game with Bryn. We are still playing that one at home. Nice bilibo head Uncle Bruce!

Jay and Bruce attempted to make us a giant bonfire with 4 years worth of old Christmas trees but it was all for naught. I guess a December full of snow and ice on the needles can hamper the blaze. I did manage to go on two beautiful snowshoe hikes in the woods, one of which found me lost (my sense of direction has never been a selling point) but thanks to Finn who directed me home.

Only fitting that the one family picture we have is at the favorite local pizza place called Pie from the Sky. How does a thin crust, wood fired BLT, St. Matthews and Holy Moly sound? Do you sense the religious theme here (except for BLT)? It's in a converted church of all places.

Can you guess where we are? Freezing our tushies off at Lambeau field.

To my family..... sorry again for the noise. Thanks for all the gifts (too many) , food (too much) and letting us escape our children for a couple hours (ahhhhhhhhh).