Christmas at 4038

My cousins and I have always wondered what it would be like if we all lived in Grandma B's house...and we finally found out! I loved every minute of it.

Our 11 ft Christmas tree complete with real candles on Xmas Eve (and a train running around the bottom only hidden by pressies)

Of course Hazel and Sadie left Santa a note and some cookies...

The little ones ate all their meals at the breakfast bar just as we all did growing up at Grandma's (Levi's even sitting in Grandma's highchair from when she was a little girl)

Santa managed to make it down the chimny and fill ALL of our stockings!

Christmas morning....

Jess, Kevin (won for best dressed Christmas PJ's)....

Lucky Brian and MK were the proud recipiants of matching pj's

Can't have Christmas without a Hankadoodle

Full bellies after indulging in two amazing home cooked meals...

The potato team (and newly engaged Jamie and Laura)

Holmes Brothers boy band album cover

or maybe this one?

After all the food, pressies and running around, the children still were smiling at the end of the day!

Christmas 2009 was incredibly special for me and I feel so lucky to have such a loving (and super funny) family and am most thankful for a husband who enjoys being a part of it!

Cousins Galore!

JWG, LHG, Hanky and I headed East to Grandmommy and Grandaddy's house to visit our cousins!

Levi was infatuated with his big cousin Xander who's only 6 months older!

Granmommy and Grandaddy's piano was a hit

We all got to meet baby Lily who is precious and only 5 weeks old!

Aunt Alexis with baby Lily

Xander has grown into a lovely, rather calm (compared to Levi) boy

Lots of story time of Grandmommy and Grandaddy

Uncle Jenks with the cuzzies

Bath time with bubbles

Nearing bedtime

Ruby Tuesday

Miss Ruby and Laura swung by Hunts Pt on Tues and paid us a visit and we BOTH fell in love with her.

Levi couldn't stop smiling or touching Ruby...

The countdown at 4038

This year's Christmas is an extra special one for me. All of my cuzzies (including + 1's) and Aunt's/ Uncles and us are ALL staying at my grandma's on Hunts Point for Christmas! It's a bit chaotic, but I'm loving every second of it!


GGMA is 92 and handling her full house quite well (17 adults, 2 kiddos, 1 baby and 2 dogs)

It kicked off with snowman making with Hazel Bean (5 1/2 yrs old)

We put a 12 ft Christmas tree complete with a train around the bottom!


Choo Choo!

We took the younger cuzzies to see Santa!

2/3 smiling...not bad

Levi and Kevi Beano hanging out

Home Sweet Home

We've been super lazy the past few days and just relaxing at 10th St West. Levi is of course loving time with his Papa Lyons

We of course wondered down to the Baerwald den and had a little visit with Missi B!

Ottis Red is nearly full grown....but still all puppy!

We even had a visit with Granmommy and Grandaddy and Levi showed off his walking skills!

Levi's 1st trip to the barber

Jet-lagged, but still easily amused (the before picture)

Easily distracted, but still held still with a little reinforcement from his binky

Ta da...side view

After photo ... looking smart and, make no mistake, he's a boy!

We Are Family....

If you would have told me that when we moved to London, a city more than 7M people & over 3oo languages spoken, that it would eventually feel like a small town where you befriend all of your neighbors, I NEVER would have believed you.
Meet Andy: The happiest street cleaner ever! Every morning Andy greets me with a smile and a jig. We've shared many stories about sleepless nights with newborns and compared favorite past times from our home countries. Andy's also a huge fan of Hank; Hank is also a big fan of Andy.

Meet Simon (Teus) and Lucius: our beloved 'Flower Boys'. They have have a flower cart on the corner of our street, so it was inevitable that it would become a pit stop when we would head home. Besides being the most talented florists I know, they are the kindest and most gentle people and were our 1st friends to meet Levi!

Meet Michael, Thomas and Dave, our Bickenhall crew! We are definitely spoiled by this group. They greet us daily with good cheer, shower Levi and Hank with loads of attention and always come to our rescue.

Even though we're moving, our little Marylebone community will always feel like family.