Mollie turns 4!

Happy birthday Mollie!

 Mollie turned 4 this week, but we've been celebrating for a great many weeks.  First we had a ballerina/Cinderella party for Mollie's school friends.

 Ballerinas in action

 Cinderellas getting ready for the performance

 The princes working out their swords

The kids worked up an appetite with all their dancing.  Next up, tea party.  I was shocked that the ballet studio lets the kids use real tea cups.  And even more shocked that no one in our group broke any.  The kids enjoyed pink drink and birthday cake.

Then we went back to Nana and Pop-pop's for presents and yet another princess themed birthday celebration.

 Next up, Gramma Liz came to visit. She and Mollie made this amazing Barbie princess cake.  They mixed their own frosting, cooked the cake, and made a book describing all the steps for how to do it (the book was a huge hit at show and share at school this week).  More pics from Gramma's visit to come.

Ballet with Aunts!

 



Mollie's aunts took her to see the Nutcracker in New York.  I think they all had a fantastic time!

 No paparazzi at the Carnegie deli :)

 

Happy Holidays - Chrismas and New Years

Some photos from our holiday celebrations.  Making holiday cookies.

Mollie was very excited about picking out a tree and decorating it.  Uncle Barty was in charge of putting up the McDermott's angel (see Netflix commercial).

 Mollie was totally spoiled by Santa.  Plenty of Princesses to go around.

 Finished product - holiday cookies

 As we have in recent years, we went to Key West for New Years.  Mollie loved swimming in the pool.  She's getting so brave about the water. 

 Brunch at Blue Heaven and feeding bacon to the chicks.

 For Auntie Sissy's bachelorette party we all got our nails painted.  Fun!

 The bride to be and her flower girl

 The men fished while we bacheloretted it up.  Here's Louie's catch.  It tasted good too.

 Mollie also learned to fish!  She had a great time, but no catch - maybe next year!

San Francisco Visit, Ginger-kah Party, Happy Holiday Season

A bit out of order, but here's Mollie at Louie's company party last night.  She loves the new dress her great grandma got her.

Chanukah with Grandma Liz, Grandpa David, and Great Grandpa Earl. 

 We had a great time visiting Grandma Liz's high school art class.  The older kids were a little overwhelming but the craft time was super fun.

 Mollie helped make gingerbread for the gingerbread houses at the party. 

 The decorations.

 A little pre-craft bathing and post-bath snuggling.

 More pictures of the set up before.  This was about mid-way, I missed the completed table, but you get the idea.

 Louie the Latke Chef.

 Cousins playing scoot down the stairs.

 Let the decorating begin.

 The completed ginger village.

 Observing the weirdness with our friend Riley at the Dickens Fair in San Francisco.  Yeah, that's a live person behind the window.

 We got back to DC just in time for the first snow day of the season.  Between work emails and phone calls, Mollie and Louie made these snow people.

 And had a little snowball fight.

 The santa at Mollie's school party.  She's offering him a cookie, which I don't think he accepted.  What kind of Santa is that?!