Tis the season....

...for skipping off to Barcelona with hubby and giving Grandma and Grandpa Lowe the little elfs they need to finish their Christmas preparation. "You're welcome Grandma and Grandpa!!!"... for the gift of our children and their demands and bathtime, bedtime, brush your teeth time, "how many fingers do I have behind my back game time", now its time for a snack time, why can't I have it? time, what else starts with "E" time, its not fair! time, naptime, Fancy Nancy books ad nauseum and all the daily joys of our well behaved wee ones. You are welcome, in advance for all that we are handing off to you for these four sacred days!!! I am teasing my favorite outlaws of course, and can not thank them enough for this gift.

The gift of honeymoon again with hubby. I can not tell you how excited we are! How this possiblity has already affirmed all the reasons we stood up on our wedding day and announced to our everyone that we love each other and are going to give this marriage bit the greatest go we have. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Dave and Diane Lowe! For the moment to be not only parents but also newlyweds once again!
This is a spontaneous work trip for Darin, and a fun trip for me, and it came together in a matter of 6 (nervewrecking) hours.
Yes! Aren't we wild, adventureous, scandelous? I like to think so.
In the meantime we have had to fit in all decorating, baking, shopping, wrapping in less time than the month already gives. Here's what we've been up to.

Happy Birthday Darin! An early birthday gift from yours truly of a night out (Thanks Auntie Darci for babysitting) We went to Frank Caliendo (Darin's favorite comedian/impersonator) along with The Dan Band (super fun and funny to our surprise and delight) and Cheap Trick (oldie but goodie). We sat there in the Allstate Arena listening to 80's music that was entirely too loud and jokes that were entirely too funny and laughed and laughed and laughed. At the crowd. At ourselves. At the entertainment. I have to say, we have been blessed with gift of laughter, between us. Lily posed us and took our picture (upon request) before we left. She also added props (not requested) Here we are with Santa on our way out...

A do it yourself family Christmas portrait...

And gifts arrived from the Great Lensmire Grandparents, Lily is hoping and wishing and praying she can open them...oh the drama of Lily is a bit much, even for ME!

First snow!

Charlotte is delighted, but every step is a bit harder with all this to attire (A tire?)!

Snow Angels

Frosty the snow queen

O' Christmas tree...

Must be Santa...

Charlotte's first playdate! A double date, of course with Lily's at one time first playdate Lilia. This time Lilia brought her baby sister Andrie so Little C would have a friend too...and we saw our first flurries of the season... psst...I think the little ones are getting along just fine, don't you?

Hey Lilia...Its snowing and I put a sticker on your back!