Christmas Cheer

Christmas is in full swing at the Eich household! Some pics from our holiday themed weekend (very photo heavy post!)

On Friday morning I took the kids to the train show at the NY Botanical Gardens in the Bronx. Andrew surprised us by meeting us there! Apparently it's only a 20 minute train ride from Grand Central. 

The trains are all made of wood, glue and sand and are mini replicas of historic New York City landmarks. The kids thought it was really cool, and everything was their height (and both kids are pretty nuts for trains anyway). I thought it was pretty neat too.

 Little Miss Big Time.

Inside the show. Trains were going overhead and all around. How about that Leyla strutting her stuff in there.

 A replica of the old Grand Central Station.

 All the big NYC landmarks!

 Yankee stadium.

 This was just before Leyla climbed into the exhibit.

 Very little girl under a very big tree.

 Back at home. Naughty!

 But how can you be mad at that face (plus they were washable so it wiped right up)??

Friday evening was our town's Holiday Stroll, probably one of my favorite nights in New Canaan. The main street lights all it's trees, there's caroling, dancing, Santa and his elves arrive on the Old Faithful firetruck, the stores stay open late and offer discounts, some stores serve wine, hot cocoa and appetizers, yada yada yada... it's way cool.

Elm Street all decked out.

 The Living Nativity at our church.

We met up with our Tokyo friends Christine and Paul at the stroll. It's funny, when I first met Christine in Tokyo neither of us had any kids and now this is our stroller entourage of five kids! They just had their third four weeks ago!

 Leyla, Connor and Brendan.

Saturday morning- off to cut down our tree. Our friends recommended their favorite tree farm to us. They will be in FL for Christmas this year so they aren't getting a tree. They told us that next year we'd all go together and tailgate. We of course thought they were joking. But no- there were lots of families gathered at this tree farm and tailgating! Kids and Dads were throwing around footballs, people were grilling, there were hayrides for the kids, etc. We will be better prepared next near as the combination of two of my fave things ever- (Christmas and tailgating)- is just too awesome! Here's Andrew and Connor on the hayride.

 

 The kids were anxious to start hanging ornaments before Andrew could even get the lights strung.

 Leyla helping with the lights.

 Leyla makes a Christmas drawing (on paper this time).

Cheesy Mom moment- I busted out the Christmas jammies for the hanging of the ornaments. Couldn't help myself!

 And since they looked so sweet in them I got a little camera happy.

 I love this one.

Decorating our trees are some of my fondest childhood memories. So fun to get to do it with my kids now. Tada!

And there you have it! Decorations are up, outside lights strung, tree is trimmed, holiday music is a blasting (I'm really really loving the new Michael Buble Christmas album), our (somewhat creepy) little elf Tsyoshi is perched on top of our living room lamp eyeing our every move (he moves daily).

 Cheers!