a little snow

Not really sure how he's feeling about the whole snow thing right now..

Mommy working hard! Claire got the only snow time laugh out of DD when she started pulling him around ;o)

Huh. What is all this???

Hard at work with her new Claire sized snow shovel!

we finally got a first real snow storm of the year, and realized its pretty much Damians first! Last year he was just a few months old so we kept him in, this year has been pretty mild until now. I don't think he made a sound or facial expression the whole time outside, wish I had a picture of his face as I started piling on the layers then dumped him in the snow! ;o)

NO part deux

PLaying football with her cousins and uncle Danny-this was a BLAST!

The gorgeous DeLaup side cousins! Hanging with Aunt Renee and meeting Auntie Sam

Kiddos enjoying all the beautiful DeLaup women! Gotta love that both my kids have their fingers up their noses for soem reason...

Claire on one of the oldest merri-go-rounds in the country, City Park, New Orleans

Claire and Erica snuggling to stay warm-it was freezing!! On the train at Celebration of the Oaks Aunt DooDoo and Damian hit it off right away!

Dad and Damian enjoying the xmas day party. and Maggie too! Damian really appreciated how Maggie opened all his gifts for him-she is a pup of many talents!

Hi Uncle Mike-what did you get?? They loved Maw Maws christmas tree!

Our christmas angels!

After some serious reindeer food making it was time to spread it around the yard for them. Damian and Erica first meet! So he's a bit tired at this point...

Definately the best part of the trip was seeing family! Barely off the plane Claire begin calling for Maw Maw and Pop! This is probably one of the best pics from the whole trip! Love you guys!!!

NO (new orleans for u other folk) christmas Part Un

Damians first meeting with Aunt Renee! Still mucking for the camera though...(he gets that from her! ;o*)

Claires first mardi gras mask! Great day with Aunt Renee, mom and dad while Damian hung with his grandparents. Claire went along the mississippi river and got a small taste of the Quarter.

Beignets! That was Claires only bite..."too messy!" it was after an unfortunate visit to the bathroom there, she was a little grossed out...if you've been to NO you are familiar with the public restrooms in the quarter...ugh.

We went to the Aquarium of the Americas-mom was especially excited to see how its recovered, it was pretty devasted after the hurricane. Claire loved it! "lets go to the show!" was her mantra...

Claire and daddy pretending to be fishes

Darren and Aunt Renee goofing off...

the white alligator!

And Aunt Renee wore her christmas hat the entire trip I think! ;o) in the tube with manta rays swimming overhead Meeting their big cousin Brent! He did a great job entertaining them when we couldn't get into the christmas celebration in the oaks and had to drive all the way home...thanks Brent!

Daddy and Damian ringing up Claires purchases at the kids grocery store in the Childrens Museum-such a great place for the kids!

Claire went to town on her purchases!

of course our little lady couldn't go THROUGH the maze, she had to climb right over! I don't think she went through one of the designed holes...;o)

Damian loved exploring too! No walking though yet! But climbing is high on his list..

ridiculously too many adorable moments for one post, figure I'll spread it out a bit (250+ pictuyres to decide between!)! Great trip, it was so much fun seeing all the DeLaups and related surnames! Claire and Damian did amazingly well meeting many relatives, and being showered with attention ( tough lives poor kids!) ;o)

beginning to seem a lot like christmas!

the tan and red park with the monkey girl

explorer the lower levels showing Dawn how to "dance like a princess-hold your dress out LIKE THIS!"

Making tasty snacks in the new kitchen! Waffles with orange cream sauce and chocolate tea were big hits!

Cooking too! Or tossing food around...same dif

Damians new train

Claire new princesses

Whoa

Introducing the Fairy Grandpa!

Getting Grandpa ready

First xmas was amazing with Grandma and Grandpa coming back for a surprize visit from Vegas-Claire was REALLY into it this year and could hardly go to sleep! Damian did not want to open presents, he much preferred we take care of the messy work and give

him the final toy, ready to go. ;o) And of course, Damian played most with Claires princess figures while Claire went nuts over Damians choo choo train! We are into trying out new parks-we have about 6 playgrounds within walking distance which is nice in this super mild winter we've got! We can't wait for xmas II in New Orleans!

the start of xmas

helping decorate the tree ;o) Claire instructed Damian not to break anything right before she started snapping off giraffe legs...(our tree is critter themed)

did the whole bottom half! glad I didn't do it while she slept! ;o* very, um, generously porportioned santa, kids are sliding off his "lap"

Whoa

are we done yet?

Fam xmas picture-with a timer-couldn't find a "photographer" in time! my babies!

first picture-still having fun! in christmas regalia, for a neighborhood party... of course most other were wearing jeans...;o)