Pop-pop and Lexi are pals. They play with soldiers and build together.

Another big pal of Lexi's is my cousin Steven.

BINGO

Bingo is a tradition in my family. We love to play for little prizes like breath mints or chapstick. Here Lexi is learning the ropes from Steve and Nanny Elliott.

Peter's been in the Phillipines for the past 2 Christmases, so he was the Bingo caller this year since he hasn't played in a while.

Lexi got very excited anytime someone called BINGO.

Christmas Day

We spent Christmas Day at my grandparents home in Millwood, NY. Here are the Portlock girls holding our beautiful glass balls that Uncle Bruce sent us. They were handcrafted in New Orleans at the Rosetree Glass Studio and Gallery (and presumably purchased post-Hurricane Katrina). We all love them so much. Lexi was making everyone nervous while she walked around with it saying "Ball. Ball." We were afraid she was going to throw it! We were finally able to coax her into putting it away until we got back to NYC and hung it in our living room window.

Click here and here for all our Christmas pictures.

Pop-pop playing Santa in a Pepsi-blue Santa hat.

There was lots of snow in Elmira during our visit, although it was not too terribly cold. Here is Lexi coming home from church in the new sweater Grandma Cope made for her.

Christmas Morning

We spent Christmas morning with Grandma Susan, Aunt Allie and Uncle Topher. Lexi got a talking Yoda doll & light saber in her stocking. Nanny Susan gave her some Yankee pajamas to wear this year, too. Very appropriate since we live right across the river from Yankee Stadium!

Lexi also got a bunch of animals in her stocking.

Christmas Eve Morning

Since we were planning to go to Western NY to be with my family for Christmas Day, we had our own little family Christmas celebration on December 24th. Matt's family always had orange rolls on Christmas morning, but since I couldn't find any in the stores near us, I made some improvising on my cinnamon roll recipe. Grandma Cope made matching aprons for me & Lexi, and Lexi insisted that we put them on as soon as she saw them. It was perfect timing since we had some baking to do!

Transit Strike

There is always something interesting happening in New York City! This week it was a transit strike by the subway & bus employees. Their work contract ended and their union had not settled on a new contract yet, so all the employees walked off the job. It sure did a number on the New York economy and made getting around quite a trial. Here is a picture that you may never see again... the subway entrances closed off! This is the station we use the most as it is closet to our home.

This is the other station we use on occasion. Today, the strike officially ended, but it will take up to 18 hours to get everything running again. And most of the employees are having a hard time getting to work, since there are no trains or busses! Ironic?

Lexi with some of Dad's students. All the girls just swooned over Lexi! 

Ice Skating

Daddy got to take some of his students on a reward field trip to Lasker Rink in Central Park for a day of ice skating. Mom & Lexi came along. This was Lexi's first time ice skating and she loved it! At first she had a very hard time balancing herself and relied on mom and some of dad's students to pull her around. But by the end of the day, she was standing on the ice and even taking a few steps, although not quite gliding yet. When we took a break to sit down for awhile, she escaped from mommy's arms and walked on her little skates all the way over to the edge of the rink and attempted to get back on the ice. She is an adventurous & brave little girl. Lately, she has wanted her hat pulled almost over her eyes... here we are at the rink.

Lexi getting some skating assistance from Yeny (pronounced Jenny) and Kandiry.

That's mom and Lexi in the background. She's standing all by herself!

Sisters

Allie is home from college , Laura was in New York visiting since she has to work over Christmas, and Kendra lives here. Fun to be together again!

Teaset

Aunt Laura gave Lexi her very first teaset for Christmas this year. We opened it early while Laura was here, since she won't be here for Christmas day. It is a set with 4 cups & saucers, a teapot, a sugar bowl & a cream pitcher all decorated with Olivia. Lexi has just loved playing with it. The day after she got it, we set up a little table with a tablecloth for her to have her tea party. She was content to play with it pretty much all day! At one point, she did get a little upset (maybe because mommy was tired of playing tea party) and threw the table over, breaking one of the saucers. We had to put the rest of the dishes away for a few days. Fortunately, it was a very clean break and will be easy to repair, which we won't actually do for now so she can learn that "it's broken." This is Lexi & Aunt Lolo having some tea.

The Tree at Rockefeller Center

 

Our last stop on Saturday was at Rockefeller Center to see the big Christmas tree. Lexi was in love with all the "lights!" Here are Lexi & her dad, who she now affectionately calls "Matt" on occasion. 

Visit with Santa

This year was Lexi's first visit with Santa. We took her to Bergdorf Goodman on 5th Avenue for a visit with a rather authentic Santa. You can't see it in this picture, but there is a little doggie on the chair next to him who was so well-behaved! We didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes for a chance to talk with Santa, and they gave us a free polaroid picture and allowed us to take our own photos as well. Santa's suit was designed by Etro, for all you fashionably-educated folks out there.

Every child got a little gift from Santa- a snowman sugar cookie all wrapped up nicely as Bergdorf Goodman does... 

The Station at the Citicorp Center

Lots of fun things to do in New York at Christmastime. On Saturday we took Lexi to the Citicorp Center (Citibank's headquarters in Manhattan- it's that building in the skyline with the slanted roof) where they have a detailed train set up for the holidays. Here we are watching the little trains go by. Lexi was totally enthralled by the trains. If there was a moment when there were no trains running by our spot, she would say "More, more!"

ELMO!

Elmo is Lexi's favorite character from Sesame Street, which she faithfully watches every morning. Grandma Susan picked up this Giant Elmo that is just about the same size as Lexi. 

The Mormons

This morning, our Stake President was featured on the Today Show. Matt Lauer interviewed him about the LDS church. We think he did a nice job. Click here to see his interview.

Look at Lexi

Lexi has recently delved into the exciting world of Mommy & Daddy shoes! Here she is in Daddy's recently shined dress shoes.