Philly or Bust!

(last time it was a bust and this time we made it!)

Every time I get together with my college girls it's an adventure. We talk, have coffee, talk some more, play games, take a jaunt, and finish the day with a nice long talk. It's all about friends and these precious children!
Julie, Leah, Violet, Rowan, Ellie, EvangelineIntroducing our newest 'college-gal' Violet! With Ellie immediately the band formed,Feels like home, only with different toys!We love playgrounds and we didn't stand a chance on losing Evangeline in those colors!
Sandbox play
Anticipating the entry into the Philadelphia Zoo
These are amazing friends.
And this ride is how we roll,

A Month In Photos

Rowan is having his first experience in organized soccer. He, of course, loves it. It's a highlight of the week for him. He runs on the court when we get there, checks in with us for water breaks, and then heads back out until we force him to leave. Score! Soccer is a success.

Evangeline's First Haircut

Naturally, it was bound to have to happen. Evangeline's hair had to be cut. Her ever growing hair and curling locks needed a healthy trim. And this is how it played out.

1st. Correct Eva that her hair was going to be cut and not her herself.
2nd. Set up the stool, scissors and mirror, and put on the tv.
3rd. Lure Evangeline to the stool with a white chocolate lollipop.
4th. Cut away.

5th. Celebrate the hair cut with praise, let her look in the mirror as long as she'd like, and take cute pictures!

Before

After

In exchange for a meal at our house some very generous friends have passed down boots and skis for Rowan. What a jackpot! Taking on even the bunny hill at West Mountain would be a big leap for a newbie 4 year old skiier in training. Thankfully my mom shared a moment of wisdom and pointed out the sloped front and backyard as potential hills for practice runs. It works! The first day on skis was spent in the fireplace room learning the 'lingo' and getting a feel for the boots. The next day Rowan and Alan hit the slopes (read backyard). Now, all we need is snow for a few more practice runs and then to the official bunny hill we go!

"You're mommy",..."Aunt Ditty?", says Evangeline. Then, "Lolly's your mommy. You're my mommy." It is so sweet to watch Evangeline try and put all the pieces together. She knows I'm her mother but is also now learning that other people call me by different names. Yes, it must look quite complicated. I turn at Christine, Chrissy, Chris, and of course anytime anyone says Mom. I answer to Mrs. Rudnick but only after looking to see if Phyllis Rudnick is in the room. Also, some of my nephews and niece call me Aunt Ditty. Aunt Ditty seems only natural after Jill called me Ditty for quite some time growing up. Evangeline watches me as a wife to her daddy, a mother to her brother, and sister and daughter (also add in-law to both of those) to her family members that go by other names. It's so sweet to watch our little one's mind work. Evangeline is truly finding her place in our beautiful puzzle.

It's the New Year and we are anticipating Epiphany this weekend. Christmas decorations and our Christmas tree are still up and continue to remind us of the joy of the Christ's birth. And in this spirit here we have some moments from Christmastide.

Christmas Eve, Rowan and Evangeline at church

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Christmas morning, Evangeline in the sanctuary

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Christmas day, Alan and Rowan opening gifts
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Christmas in New Jersey, Evangeline and Jenna modelling new tutus!
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Jenna and Jill, By Christmas lights and firelight
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With one week left till Christmas it's about time to recap what the first week of Advent festivities looked like for the Ballston Babes!

The 25th Annual Victorian Streetwalk, Saratoga Springs

The streets are closed to traffic for pedistrians and carolers to explore musicians, singers, magicians, and other performances such as ballerinas in store windows! There is always a plethora of food and hot drinks. We love to bundle up and stroll through this wonderland!

The Ballston Spa Village Parade

Floats, social and service groups, dancers, and singers march for over an hour down main street Ballston Spa. We park ourselves on the knoll of The First Baptist Church and as soon the parade starts the children run to the street to collect the candy that is traditionally thrown from each float! This delivers on having a "heartwarming hometown feel".

The Lamb of Christmas First Night Celebration @ FBCBS

Directly after the parade we head into the sanctuary of church for a Christmas celebration. This year it was The Lamb of Christmas, a Living Nativity musical celebration of the true meaning of Christmas with our Church choir, women's ensemble, men's quartet, and soloists. Fantastic!

2nd Annual Advent Workshop @FBCBS

I host an Advent Workshop after church to prepare our congregation for Advent through hands on activity, face to face fellowship, and meal sharing. The ten stations of crafts and activities were abundantly visited with joy and laughter. Everyone takes home their homemade items to bless their home or gift to others. The anticipation of Jesus builds and builds!

The Rudnick Family Christmas Tree

Sunset seemed like a good a time as any to forage into the woods at Bob's Tree Farm to pick out our tree in Galway, NY. It's dark just about all the time these days and with the season as busy as it is we'll sneak in an adventure whenever we can.
Rowan brings his saw every time. This year is the first year that he realized that his saw didn't work. So age 4 is when you realize that your plastic tools aren't actually the same as Daddy's. Got it.Our tree in hand (actually in Alan's hands) we headed back to the car with Evangeline and Rowan and 2 lollipops in the wagon. Officially sunset.
One day at a time we worked on making the tree our own. Day one it soaked outside. Day two it came inside and was set up. Day three the lights went on. Here is when the children identify the extension switch we have for the lights. Pictured: I'm pretty sure I am instructing Rowan to NOT turn them on and off repeatedly.Day four the balls were put up. Finally, day five we all adorned the tree with our family ornaments. Pictured: Rowan and Evangeline after they were kicked off the ladder.
As we walk through our Advent devotionals and calendars we learn about all the symbols and signs around us leading us to Bethlehem: tree and ornament history, the stars on top of the tree and in the center of the poinsettias, the tradition of red and green as our Christmas colors,...the list goes on. Having our tree up prepares us for Christmas in this time of Advent. And now that the tree is up we have tucked in the children's new Nativity blocks. We are blessed.