Snow Bunny

I am happy to report that our East Coast trip over the holidays was a big success! We all survived the cross-country plane rides with no meltdowns or sicknesses, and our fellow passengers were very grateful for those Hershey Kisses. Liana's nighttime sleep was probably the biggest challenge of the whole trip - she definitely regressed in that department. Honestly, I think the only thing that really got us through it was the predictable middle-of-the-night game of "musical beds"! That and lots of coffee the next day. :-)

Despite the sleep part of things, we really had a great time spending time with family and friends, traveling into Manhattan to see The Nutcracker, visiting Hunter and even getting stuck in NJ for four extra days due to the Blizzard of 2010! All in all, the goal of the trip was to have good quality family time, and that is exactly what we did. It was definitely bittersweet to leave everyone after two weeks but was great to have had the time at all - and we have some great memories tucked away. The trip is best described with photos, so below are some of my favorite moments. Tons more posted here.

 The whole lot of us outside The Nutcracker. We even had a driver to and from the city, which was a real treat! Thanks to my mom for organizing the entire thing.

Beautiful Babi and granddaughter.

 Meeting up with Nat's childhood friends (and now THEIR children!)

 Liana at a cranky moment on Christmas Eve!

 Snow bunny ready to tackle the elements!

 Riding her first horse at the New Jersey Children's Museum - notice the leather chaps!

 Just hanging out with the family, watching a movie and drinking hot chocolate.

 Playing outside after the snowfall.

Tom shoveling out Babi's driveway. We all really wanted to shovel to get some exercise outside!

Trekking out towards the back woods.

 Grandma Slava. Great-granddaughter Liana Slava.

Finally, I end with a video that captures Liana in a fit of giggles. She's not always this giggly, but when she is, it's a treat to witness. As usual, one of her cousins (this time Nadia) is the source of the laughs.