Playgroup Christmas Party

Yesterday was Ben's Secret Santa gift exchange and holiday party with one of his playgroups. This group is with the other babies we met through Gymboree and range in age from 7 months to 13 months old. There is Teddy (13 months), Julia (12 months), Caroline (11 months), Olivia (11 months), Ben (9 months) and Shayna (7 months). Teddy and Ben have it made, being the only bachelors in a group of little ladies!

What a fun time Ben and everyone had playing. The Busy Zoo Playground toy that Ben's friend Teddy (the host of the party) had was the hit of the afternoon! Too bad Mommy didn't know this when she went Christmas shopping...









So many new toys to explore!

Ben stayed interested in all of these new toys for, oh, a few minutes before he moved on to bigger and better things l-i-k-e....the Christmas tree and gifts! Below, I caught him before he started to rip open everyone's gifts. Under that he is enjoying opening his own Secret Santa gift - a new velour hoodie and a barnyard game.

Some candid photos of the babies exploring the toys and each other!

Shayna and Caroline with Ben in the foreground.

The sippy cup has become a new favorite lately. Of course with six sippy cups yesterday, I think just about every baby took a sip from each of them!!

Ben and Olivia...
...as Olivia tries out some ribbon!

Julia, Birthday Girl this week too!

Teddy, the host with the most, looking dapper as ever.

Ben and Caroline. These two were separated at birth, we're convinced. They have the same demeanor, are on the exact same schedule and could eat any adult under the table!!

Whoa, hold on a minute, Romeo. Ben puts the moves on Caroline all of a sudden and just about kisses her on the lips!

The two little men in their sweaters and preppy pants.

Caroline and Shayna watching something (apparently) quite engaging!

Let's get a group picture! Well, easier said than done. Of course Teddy complicated matters when he decided to keep running behind the tree to turn the lights off!!! I must have about 20 attempted shots but finally the kids sat still for a second while the Paparazzi captured the moment on their digital cameras. Here, we have four of them posed...

Voila! All six babies. It's asking too much for them all to look at the camera so this had to do!

Finally, my festive food contribution for the afternoon: a Snowman Cheese Ball. We actually had an adult party with our friends from church last night as well so I had two Frostys sitting in my fridge yesterday since I made one for each event.