Christmas Day

Merry Christmas Everyone!!! I'm so happy that such a long time ago God sent his Son down to Earth to live among us. He gave us such a wonderful thing to celebrate - Christmas! We celebrate the birth of Jesus - but I know the holiday has become very commercialized about gift giving, trees, stockings and Santa that we often forget the true meaning of the holiday. And I'm not ashamed to say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays. I vote we all leave Christ in Christmas! I prefaced my post with that, but now I want to share in photos the joy I got from opening all my gifts! Don't worry, I gave both Mom and Dad each a gift. Dad helped me buy Mom hers, and vise versa. And I had just as much joy helping them open their gifts from me! The first thing we did was open our stockings. Last year I just had a generic stocking (Jude used it this year) but this year I had my very own cross stiched stocking made my Grammy! It has my name on it, and shows the Nativity scene of baby Jesus's birth! But then Mom told me to open it, that there might be something inside. I didn't know what she was talking about - it's just a big sock...

But whoa!!! There WAS stuff in there!!! WOW!!! I got a whole bunch of cars!! My favorite!! And I got his crazy toy called a Slinky. It's amazing! I don't understand how it works, but it's sure fun to watch!After everyone opened our stockings, we got to rip open all those presents under the tree that have been tempting me for so long. Everyone laughed at me, because I would rip open a gift and then rush over to Dad to have it take it out of the box for me!Thank you everyone for all the gifts you got me! I have special toys that mean a lot to me, I'm sure you know which one (the one you got me of course!) After we ate breakfast and cleaned up, we went back to Aunt Kathy's house for a big Christmas dinner. I got all dressed up in my pretty Christmas dress! Don't I look adorable?? (I was checking out Katee, because I thought she looked adorable!)

Christmas Eve

The big day finally arrived! Christmas Eve!! Yeah! The day started like most any other. Both of my parents were working, but at least Mom was working from home so Jude and I got to play at home all day. After both parents got off work, Jude and I were put in our special Christmas outfits. Mine was called "Mrs. Claus" or something. I guess cause it was a dress version of the famous Santa outfit. And Jude had two outfits...one striped with a reindeer on his butt (excuse me, I shouldn't say that - on his behind) and then a white fuzzy one that said "First Christmas".

So anyway, after we got dressed and had our photos taken, we went up to Aunt Kathy's house. My mom's side of the family is pretty small to start off with; then add in the fact that Grammy and Gramps are in Arizona, Uncle Eric is in Colorado, and Katee had to work - so it left just Aunt Kathy, Uncle John, Ethan, Mom, Dad, Jude and me. Small and cozy... We all missed Pa Pa though. We had a great meal and then opened gifts. Aunt Kathy felt horrible after she realized she only got me clothes - and no toys. But I didn't mind. I helped everyone else open their gifts, and then played with Uncle John and Ethan as they did magic tricks with the paper for me!

After we left there, we went over to our friend's house to tell them Merry Christmas. About a mile from my house is the home of Mrs. Karen and Mr. Gary. My mom has been friends with two of their kids (one of them is the one I call my boyfriend Ben!) since she was a little girl, and she played over there all the time when she was growing up. And when we got there, that guy I call my boyfriend just happened to be there!! But believe it or not, on this night I was more drawn to his wife Abby. She has long curly hair, and she loves to "tickle" me with it. She rubs it on my face or my ears and I just love it! And then...... I lifted my dress and she "tickled" my tummy. But instead of tickling, it felt so good! So I sat back and enjoyed it... And this is a blackmail photo if I have ever seen one....

One cute story... My mom told me the story of Christmas - about baby Jesus being born in a manger. Well, just after she said that baby Jesus was born, I yelled out "AMEN!" I didn't understand why Mom starting laughing so hard. Whenever we are at the dinner table and I hear them saying the name Jesus we all say Amen, so why was it funny this time?

Oh Christmas Tree...

This is my second Christmas, but I don't really remember much about my first one. So this all seems like a new experience to me. Including this giant tree in my living room. I'm rather fascinated by it. It has all these lights on it, and it's covered with toys! Wait, I think Mom called them ornaments, but they sure look like toys to me! Everyone tells me not to touch the tree, but I'm like that moth ever approaching the lights. I just can't stay away from it.

What makes matters worse, is that my mom keeps adding these boxes under the tree. They are all taped up with pretty paper and big ribbons! All these temptations right here in my living room! I can't hold back! Especially from that one gift for Uncle John with a toy car taped to the front!! Well, okay. I ripped off a couple bows from some gifts. I got put in time out and I didn't touch the tree or the presents again. (at least that is what my parents think...)

Ding Fries are done...

Ding fries are done, ding fries are done! Would you like an apple pie with that, would you like an apple pie with that? Before my Grammy and Gramps left for Arizona, they bought a special Christmas gift for me. And the week before Christmas, my wonderful daddy set it up for me. What is it you ask?

A 50's Diner!!!! It's pretty sweet!! I can cook hamburgers, and they really sizzle as they cook. I can make a pot of coffee, just like Daddy (and it really bubbles as it gets "hot"), and I can serve up ice cream for Mommy! It has a juke box, which of course I swing my hips to and dance all around when it plays.

And the best part is, the other side has a booth where I can pretend to eat! My Dad got a kick out of me, because after I finished eating my first pretend meal here, I took my dishes to the sink and pretended to wash them! And then I poured myself a pretend drink! He took a video of it, so maybe I'll try to post that on here sometime.

Thank you Grammy and Gramps!! I love it!!!

O-R-E-O

I just discovered Oreo cookies....and I am hooked!! Give me a glass of milk and call me happy.

Wii

I have a new addiction... the Wii!! Yes, I know I'm not even two yet, but I love the Wii! I'll play the Wii Fit - I enjoy the downhill skiing a lot! And on the yoga poses, I try my best to mimic it, even though I stink at standing on one leg. I really love playing Mario Kart and holding the steering wheel! But I'm told I come in last place in all my races. When I hear that Wii Music starting up, I hold out my hand so Dad can put the wiimote on my wrist! He's starting me early on video games!

Abby's Baby Shower!

My Mom and Miss Alison hosted a baby shower for Miss Abby! She's having a little girl in a few short months, and I'm looking forward to more girls running around. Look at how beautiful Miss Abby looks! (and Mom wants to show off her artwork from the blackboard). Since the shower was at my house, I had to learn very quickly how to share all my toys, books and my chair. At first I wasn't too keen on the idea, but after a stern talk from my mother I quickly attempted to share...My boyfriend Jackson was there too! I kept hugging on him, but I'm not sure he was enjoying it as much as I was. In fact, I think he's screaming HELP! with his eyes here!

Eden was the other youngster there. I was born in January, Eden was born in June and Jackson was born in July! And since our parents are all friends, I hope we all stay friends for a long time. Jackson won't go to school with me, but Eden and I should be in the same grade in school, just like our mommies! Eden has red hair like me, but her mom is quite sad since Eden's new growth is not coming in red. Abby enjoyed all her "young" friends who joined her at the shower. (Jude and Mcalister were there too, but being 4 and 5 months old, they didn't play too much).

Miss Marion and Miss Kim decorated Eden's and my ponytails with the curling ribbon!

Mom also got pretty creative with the food. She put chicken salad inside phyllo (filo?) bread cups, and she meant to put an olive on the top of each one, but forgot to. And then she put cherry tomatoes and mozzarralla balls on bamboo skewers! Also served was grapes, bruchetta and pink lemonade with floating cherries. Dessert was truffles Mom made, as well as a volcano of cream puffs! Yummy!! Everything has a "polka dot" theme... But all I ate was the grapes...

Abby got lots of gifts for her daughter, and soon Ben had to come over to help her get everything back home...

Fell down...again.

I have this habit of tripping over my own two feet rather often. I'd say at least once a day. Normally, I laugh it off, but occasionally I get hurt. I already have two scars from falling (once into the wood burning and once off the barstool) and the other day I fell...again; and I instantly got a goose egg on my forehead. So we pulled out the trusty Elephant Ice Pack and I held it on there...
But even with the ice pack, if you look closely on my forehead in this Christmas family shot we had taken the next morning - you can almost see the bruise from my fall.

Go?

I've learned a new game! "Go?" Here are the rules... Take an object (or myself) and hide it under my blanket or in my hands, or if it's me - hide behind the curtain - and then say "Go?" and hold my hands up in the air like I'm asking a question. Repeat "Go?" once or twice, then dramatically reveal the object - or myself - and squeal in delight!

He's in my shot!

It's pretty common knowledge around my house that when that black square thingamugic makes a "click" noise, the proof will be on this blog or my brother's blog. BUT...I am becoming a camera hog. I want the spotlight on ME. Jude doesn't need anymore photos taken of him! So the other day when Mom was trying to take some of him, I jumped in front of him! You can just barely see the Bumbo chair and his hands behind me. Mom was laughing so hard she missed my cute smile for the photo....

"Flung" in a Bean Bag

Some of you might remember my post from January 08 called "Stuck in a Bean Bag" where I talked about a new torture chair called a Bean Bag - because I couldn't get out of it? Well, I've long figured out the art of how to get out of it - and now it's a favorite thing to play with!

Photo above and below are me from January "stuck" in the bean bag...

And here I am now, loving the chair! I run from half way across the room and "fling" myself in the chair! Then I climb out and repeat the process for about ten minutes...

I LOVE MY CHAIR!

Zippers? Oh yeah!

I have recently discovered the art of how to work a Zipper. Such an easy task - not sure why I didn't master it a long time ago. But it's my new love... Mom's purse to hide toys or play with her cell phone. The diaper bag to find the hidden snacks for me or to grab a diaper to put on Monkey Bear. But the best zipper of all - Jude's PJ's! I'm amazed with his belly button - it's really long and looks quite different than mine. And I learned if I unzip his PJ's, I can hide a toy in there if I re-zip it up! Mom was quite shocked to find one of my puzzle pieces in there the other day....

Polar Express!

What happens in every mall come December? The Polar Express of course!! Last Saturday my Grammy and Gramps pretended they were on the Desert Express and left our cold state for a much warmer state to spend the winter. Since Dad was at work, Mom felt lonely - so she took Jude and I shopping. It turned out to be quite the adventure since it was the first day it snowed! But I didn't mind - I got to ride the Polar Express!!! Check out the cutie in the pink stocking cap in the yellow car!

I loved it so much, I wanted to ride again! But this time, I got in the engine car! Mom was nervous I might get scared, but I loved it!

I can't wait for next year when Jude can ride with me!

Miss Hong Kong

Happy Thanksgiving!! This is my second Thanksgiving, but last year I was just barely eating normal foods. Not much has changed this year - I'm so picky when it comes to food I barely ate anything. Maybe next year... But my big cousin Katee is going to college to become a Chef (just like my Uncle Eric!) and earlier this year she went to a cooking competition in Asia! (Where I might add she won a GOLD medal!) While in Hong Kong, she bought this dress for me! And Thanksgiving was my first time to wear it! I'm Miss Hong Kong!

What on Earth???

When it comes to strange positions for naps, I take the cake...............

Like Mom, Like Daughter

My mom has a tatoo on her foot, so I wanted one too! Lucky for me, my mom just happened to have a fake tatoo that perfectly matched hers! So she put it on my foot! Check us out!

I was so excited, I was showing my foot to everyone - even Peanut and Ophelia!

And then at my Pa Pa's funeral, I wanted to show everyone, too. So I refused to keep my shoes and socks on so that I could show off my cute accessory.

Like mom, like daughter... A big dork!

Dear ol' Pa Pa

My baby brother posted some old photos of Pa Pa, so I thought I would post some of my favorites, too. Here's Pa Pa with his first wife, Edith, who was Grammy's mom! And here's Pa Pa with someone who sure looks like a young me, but I don't recognize that toy. Wait...that's my mom!!

At the funeral, there was a special pink flower that said Pa Pa. That was for me!! I loved smelling it. It was sitting right next to Pa Pa's mandolin! Maybe one day I'll learn how to play it...

The funeral lasted a long time, and even though I was playing with my boyfriend Ben the whole time I passed out like a rock on the ride home. And then something crazy happened. I must prefice it with this side note - I'm VERY scared of my Uncle Eric for some reason. Maybe because he's so tall - a lot taller than my daddy or my Uncle Myles. He's even taller than most of my parent's friends. Uncle Eric thinks I am scared of him because he tried to feed me to a dinosaur (see the photographic proof in a post called "T-Rex having ME for lunch" from October 2007). Side note ended. So when we got home from the funeral, I was sound asleep in the car. Uncle Eric thought he'd grasp the moment to hold me for once. But as soon as he picked me up...I woke up! And I knew I was in Uncle Eric's arms!!The next morning we got up early and drove way down South for the graveside services. But before we went there, the church gave us a giant potluck. Naturally, I found the nursery and pulled out a few toys to play with my cousins! (and Dad!)

Of course I found a John Deere Tractor - Gramps raised me right!It was such a long day, so on the way back home, we all needed to "escape" so we ate dinner at a western steakhouse. Ethan propped me up on a saddle and I knew to throw my hands up in the air like I had seen on all those rodeo's I'd watched on TV with Pa Pa!

My dear ol' Pa Pa, I love you and miss you. But I know you are up in Heaven now feasting with Jesus. Thank you for teaching me how to pray and how to say Amen. Keep an eye on me, and I can't wait until I can see you again one day.