Christmas 2008

We had a really nice Christmas. I hope everyone else did, too! We got lots of great gifts and really enjoyed watching Alyssa. She is really good at unwrapping gifts at this point and will gladly help you open yours as well! We found that she wanted to play with each gift as it was unwrapped, so it actually too her several days to get through all of her gifts. I guess we should be thankful for that... at least we know she is enjoying what she was given! She has been having lots of fun with her puzzles, tea set, tent, tub toys, laptop, pull toys,.... you name it!

We had two Christmas dinners at our house this year. The family came over the Saturday before to do Christmas with Mama. Unfortunately, she was too sick to come (and also to sick to make the trip north to vist Uncle Chris and his family), but we all enjoyed Sauerbraten,  Red Cabbage and Kartoffel Klöße (potato dumplings), traditional German food that Bompa (my grandfather) used to make for us on Christmas. Yummy! We also had Christmas Day dinner here... I made an oven- roasted chicken with stuffing and veggies. So tasty!

We were all so busy enjoying the time together that we took almost no pictures. I'm not even sure if I got out the video camera at all!

Daddy’s Little Helper

Mike was actually home with us on Christmas Eve this year! What a treat! I have been so used to him having to work on these holidays that I almost didn't know what to do with myself... Almost. We had a nice lunch out and hung around the house. We even made a point to get outside and enjoy the lovely weather.

Mike also wanted to rake some of the leaves and pine needles from the back yard so that the grass could come up in the spring. He was pleasantly surprised when a little helper decided to give him a hand! I really mean one hand because she wouldn't put down her juice, so she only had one to spare until she rolled up her sleeves and really got down to business. See what I mean?

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Catching Up

Wow. I used to think we had been slack with the posts. These past few months have proven to be even worse! I am so sorry we haven't been more forthcoming with the pictures... I just haven't felt like myself in a while. Here's hoping that the new year helps to give me a new perspective on things!

What you've missed (or, what I have failed to tell you)...

• Michael turned 30 and my parents celebrated their 30 year anniversary on September 9th. Yes, the same day! He was actually born on their wedding day. If that doesn't say kismet, I don't know what does!


• My 29th birthday in October... YIKES! counting down to the big 3-0!


• Mike's head injury. Let me set the scene... the weekend after Thanksgiving, in the attic to get out Christmas decorations, roofing nails poking through the ceiling... well, you get the picture. It was a little stressful since it happened on a Saturday AFTER the local urgent care was closed. And we had a napping toddler. And there was blood. I think I handled myself fairly well considering it was my first family "emergency" without my mom to clean up the blood! All it took was a few hours, some quick changing of the guard (thanks to some great neighbors and quick response time by Ashleigh to keep an eye on Alyssa while we were out), some antibiotics, a tetanus shot and some Dermabond to get his head back to normal. (At least, normal for Mike!)


• Jeff came for a quick visit. He was in NC on business and decided to stop by. He and Mike even got to go see "Quantum of Solace!"


• As mentioned in a previous post, I got hooked into the "Twilight" phenomenon. I am already almost done with my second reading of all of the books. The movie was GREAT and I can't wait for the next installment!


• Alyssa has become a daredevil! Any time we take her to the park now, she takes off for the slide and can't wait to throw herself down it! We literally have to hold onto her to keep her from hurting herself. She's still not wild about the swings for any length of time, but she enjoys it for a little while now!


• We had family portraits taken... see below!

 

Congratulations!

Congrats are due to some more new parents... James and Laura welcomed their new baby boy Jack this morning! He wanted to come a month early to enjoy Christmas with his family! Mom and baby are doing well from all reports. What a wonderful Christmas gift!

Here's a fun side- note... Laura and James are the SAME Laura and James whose wedding we attended the weekend before Alyssa was born. Check out this post with pics of my VERY pregnant self dancing if you want a good chuckle!

Christmas Comes Early

I have never been patient. About anything. Christmas is no exception! Growing up, we were given a new set of pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve (a tradition I plan to continue with Alyssa). As we got older (and more crafty with our pleading) we got to open a present or two on Christmas Eve. For the last several years, my parents have been giving us Christmas socks and jewelry weeks early so that we can wear them for the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Since Mike and I have been married, I am not sure if there has been even one Christmas where we have any presents left to give each other on Christmas Day! I am usually too excited (and too impatient) to wait! And since we previously did not have kids to wake us up on Christmas morning, we weren't upset about getting to sleep in, either!

Now that Alyssa is old enough to sort-of understand what is going on, I am having an even harder time waiting until Christmas to give out presents! She has been so interested in the ornaments on the tree and the packages underneath. She has been carrying them around and pulling off tags, but has only really opened one or two. We have had such a good time watching Christmas movies and watching her dance to the Christmas music that I can't help but be in the spirit. I just want to give her all of her presents!

Yesterday, to appease my need, Mike agreed to one present each... I gave him a blanket for his game-playing comfort, he gave me a GREAT book on the making of the Twilight movie (yes, I also have been sucked into the teenage- girl crazed phenomenon... I couldn't put any of the 4 books down! I'll be glad to share it with my obsessed friends who shall remain nameless... you know who you are!), and we gave Alyssa a princess tent. She loves it! She has been having so much fun going in and out and putting all of her jewelry on while inside, peeking out the windows at me, watching her morning shows from the front door, etc. I have had so much fun watching her... I've had the giggles all morning! Check out the pictures!



Princess

PS I am trying out a new way to share the photo albums... leave a note and let me know how it works for you! Is it any quicker than the previous ones from Bubbleshare? Do you like the controls any better? How does it look in general? Thanks for your input!

Simple Pleasures

I love the fall... right through the holidays. I love the change in the weather and the colors and the general atmosphere at the end of the year. No matter what else is going on, I always feel better when October arrives. Now we are into December and I am very much enjoying life with a munchkin. Some of my favorite things that we have been experiencing...

• Walks in crunchy leaves


• Watching Alyssa discover things for the first time


• A munchkin carrying her bucket on walks and picking things up for her collection... pine cones, leaves, seeds, flowers, pine needles. A true nature lover already!


• A very polite little girl... "da do!"= thank you, "peas"= please. I'm so proud!


• Thanksgiving dinner... all my favorites including stuffing, cheesecake, and card games with my wonderful family


• Evening strolls... checking out the lights, pointing out the moon and the stars


• Having my sister home for a while... we've missed having Allison around the last 3 years while she's been out making a difference!


• Baby dress up. See below!


• Weather that is cool enough to warrant jeans, sweatshirts and hot chocolate or tea when we get home!


• Decorating for Christmas. And then redecorating after Alyssa has removed all the "pitty" ornaments within her reach!


• The tell- tale jingle of bells on the tree as tiny hands get curious, and then the grin that follows when she knows she's been caught!


• Being duped by a little monkey! She'll ask for "joosh" (juice) or some sort of snack, wait until I'm in the kitchen, and race me to the computer to play! I think she'll love her own mini laptop... full keyboard and mouse for her to click away like Mommy and Daddy!

Best of ALL my fall and Christmas favorites? Voluntary kisses from sweet little lips and "I ya you!" I'm putty in her hands!

Thank heavens for simple pleasures!

Back from Texas

It's official: Alyssa is now a cross-country veteran.  In other words, she has successfully flown from North Carolina to Texas and back again unscathed.

Since my parents can't make it here for Christmas this year, our little trio made a trip out to Richardson, Texas for Halloween.  Not only did we have a great time, but Uncle Jeff was also able to stop by for some Alyssa face-to-face time.

Check out the photos below for some of Alyssa's reactions, including her first trick-or-treating experience:

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