Busy Busy Christmas

Emily knew it was going to be a busy week, so she rested up before we left home.



I recall stating I didnt want a white Christmas but I really care what the weather did after noon on Christmas eve. Well, it was about 9 pm before the rain turned over to snow, so Emily got to experience her first white Christmas. We left a couple hours earlier than anticipated yesterday so that we could get home and clear our drive after hearing of blizzard conditions at home. Snow was drifted over Neal's knees in places and the poor puppy can barely get through the snow. But we were still able to go ahead with all of our Christmas plans.

Emily got to spend some time with Maddy and Logan, my cousin's little girls. Maddy is only 3 weeks older than Emily. After a while they somewhat warmed up to each other, but try to get both of them to sit still for a picture wasnt working so well.

Look, I can reach Grandma's doorknob. I can't quite pull it open though! Someone was always watching her because she wasnt far from the wood stove. By yesterday morning she'd see the stove and tell us all, "hot, hot". Did we say that a few times this weekend?

More of Emily and Maddy.

Ok, maybe we'll pose! (Although I should have washed Emily's face off. She was eating when they got there and so there is quite an assortment of foods smeared on her face!)

FINALLY! We got to go see baby Eric! Emily thought he was cute, and she kept taking him his pacifier (notice it laying on his feet). Here she is showing him to everyone!

They spent a while staring at each other. Eric had gotten a glowworm for Christmas. Luckily Emily didnt try to take it thinking it was hers becuase it is identical to the one she got last year.

The only way we got to see Eric was to get out of bed and go see them for breakfast on Thursday and since Emily hadn't gone to bed until 11 she was a little sleepy.

Here we are with our little ones. Both of them were tired!

Daddy and Grandma let me play in this box. It was so much fun!

On Christmas day, she got to go see her Great Grandparents. Here she is showing her new baby doll to Pappy.

Aunt Tara wanted a picture of us in our nearly matching sweaters, but Emily was more interested in the turtle.

Ok, so Christmas with a one year old was a lot of fun....and lasted forever! She figured out how to open presents, but she was at that age where she wanted to play with everything as soon as she opened it. So she would open one or two presents, play with them a while and then come back for more. Or maybe she was just making it last a while and enjoying it! She opened presents from 9 am until 7 pm on Christmas! And I really didnt get her all that much.

That is a baby doll bottle in her mouth. It may have been her favorite present...of course the one that cost an entire dollar!

I was smart. I took all the little wires off the baby doll before wrapping it so when she opened it she was able to just pull it out of the box.

Here Daddy, you can have this really sticky tape!

Sitting in the laundry basket giving daddy kisses. Isn't that cute?!

Emily and Grandma right before Emily had to go home. The lesson Emily learned this week. Get up before Grandma and Grandpa. Wait until you see them coming down the hall. Run at them laughing with your arms up for them to pick you up. Get anything you want!

And when we got home, Daddy put the plow on the four wheeler and plowed the drive. He had an audience!

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas, and hopefully we are able to get back home safely on Sunday. Who knew that we'd leave and a blizzard would come. Emily is getting her first white christmas she keeps looking outside (will see more once the sun comes up!)

Soooo....Merry Christmas!

No fever, No snow

This morning I woke up and heard it raining. Ahhh...a nice Christmas rain. And the weatherman is promising that I have until tomorrow afternoon before it decides it might change over to snow. By then I will be where I plan on staying through the holiday, I will have already seen little Eric and big E (granted, with the forecast I may have to pull my kayak down to get there....but lets look at the bright side, at least I have a good kayak:) . And Emily got up and she's feeling great! Ok, so she got up at 5 am and by 7 I had convinced her to go back to bed, but she's not sick, thankfully! So since it is looking like "I'll be home for Christmas" this evening, I probably should consider packing something!

But since I will be out of town, posts are unlikely, but I did want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and while spending time with friends and family is a great part of it, let us always remember what Christmas is all about. (Ok, so not ambitious enough to type all this out, but the park wife was so I graciously borrowed it from her morning blog. Thanks!)

Charlie Brown: Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?
Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
Linus Van Pelt: Lights, please. [a spotlight shines on Linus]
Linus Van Pelt: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"
That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

I had good intentions

For all of you that have been rushing to your mailbox daily, anxiously awaiting our witty and informative annual Christmas letter...I must apologize. I had good intentions of getting it in the mail, but today, December 21, I came to the stark realization that 2009 is disappearing at a rate faster than any other year in known history. Where does the time go? So to make up for it, for all my blog reading buddies, I'm going to attempt to somewhat write a bloggy letter. (potato soup cooking, baby napping, husband napping...oops, better let dog in, now might have a few minutes)

I was thinking the other day that there have been many things in this life I have loved. Time spent with family, whether it be on the trail, in the car driving across the plains, or just sitting around doing nothing really. I have loved the smell of the forest on brisk December mornings. I have loved the feel of the water beating against my kayak, especially going down a good rapid. I have loved the look of adoration in the eyes of my nephew as he gave me an interpretive program while wearing my hat. I have loved the land that I woke up to every morning, and actually got paid to get to know all the good spots and I knew all 20 plus miles of trail by heart. These things I loved, but I have discovered a love much deeper, a love I would gladly give up anything else in the world for. That is the love for my husband, and subsequently my daughter. The other night I was lounging on the couch, and Emily and Neal were on the other couch, and I'm not sure what exactly they were doing but they would both look over at me and laugh. They were having so much fun together and I thought, this is what life is all about.

2009 has brought many challenges. I embarked on a huge mission of starting my own daycare. I wouldnt trade the day to day moments with my daughter for anything! Kendall has had some challenges of her own as Emily is learning what gentle and dont pull mean. Now however, she often gets toys thrust at her and she simply can't resist the opportunity for a good game of tug. They really are becoming good friends. I just see in the not so distant future a puppy dog with doll clothes on, getting combed, bows in her hair. And Kendall just looks at us like, "Really, won't you do something?" but she lets Emily hug on her all she wants.

And I think in the past year I've taken more pictures than any other year in my life, and that is after summers in Yellowstone! Emily is just so darn cute (aside from teething) that I can't help myself! So read past posts for a more thourough look at the year, my soup is about to bubble over.

So without further ado, a few pictures of the past week....

Caught in orneriness

Emily discovered a new toy today. They managed to turn the little tikes table over and have been playing on it ever since...ok, not right now they are both sound asleep (ahhhh..quiet) but they have enjoyed it so much I left it upside down. They neither one eat at the table yet anyway;) I got a few pictures of Emily being silly this morning.

A few pics and a new song

We made snowman photo ornaments today which meant I had to get pictures of all the kids. The other three were very cooperative, however my little angel was much more interested in playing with her toys than posing in front of the Christmas tree. I did a couple cute ones though! Her poor hair is so staticy that instead of all curls some of it just sticks out in all directions! I can't say anything though, mine is at least as bad. I have a new song for everyone to start singing today.....

I'm dreaming of a dry Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the trees don't glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells crunching through the leaves
I'm dreaming of a dry Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your christmases be light (sunny--with no snow)

Ok now all sing that cause there is an almost 2 month old baby I REALLY REALLY REALLY need to meet and everything else is working out that snow is the threatening part!

What you say mommy? I'm busy!

I'll sit by the tree if I can pull on this ornament. I think it would be fun to play with!

See isn't playing with baby doll more fun than sitting under a tree! That's where presents belong not me!

Bye Bye (thats what she was doing and saying)

Trying to escape!

Anyone need.....

Ok, so I've been cleaning out things again and I have....

a superyard xt, plastic, in good shape, just a little dirty

a REALLY nice wood top of stair gate that is hardware installed

a couple plastic, lay your baby under and they can play and make music things (Emily never liked them)

a heated massage cover for a chair or car which would be nice but my car has heated seats:)


and if you want them...shoot me an email or leave a comment, I just dont like storing things. I can send pictures. I might even deliver (unless of course you are Big Emily and the powers that be don't want us to see each other!) so just let me know!

Tiring Week

It has been a busy busy week. We thought Emily was teething. Turns out it was a sinus infection. Then discovered she's allergic to amoxicillan. Needless to say, we are tired, but she is feelign much better just still tired. And I think is still teething even though that wasnt the root of the problem! Here are a couple pictures from last sunday... Emily worked for a long time getting her daddy's shoes positioned just right so she could sit on both of them. Don't really know why, but it was cute!

All dressed up with our hair fixed for church last week, but she didnt want to sit under the Christmas tree and have her picture made! Doesn't she looks so big though, even if she isnt smiling?

Thanksgiving, In Pictures...

Ok, so I know with a title like that you expect pictures of turkey, dressing and pie right? Well, we had TONS of pie, but that isn't what was so cute. We were gone for 5 days to visit Aunt Jill, during which time Emily got some new (to her anyway, probably more like 20 years old) toys. So here is a small sampling of the pictures we took (yeah, so we took a lot of pictures, consider the subject, shes adorable!)
Here she is before we left home...her daddy showed her how to play in her toy box.

The new doll house...she'll figure out the dolls go inside and she doesnt one of these days:) I'd gone to the store leaving my neice and mother in law watching her and she tried to sit in one of the doll house chairs....that would have been great to see!

After a fun filled afternoon at the Fort Worth Zoo. Ok, so follow our trip through the zoo in reverse....not willing to take the time to put them in order:)

My mommy is funny (I was tickling her then hiding and she thought it was really funny.)

Look at that monkey daddy!

I've never petted a horse before, not sure I want to. Dad is it lickingn your hand?

Where to next? I'll check the map for you!

How to revive a teething one year old at the zoo...get clean diaper, give tylenol, put in stroller with juice and yogurt melts...wait about 10 minutes...have wound up happy one year old.

I'm having so much fun, it is such a great day to go to the zoo!

Emily kept looking at the kangaroo saying "Jump, jump" yes, she was prompted the first time, but she kept it up the whole time we were there!

Emily's favorite stop, it said "Hello" and then it laughed, which she thought was really funny!

I think we were lookign at a bird

They were in a huge walk through cage with a bunch of parakeets and cockatiels. she thought it was neat to see them fly over her head.

The lion was neat walking around until he stopped and roared...and then sounded like he was coughing up a hairball.

In the beginning, she wasnt sure what we were doing.

Smiling at something

Intently watching the animals.

Another favorite...the meerkats, although I can't see this without thinking of blaine a few years ago walking up to the meerkat exhibit, "Hey, I saw your movie!"

Where did you go little kitty? (meerkat)

Can I hug it daddy?

Gorillas, the first exhibit

All buckled in ready to go to the zoo....Aunt Jills van had built in carseats so we didnt have to move ours. why she felt the need to straddle it, I dont know!

Playing with daddy

Riding in Laurens old shopping cart...from morning til night!

More of teh new toys.

NOtice all her drivers... this was about 730 in teh morning.

Can you say spoiled???

backyard fun