Still More Christmas

We had our last Christmas gathering on Sunday. We met Jeff's Dad and Heidi for brunch and then they came back here for a few hours to open presents. Kaitlyn acted like a pro-present unwrapper on Sunday. She was actually into ripping paper, versus the previous days when she tore it piece by piece ever so carefully. She also insisted that Dirds help her unwrap gifts so Grandpa Dale and Heidi watched hysterically as Kaitlyn helped Dirds' little doll hands to rip the paper. Kaitlyn got the biggest present of all this season from Grandpa Dale and Heidi; in fact the box was taller than her! It turned out to be a teeter totter and she has had a great time rocking on it. She also got a basketball hoop; both toys have helped out with indoor active play already! Probably her favorite gift of all from Grandpa Dale was the soft teddy bear he gave her. Its handmade and actually made from a beaver hide. Its supposed to be more of a collector's piece but now that K has her hands on it, I don't think it will be going in plastic on the shelf. She has named it "Bobby Bear" and played with him continuously since Sunday.

This is Dirds and Bobby Bear "seat-belted" in to the new teeter totter.

Thanks Grandpa Dale and Heidi for your generosity! And so ends our Christmas celebrations for 2008. Hope yours was "merry and bright" like ours!

Sunshine and Dry Roads!

Praise the Lord for two small things today: sunshine and dry roads. I can't explain how wonderful it was to get outside today and drive on the not-so-hazardous roads. Kaitlyn and I bundled up and went and played at the park. I pulled her around in the sled so she wouldn't slip on some of the ice that remained. She was elated to get to swing in the baby swing and bounce on the Clifford toy. I pulled her to the pond and we had stick races off of the bridge with another boy and his Grandma there. The sunshine was so wonderful. It sure was great to get out. Thanks Lord for the little things like sunshine and dry roads in December!

More Christmas!

On Saturday night we celebrated Christmas with the "Alt" family. Its a huge group - I think there were seats for 75 and that is just aunts,uncles and first cousins. The party was held in my aunt and uncle's heated pole barn. Other than being quite loud, it was perfect. Dinner was a potluck and it was delicious. Perhaps the biggest gift that we all got at this party was the company of Cousin Doug, who came so close to death in early September of this year. Seeing him walk through the doors without help and sit and laugh and crack jokes as always - was simply a Christmas miracle! Praise the Lord for his healing powers!

Did she get it?

For those of you who remember that Kaitlyn asked Santa for a snowman, yes ... she did get what she asked for! :)

Christmas Day - "Late Afternoon/Evening"

All the cousins were waiting for us to do presents at my folks so we woke K up when we got there. She sat on my lap and watched everyone open gifts and then finally woke up enough to start opening hers. Once again, she only opened a few before she lost interest. We opened the rest a few days later. My mom made a mouth-watering feast and we all ate till we were stuffed. Afterwards Kaitlyn had fun playing Doctor with her cousin Mason and trying out some of the remote control car stuff that he got. We had a wonderful time of fun and fellowship with my family. Christmas 2008 was simply wonderful. Joy to the world that our Lord has come!

Christmas Day - "Late Morning/Lunch"

We dropped in for a short visit at my brother Tim's house on Christmas morning to nibble on a delicious breakfast that he had prepared for my mom and dad and other brother Jason and his family.

In front of Uncle Timmy's first Christmas tree.

After a short visit there we headed to Jeff's Grandma's house for lunch. Like always, the meal was delicious. After lunch we did presents; the adults do a $15 dollar random gift exchange. Jeff got this remote control helicopter which he just loves and I got a marshmallow shooting gun - which Jeff also loves! Kaitlyn got a set of doll clothes to fit Dirds - she was thrilled. After presents, Grandma Jo lit candles and the three little cousins sang Happy Birthday to Jesus, and then dessert was served.

Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus!

Kaitlyn fell asleep about 2 minutes into our carride home. So we unloaded our car at home and reloaded it with the remaining presents and headed to my parents for the last party of the day - all while Kaitlyn slept in her carseat.

Christmas Day - "Morning"

Jeff and I got up early on Christmas morning and put Kaitlyn's presents out. We also helped Santa finish nibbling on his and the reindeer's snack. I made huge cinnamon rolls for breakfast and we put them in the oven just as Kaitlyn was waking up - about 7:45am. I had to remind her that it was Christmas but with a little prodding, she jumped out of bed and was elated at the pile of presents that Santa had left her. She also was thrilled that Santa had snacked on the food that she left out for him. We passed out stockings - Santa even filled K's doll Dirds' stocking - and Kailtyn had fun investigating what she got. She thought for sure Santa would leave her a flute in her stocking since thats what Dora got from Santa, but instead she got a couple other musical toys, and a Dora toothbrush and toothpaste. Slowly Kaitlyn began to delve into her present pile. She ripped the paper oh so carefully and wanted to play with each present after it was opened. By 10:30am she had only opened about 1/4 of her presents so we just left the rest and headed to our first stop of the day - Uncle Timmy's house for a quick breakfast....

Singing Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus!

Checking out Santa's treat plate

"A whole lot of presents!" exclaimed Kaitlyn

Helping Dirds open her stocking.

Feeding Baby Alive....

... changing her diaper after she really pee'd!

10:30am ... lots of presents to go!

Our Christmas Angel!

Christmas Eve

We had a pretty low key Christmas Eve. K and I played like normal during the day and Jeff got home midday but went and helped snowblow my brother and parents driveway so he was gone most of the afternoon. It was neat to hear his desire to bless others!

After naptime we headed to my parents for a delicious feast and some more playtime with my brother and his family. Kudos to my mom for entertaining all week and feeding a huge crew of people for almost every meal. I haven't cooked but one meal in a week and that was the chili that I fed the crew at my Dad's party! Kaitlyn "drying off" after rescuing her bear in Crocodile Lake.

"Doctor Miller" checking out Daddy.

Kaitlyn had fun playing Dora with Grandpa and Doctor on Grandma and Grandpa's bed. Baby Elisa went to bed around 730ish and since K isn't the best at whispering or playing quietly, we left shortly after that.

Kaitlyn leaving a granola bar and celery for Santa and the reindeer. That is what she picked for them to snack on!

Busy Day!

Aunt Mary wasn't available last week to cut hair so I took Kaitlyn to a local salon on Tuesday to get her hair trimmed up nice before Christmas. She did such a great job sitting still. She even let Ms. Sandy blow dry and curl her hair. The neat part about this salon is that it is connected to a toy store. So after her cut and style she got to pick out a small fun toy.

After that we ventured to my parents' house to help my mom babysit my niece Elisa while her parents did some last minute shopping. Elisa was excellent for us, considereing that she has never seen me before this week and only seen my mom twice before. I think Kaitlyn was the best entertainment of all. However, my mom and I were sure relieved to see her parents drive in the driveway after a few hours of shopping! K and I left shortly after that to get ready for my Dad's birthday party. (Yes.... my posts are out of order. sorry!)

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Continuing in the week of celebrations, we threw a birthday party for my Dad on Tuesday night; he turned 61 on Monday. It was awesome to have almost all of my family together for a party. My brother Jason and his wife and daughter (Annabelle and Elisa) are/were in town for a week visiting from New York. My sister Mindy and her family joined us as well. We built a "big kid fort" (thanks, Daysha, for the baby gates!) in our living room so that Kaitlyn could "protect" her doll house and Polly Pockets from her 9 month old very curious, crawling cousin Elisa. It worked out great! We also played quite a few rounds of Pictionary. Even Kaitlyn got up and drew a snowman - it was so cute! Grandpa let Kaitlyn help blow out the candles and open presents, so she was thrilled! Happy Birthday Dad/Grandpa! We are so blessed to have you as a loving, generous and hard-working role model!

Best Wishes, Mary!

Last Monday night we braved the snowy roads and headed to a bridal shower for my sister-in-law to-be Mary. It took us 75 minutes to get there and Kaitlyn was more than ready to get out of the car. Luckily my brother Tim drove my mom, sister, Kaitlyn and I so we didn't have to stress about that. The shower was very nice. Mary got lots of great gifts and we had fun meeting some of her friends and relatives. And Kaitlyn had a superb time because the lady hosting the shower had two young boys so Kaitlyn just played and played with the new toys! Only 2.5 months until the wedding! We are getting so excited!

Kaitlyn and Mary getting some punch.

Kaitlyn exploring the toy room!

Christmas at Grandma Jo's

Last Sunday we braved the blizzard conditions to celebrate Christmas at Grandma Jo's. She threw a wonderful party complete with a delicious spread of food, beautiful holiday decorations and of course presents. Kaitlyn and her cousin Sydnee were hesitant to open any of their presents because Grandma Jo had wrapped them in aDORAble Dora wrapping paper. So cute!

Our Christmas Cutie!

Cute Dora wrapping paper!

Kaitlyn modeling one of her presents! Doesn't she look so grown up!

Kaitlyn and Sydnee playing Candy Land and eating yummy mints!

"Look Dad, I found a phone like yours!" Kaitlyn exclaimed. Actually it was a calculator! It was a fun get together and we all got way more than we needed! Thanks for your generosity Grandma Jo! What a wonderful way to start out Christmas week!