Christmas 2009

Christmas morning. At our own, peaceful home. Stunned daughter. This was the closest I got to a smile when she saw the Disney princess castle that she'd been asking for:

It took a good while to come out of that weird, overwhelmed stage..

Caroline got a bunch of small bath toys (all squirting-types which Santa will soon sorely regret):

The biggest hit came from cousin Ally, who sent Maggie this princess tent and sleeping bag:

Stocking full of teething toys:

The only toy that brought a reaction...once. She's been totally disinterested since:

Please ignore the the kindling (er...um...tree) in the background. This is the second year in a row that our lovely fresh cut tree has kicked the bucket well before the big day. We did everything right and we still killed them. We're springing for a fakey.

After a lazy morning (and the kids finally soaking in the pile of gifts) we took a big look at the aftermath....and walked out to catch our flight to Phoenix.

In Between (Holi)days

It's as if they don't know the holiday is coming and they should be stressing out like their mom. For some reason this past holiday season seemed...rough. I was more like a deer in the headlights than anything else.

Maggie just had tea parties:

Caroline ate anything within her reach, and thanks to her sister, that was MOUNDS of Cheerios:

Maggie helped her daddy address and stamp the Christmas cards. In case you didn't know, Patrick is a stamp collector. He uses old and/or "useless" stamps as actual postage. That sometimes means using my ModPodge in order to affix them to the envelope. If you ever get a letter from Patrick be sure to check out the stamps that got it to you--interesting stuff. (That's a little jewel stuck to my sweet girl's cheek.)

Just so, so happy to be here!! (just LOOK at those scrunched up toes!!!):

All the blurry days of the holiday season!

Vicki Sigg Photos

Now that our Christmas picture has been sent out I can finally post more pictures of our photo shoot with Vicki (VickiSiggPhotography.com). We got SO many great shots from this one session!

Christmas Eve

We had a very mellow Christmas Eve at our place (not something I'm used to--as a child this night was the big family party and Christmas day was almost anti-climactic). Patrick fixed himself the biggest steak known to man and we all had our fill of holiday goodies.

After her bath Maggie was allowed to put some cookies and milk out on the coffee table. She insisted on the bowl. I wanted a lovely plate to display our treats for the big man but, no, it had to be this ugly mixing bowl.

She was so excited she stayed up and played in her room until well past 10pm. We just kept staring at her through the video monitor willing her to pass out so we could get started!

I do really like that we've agreed to spend our Christmases at home so our kids grow up with memories of waking up in the comfort of their own cozy home. Plus it's nice to know we won't have to explain how Santa will find them if we're traveling! I have to admit that falling into my own lovely bed that night was pretty close to heaven.

Will Christmas Get Here Already?

Maggie came home from Miss Kellie's with a little ornament. She was so excited. It went directly on the tree (it's the little stocking by her left hand):

Hanging out in our VERY crowded front room. We had to move a big chair into another already crowded room in order to fit our tree in. Now it all feels much more like a storage facility than a functional room to hang in. Oh, well--at least I can enjoy all the Christmas decorations in there.

Patrick taught Maggie how to make snowflakes. She liked it but said it hurt her hands to cut the very thick layers of paper.

I Wear My Sunglasses At Night

Maggie loves having a little doll to play with (and dress up):

Playing "winter" with her big sister:

This is what Caroline does when I put on Baby Einstein videos:

Haven't We Seen This Before??

I thought this year Maggie would be more into waiting each day and removing an ornament from the advent calendar. Wrong. Same as last year.

LOOK at my teeny tiny girl grow in one measely year! I think I might cry.

**I do have plans to finish the handmade advent calendar Julie and I started a couple of years ago. Since we started it the same week my brother Brian passed away it's been a little difficult for me to pull it out and start again. When getting out this years Christmas totes from the basement I spotted the box...and just couldn't deal. Maybe next year. I really want my girls to grow up with it (the way I grew up with the one my mother made for us).

Why Can I Not See?

She's a bit squirmy in the car seat...so this happens. A lot.

Crocs Warehouse Sale

We went to the Crocs warehouse sale the other day. I still look completely rediculous in them (proof = I tried on a pair and my friend, Vicki, laughed. out loud). But kids (Maggie) look super cute in them. I bought a handful for Mags and she can't leave them alone! They ALL come out of the closet daily and you'll find them all over the house, perfectly lined up. A few times she thought the Crocs looked lonely I pulled out every single pair of shoes she owns to join them on display. Since the display moves locations throughout the day, they pose the perfect tripping hazard if you're not careful.

And just a cute one.

Who Makes Her Smile?

Her daddy makes her smile. Instantly. No matter what is going on. Just as it was with Maggie. If she has a rough wake up I'll grab her from the crib, she'll cry all the way down the hall and then bust into an insta-grin the second we hit her daddy's office door and she catches a glimpse. I don't even have to see her face to know she's spotted the papa--her whole body starts to flail wildly.

We've also started Caroline on things like Cheerios and those gross puffy things from Gerber. The first time was very successful. I tried to get a picture of this lone puffy thing stuck to her chin but has I snapped the pic it fell on her shirt--so just imagine it was very cute.

And I do have some very sweet little video clips but I'm having technical difficulties (as usual).

Birthday

Dec 1 was my birthday. We were all sick. I've never been much of a birthday girl but the slow pace and mandatory house confinement proved to be the best recipe for a birthday! It was quiet, peaceful, and downright enjoyable.
When I woke up and came downstairs I was greeted with a Happy Birthday Mommy from Maggie (Patrick had coached her well).
The rest of the day she kept asking if she could "have my birthday". Then she walked halfway up the stairs and yelled to me, "When I come down stairs you say 'Happy Birthday Maggie!'.

The only picture I took that day was of Maggie making my birthday cake.

By the way, Patrick, as usual pulled off a lovely and very thoughtful gift. He's an awesome gift giver. Thanks Patrick. Love you.

Black Friday

After a very peaceful Thanksgiving at home (just us) we decided to do our Christmas decorating while others battled it out at the stores. It was a beautiful, warm day.

This is me trying to get a picture of me with the kidlets:

Mags really enjoyed decorating the tree. After she finished, I filled in the tree with basic ornaments and bows. She came back into the room and told me she didn't like what I'd done.

Telling her papa exactly what to do:

I bought Maggie a Little People nativity and she went nuts over it! For a short time she called it a zoo (I guess the animals threw her off). Now she keeps calling it her "activity scene" instead of nativity.

Caroline just enjoyed the whole day. Happy as a clam!

Sicklies

What does one do when your sick....FOREVER??! You take random pictures. We would go in and out of good and bad moments. Many, many days of just getting by.

Maggie put the bow in Caroline's hair:

The blanket is her wedding veil:

When Maggie was in the worst of her illness I crafted and put Caroline in her high chair to watch videos. She loves Baby Einstein.

A nice moment. We actually thought we were getting over it. Little did we know we had several more rounds to go:

I was too sick myself to actually take pics of our bad moments. It's best forgotten though.