Sunday, December 28, 2008
Hey, We Finally Updated the Blog!!
We know, we know. We have been very remiss. Our November and December were so eventful that we had little time to spare. As a result, our blog was not updated since Halloween. To make it up to you, here are THREE blog posts with tons of pictures from the last few months. We'll just pretend I posted them in a timely manner. Enjoy!
Merry Christmas and Snow Fun
One of my favorite pictures of all time: Bea and Bullet on Christmas morning. It should have been our Christmas card picture... oh well...
The prep for Christmas this year was extremely hectic. I usually have all my Christmas presents purchased by Thanksgiving and the cards sent out by the 10th... not this year. With all the craziness of November and December, things got even crazier by Christmas.
As a person who makes her living in online consulting, it made sense that I did a lot of Christmas prep online -- but it seemed everything I did online got majorly screwed up!! I spent two hours making our Christmas cards online, but the company called the next day and said the pictures wouldn't work; so I wound up buying store cards. I ordered Bea's big present (a kitchen set) online, but the shipping got delayed and it still isn't here. I tried to make calendars online for the grandparents... but of course, they got botched. So, anyway, I learned my lesson. Yes, I will still shop online, but I will shop earlier next year.
When Christmas actually came, however, things went smoothly and we had a lot of fun.
We spent Christmas Eve at our house with my parents. They gave Bea a rocking horse (see below). She likes the horse, but she's still a bit affraid of it -- especially because if you squeeze its ears it whinnys and moves its nose and tail. I think she'll really love it in about a week!
We spent Christmas Day with Matt's family at Karyn and Jorge's house. We were especially happy that Matt's grandma, Hazel, was well enough to join us. Below is a picture of Grandma Pat reading to Bea and her cousin, Sadie.
And, here are Bea and Sadie giggling together in a rocking chair...
First, we had our picture taken with the Santa, Rudolph, and sleigh display in front of my parents' house. My parents made these decorations when I was little and have pictures of me with them every year, so this is an important Christmas tradition. Santa's list (which one of the elves is holding) has always had the names of my cousins and childhood friends on it. This year, it got ammended to include Bea, Sadie, Gwen, and others. Here we are with Grandma Liz. I like that Bea isn't even as tall as an elf.
In the end, our holiday was sure great. We hope yours was just as happy.
We spent Christmas Eve at our house with my parents. They gave Bea a rocking horse (see below). She likes the horse, but she's still a bit affraid of it -- especially because if you squeeze its ears it whinnys and moves its nose and tail. I think she'll really love it in about a week!
We spent Christmas Day with Matt's family at Karyn and Jorge's house. We were especially happy that Matt's grandma, Hazel, was well enough to join us. Below is a picture of Grandma Pat reading to Bea and her cousin, Sadie.
And, here are Bea and Sadie giggling together in a rocking chair...
The day after Christmas, Matt helped his mom move Grandma Hazel to a new place. Since it was pretty warm that day, Bea, Bullet, and I took the opportunity to have some winter fun with my parents.
First, we had our picture taken with the Santa, Rudolph, and sleigh display in front of my parents' house. My parents made these decorations when I was little and have pictures of me with them every year, so this is an important Christmas tradition. Santa's list (which one of the elves is holding) has always had the names of my cousins and childhood friends on it. This year, it got ammended to include Bea, Sadie, Gwen, and others. Here we are with Grandma Liz. I like that Bea isn't even as tall as an elf.
After getting our picture taken, it was time to try out Grandma and Grandpa's backyard sledding hill. While I was making the sledding course (going down the hill enough times to make it a smooth ride while unintentionally getting tons of snow in my pants), Bea got to go on the swing (aka the "weeeeeeee"). Bea loves the weeee, but of course, she has not been able to go on it much when it is 40 below. She always sees it from the window and begs to go on it. So, she was thrilled.
Finally, when the sledding run was ready, it was time for Bea to have her first sled ride. First we tried Bea going down by herself, but she wasn't heavy enough to go very far and she had to lay down. So, after awhile, Bea and I went together. With the two of us on the sled, we probably went a good 40 feet down the hill (with Bullet running along side) -- see picture below (if you click on the picture, you can see my Dad is holding Bullet until we go). Bea loved it and kept saying, "AGAIN!" Eventually, Mommy, Grandpa, and Grandma got tired of going up and down the hill and we made a snowman instead. The snowman lasted about two hours before it melted. Oh well, fun was had by all!
In the end, our holiday was sure great. We hope yours was just as happy. - M
Bye to Grandma, a Visit to Appleton, and SANTA
The blog I should have posted in mid-December...
We hardly had time to relax after Karyn's wedding, when Matt's Grandma Hazel broke her hip. Then, in the same week, my Grandma Marcie died (she was my Dad's mom). We had been planning to go home for a visit to Appleton anyway, but we got an entirely different kind of trip. On the good side, we got to see our relatives from far and near on that side of the family. Bea even got to meet some of her cousins, Isaac and Logan. Grandma had a lovely funeral and we are all happy that her suffering is over.
One funny story was that after spending four hours at the funeral home for the visitation, we had a short service. I asked Matt, who was going to be holding Bea, to sit closest to the door, in case Bea got noisy. I wound up sitting a row back. Sure enough, we weren't seated for more then 15 seconds before Bea went into all-out tantrum mode. So, Matt was trying to get up with Bea, a sippy cup, and toys while trying to get the door open. Eventually Matt (struggling) was holding Bea horizontal, with her head sticking out on one side of him and her little feet kicking out on the other side. Just as Matt got the door open, Bea realized that the whole room full of people was looking at her. She put on her best smile, waved, and said, "bye-bye!!" as she was carted out the door. Grandma would have thought it was pretty funny.
Bea spent a lot of the weekend in Appleton getting to know my mom's side of the family, too. She spent lots of time at Aunt Diane's house -- which was super fun because Diane has TONS of toys, had presents galore for Bea, and there was even a playmate -- Bea's cousin, Gwen. (Gwen is actually the daughter of my cousin, Kelly.) Gwen and Bea are only a couple months different in age and they had a great time together as you can see. Bea is still saying "Gwen?" and "Di?"weeks later.
Here are Bea and Gwen "rockin' out" in Aunt Diane's kitchen. Gwen called Bea, "Ba." Bea called Gwen, "Gen." But a good time was had by all. Bea and Gwen liked to ride together in the little red car you can see in the upper left of the picture. It's really only made for one kid, but they'd squeeze in together -- with limbs hanging out of every window.
Here I am reading to the girlies.
We hardly had time to relax after Karyn's wedding, when Matt's Grandma Hazel broke her hip. Then, in the same week, my Grandma Marcie died (she was my Dad's mom). We had been planning to go home for a visit to Appleton anyway, but we got an entirely different kind of trip. On the good side, we got to see our relatives from far and near on that side of the family. Bea even got to meet some of her cousins, Isaac and Logan. Grandma had a lovely funeral and we are all happy that her suffering is over.
One funny story was that after spending four hours at the funeral home for the visitation, we had a short service. I asked Matt, who was going to be holding Bea, to sit closest to the door, in case Bea got noisy. I wound up sitting a row back. Sure enough, we weren't seated for more then 15 seconds before Bea went into all-out tantrum mode. So, Matt was trying to get up with Bea, a sippy cup, and toys while trying to get the door open. Eventually Matt (struggling) was holding Bea horizontal, with her head sticking out on one side of him and her little feet kicking out on the other side. Just as Matt got the door open, Bea realized that the whole room full of people was looking at her. She put on her best smile, waved, and said, "bye-bye!!" as she was carted out the door. Grandma would have thought it was pretty funny.
Bea spent a lot of the weekend in Appleton getting to know my mom's side of the family, too. She spent lots of time at Aunt Diane's house -- which was super fun because Diane has TONS of toys, had presents galore for Bea, and there was even a playmate -- Bea's cousin, Gwen. (Gwen is actually the daughter of my cousin, Kelly.) Gwen and Bea are only a couple months different in age and they had a great time together as you can see. Bea is still saying "Gwen?" and "Di?"weeks later.
Here are Bea and Gwen "rockin' out" in Aunt Diane's kitchen. Gwen called Bea, "Ba." Bea called Gwen, "Gen." But a good time was had by all. Bea and Gwen liked to ride together in the little red car you can see in the upper left of the picture. It's really only made for one kid, but they'd squeeze in together -- with limbs hanging out of every window.
Here I am reading to the girlies.While in Appleton, we all also went to see all of my Dad's old friends at the Fox River Mall, including Santa (aka, Russ). We're really happy to have the chance to see such a great Santa again this year. Bea didn't really get the concept of Santa bringing presents, etc., but she definitely knows what Santa looks like and points him out at every opportunity.
Before I forget, I would like to publically congratulate my cousins Kelly and Angela who are both expecting new babies! More friends for Bea and us. Hooray.
- M
Happy November!!
Happy Thanksgiving. Ok, so considering it's almost New Year, that's kind of fake, but I sincerely hope you had a happy holiday.
If I had written a blog in November, I would have told you it was a very busy time for us -- Matt's sister, Karyn, got married on Thanksgiving weekend and Matt had finals for his MBA class. So we had much to do.
Karyn's wedding was beautiful. Conducted in Spanish and English, it was very unique and fun. I don't have alot of pictures from the wedding, but here are a couple good ones:
This is a picture of Matt's dad, Matt, and the girls. Bea spent the entire dinner yelling, "Hi Grandpa" (to Matt's dad) and "Hi Cots" to Matt's cousin Scott (who was staying with us and became Bea's new best bud). Matt and I were at the head table, and my parents were watching Bea, so we could blissfully ignore all of it. :)
And, here's the bride with her mom and her sister. (I just thought everyone likes to see a picture of the bride.)
If I had written a blog in November, I would have told you it was a very busy time for us -- Matt's sister, Karyn, got married on Thanksgiving weekend and Matt had finals for his MBA class. So we had much to do.
Karyn's wedding was beautiful. Conducted in Spanish and English, it was very unique and fun. I don't have alot of pictures from the wedding, but here are a couple good ones:
This is a picture of Matt's dad, Matt, and the girls. Bea spent the entire dinner yelling, "Hi Grandpa" (to Matt's dad) and "Hi Cots" to Matt's cousin Scott (who was staying with us and became Bea's new best bud). Matt and I were at the head table, and my parents were watching Bea, so we could blissfully ignore all of it. :)
And, here's the bride with her mom and her sister. (I just thought everyone likes to see a picture of the bride.) In November, Bea also had some pictures taken at Babies 'R Us. They actually do a pretty good job there.
The photographer tried to give Bea one of those snowballs (made of fleece) to hold in the picture, but she kept throwing it at the photographer. The girl knows what to do with a ball -- she's got quite an arm and pretty good aim.
The photographer tried to give Bea one of those snowballs (made of fleece) to hold in the picture, but she kept throwing it at the photographer. The girl knows what to do with a ball -- she's got quite an arm and pretty good aim.
Well, that's about all I remember in November... it was a long time ago.
-M
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