Merry Christmas to All!

Christmas has new meaning now that we're parents.  It's neat being on this side of the whole occasion!  Christmas was perfect this year.  My mom and Keith were here, everyone was happy and healthy (thank goodness the stomach bug swept our house last week!), and the time we spent with family was priceless.  My mom stayed at our house on Christmas Eve since Dave was working-we put out gifts and made food for Christmas day, stayed up entirely too late, and both ended up taking Benadryl at 1am to force ourselves to go to sleep..haha...Christmas morning was wonderful.  Ellie was really excited when she saw all of the gifts and proceeded to take all of the bows off of each and every gift before we started opening them. 

She liked helping to open the gifts far more than I thought she would, and got excited about each of her gifts.  She especially liked the ride-on toy that Grandma got her.  She sat on it before we even took it out of the box. 

Here are a few more pictures from the morning...

Heading out to Uncle "Poppy" Wayne and Aunt Kathy's house...

In case you're wondering...this is a carrot...

we're getting molars...

Whoops...we burnt the broccoli casserole...



There are more pictures coming from my mom's camera, but I don't have them yet.  The day was great!  Can't wait for next year!

SNOW!

After last year's unprecedented snowfall of 4+ feet, you'd think that we'd be all snowed out in these parts, but I still can't help but love the first snow of the winter!  Yes, it was only a few inches, and it did make my ride home on Thursday night no fun at all, but my little snowbunny got to play in it, which made it all worth while!



Tis' the Season!

Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely LOVE Christmas!  I love the music, the family, the decorations, and of course that feeling you get deep in your gut right around this time of year-that magical feeling that Christmas seems to bring back, even as an adult.  All of that becomes even more important now that I get to be on the parent side of it all.  I get to be the one to make that magic happen for Ellie.  I love traditions.  We started our first family Christmas tradition last year when we went to Barnes and Noble on Christmas Eve to buy our copy of The Night Before Christmas.  This year, we decided to start making ornaments for the tree.  For anyone who's interested in making some super cute, super cheap holiday ornaments, here's a great "recipe!"  

Ingredients: 

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

3/4 cup of water (give or take a little)

5-10 tsp. cinnamon (for color and scent)

Directions:

Mix the dry ingredients together.  Add the water, little by litte, until a dough forms.  If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour.  If it is too dry/crumbly, add a little more water.  You'll find a happy medium! 

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator to stiffen up for about 30 minutes. 

On a floured surface, roll out the dough out to 1/4"-1/2" thick.  Use cookie cutters to cut out the shapes that you want.  Use a straw to punch out the hole that the top for ribbon. 

Place the cut out shapes on parchment paper on top of a cookie sheet.  Bake at 325 degrees for about an hour until the ornaments are dry.  Allow them to cool. 

Once the ornaments are cool, decorate them!  We used Ellie's handprints to make Santa Claus! 

Thread ribbon through the hole and hang your ornament on your Christmas tree!

Giving Thanks

As I look back on the last year, I have such an abundance of things to be thankful for.  I thought I'd take a few minutes to list my top ten. 

10.  I am thankful that I have a secure job I enjoy and that allows me to share equally with Dave in providing for our family.  

9.  As much as I complain that we'll be stuck in our condo for a million years, I am so very thankful that I have a comfortable home to return to each night. 

8.  I'm thankful that in this tough economy, Dave and I are never late on any of our bills, and have enough extra to enjoy life. 

7.  As emotionally difficult as my miscarriage was, I am thankful that it happened.  Without that experience, I wouldn't have my angel of a daughter in my life. 

6.  My mom is my best friend in the world.  I am so thankful for the relationship that we have. 

5.  Keith has been an incredible addition to our family.  I'm not sure I really realized the full extent of my feelings towards him until Ellie was born.  Ellie has one Grandpa, and a fantastic one at that. 

4.  I'm thankful for the power that a new baby has to bring people together.  The past year has really helped me to reconnect with my Aunt Kathy and Uncle Wayne.  I love them so much.   

3.  Being a mom is the most incredible challenge I've ever taken on.  Believe me, Ellie's personality will surely make motherhood a challenge :)  I'm thankful to have the opportunity to take it on!   

2.  I'm unbelievably thankful for my husband.  He's been my rock for 9 years, my husband for 3.  I couldn't ask for a man who loves me more, who takes care of me better, who thinks of me all the time, and who puts me ahead of anything else.  I love you, Dave. 

1.  We can all guess what my #1 is.  Ellie is the joy of my life.  I hear daily what a happy little girl she is.  I hope that her feisty, happy-go-lucky personality follows her through life.  She makes me want to be a better person, and I am so thankful that I can say that I am the mother of this amazing little being. 

Take a few to think about what you're thankful for.  It's important to look at the good in your lives...

Happy Birthday to Ellie!

It's hard to believe that our baby girl has been with us for an entire year.  I know it sounds cliche, and I've heard it a hundred times, but I just don't know how I lived the other 25 years of my life without her.  I hear it from everyone; Tammy and Erin at daycare, family members, friends, and neighbors; that Ellie is just the happiest little girl.  I even have former students who've even told me how they just don't get how she's so happy all the time!  I like to think that Dave and I have at least a little bit of influence on that.  In the profession I'm in, I see many families that struggle day in and day out, and I feel really proud that we are able to give Ellie a happy, loving, and comfortable life.  I wouldn't trade any of the ups and downs of Ellie's first year for anything.  It's been quite a ride.  I'd do it all over in a heartbeat. 

Ellie's first year came to an end with a bang!  We had a big party with family and friends who have played a big part in making Ellie's life such a good one!  She was so happy the entire time!  From exploring the party room while we set everything up to smashing cake and opening presents (well, watching me open her presents), Ellie was one happy little lady!

We went with a ladybug theme for her party :)

Making the cutest ladybug appetizers ever!

 I told you they were cute!

My friend, Beth, and her daughter, Jessie, made these adorable

 chocolate covered Oreo favors!

Making a grand entrance into her party!

Ellie and her Great Aunt Janet :)

Uncle Chris is one funny guy!

Great pictures of the family! 

Striking a pose :) 

Ellie's cute and delicious ladybug cake, 

made by our friend, Beth.  Thanks, Beth! 

Oooohh....presents! 

She was such a good girl! 

 I love my new drumset from Nanny and Grandpa!

Group shot! 

All clean! 

Thinking about digging in...

Hmmm...this is good!

Gotta love some oozing chocolate!

And....we're done :)