more Christmas!

A few other videos from that magical morning....

A fabulous new dance-slipper bag:


First pair of clip on earrings (we're pretty sure she was convinced that daddy was piercing her ears, as she's been asking about that lately...)

Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!

First, prepare....
~ with decorations:

unfortunately, Jake swiped half of it that very afternoon!

~ with song:






~ with activity:

Breakfast with Santa.  He came to the big school!  Ains asked for a dolly.  He told her she had a beautiful smile.  She now proclaims that Santa is her Best Friend. :)

train exhibit at Botanic Garden - amazing!

neighborhood caroling with a bunch of moms. Ains a bit cold. and perhaps confused.

 Great Grandma's perfect sugar cookies!!

and the big day!

There was a BUNNY at Jesus' birth!!??

oooo - which one to pick for the Christmas Eve opening???

It turns out - we didn't take many photos on Christmas Day.  We were having too much fun!

adores her new vacuum cleaner with the pull-out duster!  Thank you Toomeys!!

oh. my. Snow White personalized!  Ains sat down and had dad read it cover to cover immediately.

will this toy survive???

that's an affirmative!  Cute Snuggler.

 I cooked up a honey ham! (ok, a little too much for 3, but it's what I could find. Ham, anyone?)

view master with Snow White reel!  (Must put on costume to play) - thank you, Auntie Sawah!

new princess pj's from Grandpa Rex & Grandma Dee - huge hit!

and thank you, Nana and Grandpa Joe, for my new puppet theater!

this and that

Time for a post to catch up on the past few months when I have neglected the blog...

We're currently enjoying a few days escaping the laundry and the never-ending to-do lists to enjoy some family time and down-time together, so I have a moment to catch up. 

This is where we are at right now:

indoor, heated pool, with kid-friendly movies on a big screen each evening

This place is AWESOME.  Dog friendly and Family friendly.  Loads of room to take Jake out to run on the empty golf-course and through nature trails.  Dog treats waiting in our room upon arrival. Puzzles, games, and blocks available for check-out, daily kid activities run by the staff, kid menus, spa (for the mommies!)....

Christmas photos, however, are sitting at home on the camera that I forgot to pack - so I'll have to add those later! :)

a school moment - she's such a good listener!

ballet with Miss Heidi (amazingly from Bellingham!!)

she'd sleep in this yellow skirt if we let her!

daddy SERIOUSLY needed a new pair of shoes!

A fall festival down the street at a local school:

first cotton candy

yum!

this artistic display takes serious pre-schooler concentration!

she can write her whole name except for the 's'  !!!

teaching school to her dollies

doesn't a new haircut make YOU feel like this??

new haircut. DARLING. (our baby is growing up!!)

she loves patterns (aka "patterehns")

our little princess.

our 'other' little princess.

my happy new vacuum cleaner!  Hey, what can I say?   The other one BROKE.  This one is GLORIOUS.

one round and THIS is what it picked up! EGADS.

dressed herself. (mind you - it's FREEZING outside)

Happy day!  ABear fits into mommy's old 'Betty Sweater' -- that Nana crocheted (knit?) for her when she was a girl.  YES, the skirt DOES flip up and yes, Betty is wearing underwear.