Good-bye 2008!

We went to a party at Lee and Janet's - they have such a welcoming home! We love going to their parties. The great food doesn't hurt either :) Sherry made this awesome fruit salad. I ate so much, but it was delicious. We played games and laughed. Exchanged cute kid stories. Lee and Janet's son and daughter were there with their families, so Maya had a blast playing with their grandsons. We left just a smidge before midnight, I can't think of a better way to end the year.

Being Silly at Grandma's

We stopped by to "install" Grandma's stereo-thingie and Maya took the opportunity to try on some of Grandma's hats and slippers. Such a joy this baby-girl can be!

Zoo? Too cold, not enough time

When it's too cold to go to the zoo, and there isn't enough time to go to Chicago.....we go to the pet store! I'm appreciative that Maya is only three and going to the pet store can be an adventure.

Dress Up on a Lazy Day

This is a photo from one of those lazy days when you just hang around the house. Maya's playing dress up....

Caption?

This would be a good photo for a caption contest! It's the first time Maya saw the lobsters at the grocery store.

Sixty Years !!

Happy Anniversary to my Mom and Dad. They've been married for sixty years....WOW!

The Best Gift of All - Memories

Very special Christmas memories...

....when we took Maya up to the Nativity Set after Mass, and she sang Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus. What a beautiful child the Lord has given me.


...when Maya was coming down the stairs this morning, turned to me and said, so seriously, "Mommy, I think I heard Santa come down the chimney last night."


...the beautiful Birthday cake Grandma made for Baby Jesus with blue frosting - a special request from Maya because, "Baby Jesus is a boy, Grandma".


...Carolyn, Steve and Andrea; Rich and Karen; Cindy and Terry. Family that couldn't be here with us, but who remembered our little girl and took the time to send Maya something.


...Carol and Fred; Linda; Elaine. Wayne's family that couldn't be with us but they sent something for Maya and the wonderful phone conversation with Lori that ended with a "phone hug".


...Maya enjoying the candy canes and marbles every bit as much as the bigger toys.


...Wayne baking, yes, you heard me, BAKING bread. Whew! From scratch, punching dough and the whole shebang. And it was super delicious as well as beautiful. He said he remember "helping" his mother make it when he was young.


...seeing Cousin Kevin act silly with my baby girl, reindeer antlers and all. Kevin decorating a gingerbread house with Wayne - they did an awesome job, who knew?

...Cousin Kevin calling me from the store to see what-in-the-world to get for Maya. Ahhh, I remember those child-free days well. He ended up with awesome Little Pony sets and "going out on a limb" because I didn't mention it, play-doh.


...hearing Maya say, "don't touch it, Grandpa!" about fifty times. About her toys, her gingerbread house, Santa's hat, her cheese crackers, those two are a piece of work. "Grandpa, you have to behave!"


...my beautiful little-boxes from Mom and Dad and Wayne. Yes, jewelry is the way to this girl's heart.


...speaking of jewelry, the fantastic earrings from JodyLynn. They are the cutest Christmas earrings I have ever seen. I love them!! Go to jewelzbyjl.com to see her gorgeous pieces. The Christmas trees aren't on the website yet, but they probably will be by next year.


...Maya saying, "Kerplump" all day instead of Kerplunk, LOL.


...singing "Angels We Have Heard on High" with Maya and the way she stayed on harmony, even though we sang, lalala, neither of us knew the words until "Glo, or, or, or, or ia"


...watching Polar Express with Kevin, Mom, Dad, Wayne and Maya.


...putting reindeer food out and leaving cookies and milk for Santa.


...drinking egg nog and opening presents.

Christmas Morning

The calm before the storm......waiting for Maya to wake-up..... "Look Mommy, look! The reindeer food is gone!"Santa gave Maya a goody bag! These are popular since Santa gave her one when we saw him in South Bend.Getting equal time after the Cubs book that Grandma gave Maya last year! (And yes, I do have a black eye. Maya and I "bonked" heads.)"What's in there, Mommy?" Rip that paper!

It's a dollhouse!

Santa filled her stocking, too! Maya MUST have been on the nice list.

Daddy made from-scratch-donuts! Daddy, you rock!

Coming home from church...

Christmas Day

Having breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa after church.....

Playing with her new Mrs. Goodbee doll house...

Daddy with his beautiful, homemade bread! This man was a bakin' fool over the holiday :)

He remembered "helping" his mom make bread and said this turned out very similar to the one she made.

Whew! Such a magical day!

Christmas Eve

The reason for the season......Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Maya asked Grandma to make the cake with blue frosting, "because baby Jesus is a boy". Of course!

We all sang, "Happy Birthday" and Maya helped baby Jesus by blowing out the candles.

Wayne made a beeeeyouteeeeful turkey - 21 pounds!

Grandma brought Korbel and Welch's sparkling juice. We toasted to a Merry Christmas. Maya did well with her flute even though previous experience has been sippy cups, LOL. The taste of the juice surprised her though, it's an acquired taste!

After a delicious dinner, we made gingerbread houses. A boy team - Wayne and Kevin. A girl team - Grandma, Mommy, and Maya. Grandpa was the independent judge. He liked the "snow" on the roof of the girl's creation, but when Wayne figuratively dangled a take-home bag of turkey drum sticks, he declared the boy's house the winner.

Time for presents. Daddy and his little helper passed out the gifts.

Maya was happy to help Grandpa with opening his presents.

A Li Bien ornament and fun finger puppets from Cousins Cindy and Terry!

Cousin Kevin liked his gift!

The stocking was hung by the chimney, with care......

...Maya put out the reindeer food we had made at the Notre Dame bookstore.....

...and cookies and milk for Santa.....

...then off to bed, even though we were "too exciting to sleep!"