This is mostly Christmas related, but the holiday seems to last all month and there are a few non-Holiday activities interspersed.
Turning 20 months - must have been a weekday because I didn't think to take a picture until bath time:
We wanted to have a tree around for a long time in December this year, so we went the first weekend in December to chop one down. My coworker let us in on this "farm" that had nobles for $10. It was a bit of drive, and most of the trees were overgrown, but we found one that we liked. It was a rainy day, but cleared up during the time we were hunting and cutting. MEL wasn't so sure about what we were doing.
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| uh... what's going on? This is just odd. |
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| still not sure what we are doing, but happy to be in the car |
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| Helping decorate the tree |
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| Turned out great! We loved our tree this year! |
Christmas aside, we are working on potty training so I got MEL some underwear to have on hand. I don't think she's quite ready ....
We also had a few play dates with friends ... first Max
Then the Ragaway boys
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| Love the look on here face here ;) |
First bit of Christmas - my work holiday party. MEL wanted to wear this, but I talked her out of the 4 layers of shorts.
Somehow she picked right up on the presents and gift opening, and Santa! She quickly figured out that Santa was handing out presents and couldn't wait for hers ... until she got within 10 feet of him, then she froze and I had to get the gift. I'll have to add it to next entry, but my coworker got a great pic of us two with Santa (and then she went on vacation...)
Mom's birthday a couple days later. MEL gave me this great smile as a present :).
Back to Christmas... a visit with Santa. There are 6 more pics, all with the same look on her face.
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| The evil stare |
Thing was, she was all about Santa on the way in: "Are you going to see Santa?" "Yeah!" "Are you going to sit on Santa's lap?" "Yeah" "Hi Santa!" "Santa, Santa, Santa!"
The pictures just after seeing Santa turned out better :(
And now for the serious Christmas festivities. Day 1 (Christmas Eve), Grandpa Whiskers and Grandma Nancy's. We'll call this 'It's a very Elmo Christmas, Part 1':
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| There's Elmo slippers in that box |
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| Elmo guitar |
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| And Elmo himself |
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| love this one! |
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| Papa doing pigtails |
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| After warming up to uncle Turner |
Christmas morn ... and Elmo Part II. But first, the big surprise, a toy kitchen from GoMa! I had to edit this short to fit here, but you get to see her reaction:
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| Stocking! |
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| Double fisting chocolate Santas from her stocking. 6:45 am |
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| Thanks for the cookies Aunt Jessie! (I just look upset because they are not open) |
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| And the Elmo shirts! Goes great with the slippers! |
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| They're for her new kitchen! (which she looovvvesss!) |
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| Elmo sweatshirt (thanks again Jessie!) |
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| Looking for more presents! |
Then John's in AM, back home for nap, and back to John's for dinner:
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| not so Christmassy ... but adorable |
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| Warmed up to Ian |
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| and Holly too! |
Christmas Day 3 (day after) ... Geema's house:
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| A shopping cart! |
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| There was a little back and forth by the little ones over presents |
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| Thanks for everything Geema! |
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| With cousin Ryder |
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| pooped |
A couple videos to round out the month. First ... playing "hide" and seek. She's not so good at it.
Then, waiting for Daddy:
Wished it had snowed for Christmas - but at least we got a little right after:
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| Hmmm.... do I like this stuff? |
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| yeah - I think so. |
