nursery rhymes

Alison reaps the benefits of Grandma Suzie and learns all sort of nursery rhymes when we visit. This is one she learned yesterday.

Christmas Morning

Nick gave me a new little point and shoot that fits right into my pocket, which is great! Plus it takes videos. So I realized that I didn't really take that many pictures on Christmas but I have some fun videos. I'll have to see if any of them are short enough to put up here.

Now that Alison is going on her 3rd Christmas, she is a pro. Here she is sporting her new apron and playing Santa's helper, passing out the presents.

Andrew is getting a head start on his oral hygiene, that Santa knows just what to put in a stocking!

Alison is posing here with two presents. The red kitchen in the background - I'll have to take a better picture of it with them in it - and the ball popper, which was actually Andrew's present. I think that's why she has this look on her face. Like she's getting caught playing with someone else's toys or something.

What?? More dress up stuff? The shoes are my favorites.

Pre-Christmas Activities

A lot of smiling.

A lot of Andrew eating. He fed himself here, can you tell?

And some delicious sugar cookie eating.

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Decemeber recaps

to bring you a Public Service Announcement on tooth brushing.

A birthday weekend for our 3 year old!

As is to be expected with a birthday so near Christmas, Alison's birthday weekend was filled with parties, parties and more parties.

She got her face-painted and our neighbor Maddie's birthday party. They are just one day apart!

Then we were off to the Slater's annual Christmas party with Santa.

When we were on our way to see Santa Alison kept saying, "I don't need to cry when I see Santa, he's nice!" When we actually got there, she looked a little apprehensive. Luckily, Andrew broke the ice, and didn't cry. But definitely looked inquistively at the man in the red suit.

Then Alison climbed up. Just about the time Andrew was done.

And since it wasn't busy, she got to sit on Santa's lap and cuddle for about 5 mintues! Lucky girl. She asked for a red kitchen (upon my suggestion, wink, wink).

On Sunday night we got together with Grandma and Uncle David and we sang happy birthday and blew out candles,

ate some delicious PINK cake and ice cream.

and opened some presents. 2 favorite books from my childhood, Richard Scarry's Busy World and Madeline.

Then on Monday, her actual birthday, she started by "making" cupcakes,

Blowing out candles with her friends,

Opened MORE presents!,

played the role of the Birthday Princess (furry pink backpack NOT optional),

And managed to decorate and eat a few gingerbread men.

Phew! That was a busy weekend. And that was only the 15th of Dec.! No wonder I'm still tired.