2009 top 20!

I was going to do a top 5, and then a top 10, but I couldn't narrow it down and since it is my blog I am doing a TOP 20! So here are my fave pics of 2009. In chronological order.

Just a goofy face. There is a whole series of these faces and people around us were cracking up!

Our first snowman. And he got a high five!

Running became very important to me this year, and this is me signing up for my very first race.

I love this one because I never get to cuddle her like this anymore. Somehow she just dozed off in the chair with me. I think she might have been sick.

This was a day where I did nothing but what she wanted to do. We played all day. I need to do this again.

My fave pic of the year. She had been skiing all day and was pooped!

Ellie and her bestie walking and talking. These two are going to rule the world one day.

My girl on her third birthday.

Our first trip to the beach. She is a beach girl for sure! Loves it!

There aren't many places I love more than Linda's front porch. We go home every year for the fair and this was our first day there. Lots to look forward to.

Probably my most artistic shot of the year. My book club buddies went golfing and I managed to capture this cool shot.

My wonderful little family on the 4th of July.

2 of my favorite things. Ellie and books! We spend lots of time at bookstores and libraries.

This is why I love my husband. He wore her hat to the park. Cause she wanted him to.

First day of preschool. Sigh. Time is going fast.

Berry picking. Love the colors of this one, plus we got to spend some time with Megs.

We look forward to these donuts all year long. There are none like it, anywhere.

We had had a horrible day bickering and whining, and I just packed her up and we went to the river. Within 5 minutes we were laughing and having fun. Must remember not to take life so seriously!!!

Hopefully we will be moving this year, but looking at this pic and the pretty trees, I am going to miss this little house.

As the weather turned colder, we have been playing lots and lots of games. Loved how I caught Chris' victorious gesture in this one.


Looking back, we had a fantastic year! I would love to see your best pics of the year.

since we last spoke...

we made a triple batch of snickerdoodles

visited with Grandpa
played knock out Gin
spent lots of time in the kitchen
left cookies and eggnog for santa

ate about 3 dozen cookies
opened a present or 47...

got some UGGS! My husband rocks.
visited with family
got lots of new fiesta ware!
got totally snockered on Christmas night (so classy)
traveled to Indiana
met some new little boys in the family
fell asleep in a comfy chair by the fire

played more knock out Gin
and Euchre
visited with more family
finally watched the Hangover
and heard lots of stories.


It was a wonderful Christmas

big questions

Last night, we had just settled on the couch after putting Ellie to bed and I was exhausted! We didn't even leave the house yesterday but the kid had run me ragged all day and I was DONE!

Just as we got comfortable:

"DAD!!!!!"

Secretly I am thinking how relieved I am that she was calling for her Daddy and not me. I wasn't sure I could muster up the strength to make it up two flights of stairs, for her to tell me she was picking a fingernail or to ask for more books. Seriously. She will call us urgently and when we get up there, will tell us some totally inane tidbit. Drives us nuts! Why go up then? Because experience has taught us that ignoring does NOT work. She will call for hours.

So anyhoo, I am relaxed on the couch staring at a paused Matthew McConnahey (bonus! we were watching Ghosts of Girlfriends Past) and I can hear a lengthy conversation going on in the monitor. I hear words like, honey, and die, and whimpers. I am intrigued and again, thankful that Daddy went up.

Chris comes down the stairs, hand over heart and preceded to tell me that when he got up there, Ellie asked him, in tears, if she was going to die.

WHAT??

Apparently she is afraid that since she is getting older (as we are always telling her what a big girl she is) she is going to die soon.

Bless her little heart.

So Chris preceded to explain that we were all going to be together for a really, really long time and that none of us were old that she had nothing to worry about. That seemed to work for now.

Poor little thing. I remember worrying about things like that. About my parents dying and myself getting old. Hell, I worry even more now about getting old (now that I am starting to see some early signs...where did those wrinklies around my eye come from? Grody!)

So big questions are getting asked around here these days. Many more to come, I am sure.

Did I mention how glad I was that Chris got this one??

lately...

We have been really busy lately. We have:

- been to 2 little get togethers: one of which, I got just a titch tipsy, and the other, ate WAY too much Chinese food.

- been watching the finale of Survivor. Still love the show. Next season Heros vs. Villians. Cool. Starts Feb. 11!

- finished all the shopping and wrapping. Yea!

- realized that while having Christmas at home and not travelling is awesome, it requires A LOT more work. Christmas Eve dinner (chicken pot pie), Christmas morning breakfast (sausage egg casserole and biscuits), stuff to take to Paiges (green beans with almonds, snickerdoodles, and chex mix). Happy to do it, but lots of kitchen time in my future.

- been watching the Colts go 14-0. I love Peyton Manning.

- drinking lots of coffee

Also...

We have been playing lots and lots of SORRY! I think we have become slightly addicted. Every night after dinner, we play about 7 games. We are pretty even on the score,

but someone is a poor winner...

We have also been playing with new toys,

playing in the snow,

and making lots of fried egg sandwiches and eating them on fun Christmas dishes.


4 days left!

5 best things about Dominic

We have known Dominic since Ellie was about 4 months old. We met he and his mom Liz at a new moms group and they have become life long friends.

5. He is ALL BOY, which is fun for us girly girls.
4. He is very protective of Ellie.
3. He has awesome toys!
2. He likes to run races.
1. He gives fantastic hugs!






And on the way out, I had to take a quick pic of my little fashionista!

letting go of my inner Martha

For the first time ever, we made a gingerbread house this weekend. It could possibly be our last time ever too. For one thing, WHAT A MESS!! That icing is like super glue! For another, I had no idea how hard it would be for me not to intervene. I promised her she could do it all herself. It turned out so "3 year old pretty". Our Christmas tree is the same way this year. Ellie wanted to put all the candy canes on and you can imagine how that looks. I tried to spread them out and was totally busted.

Mom! I like it that way! All bunched together!

I am just breathing and letting go. It is all for her after all. So what if it doesn't look like Martha decorated...

Anyhoo, I digress, back to the gingerbread house.

Here she is getting some decorating ideas.

Working on the roof.

The whole scene, with a little visitor. See her there to the right??

Deciding on just the right next piece.

The finished product. Isn't it lovely.


We also baked lots of spritz cookies this weekend. YUM! I didn't get pictures because I was too busy being "helped." She loves to make cookies and finally discovered the joy of the spoon. Now I have to share. Not sure how I feel about that.

nutcracker!

What I learned during Ellie's first trip to the theatre:

1. She's not ready.
2. She looks so pretty in Christmas dresses.
3. Downtown is twice as cold and windy as my neighborhood.
4. The Rat King is kinda scary.
5. People love red shoes. We got lots of compliments.
6. Snuck in snacks really can save the day.
7. Ballerina toes have to hurt at the end of the day.
8. Do NOT take pictures inside the theatre. They don't like that.
9. Carrying a 30+ pound toddler wearing heels is not easy.
10. She is growing up way too fast.

around the house - Christmas edition!

Ok, so my technical difficulties have been figured out...

I love to put my Christmas stuff out. Most of it is stuff from when I was a child and I love the fact that Ellie will grow up with the same Christmas stuff that I did. All of it has some memory or another. Man. I miss my mom this time of year most of all.

Our tree. I am convinced there is no good way to take a picture of a christmas tree.

A shot of the mantle.

A framed shot of Ellie's first Christmas which will always have a place of importance.

My favorite nativity from childhood. I say favorite cause I have about 4. This one plays away in a manger. I had to put it out of reach cause if something happened to it, I would be, um, mad.

Nesting nativity. Ellie is huge into nesting dolls and I have started her a little collection.

A broad shot of the mantle.

One of my favorite ornaments. Ever since I can remember, my aunt Linda has gotten me a Santa ornament. I have so many that they are about all that makes the tree anymore. That does not make me old. I don't have THAT many.

Little Elf. He has sat at the top of every christmas tree I have ever had. Ever.

Some vintage linens that were my mothers. They just don't make stuff like this anymore.

Dining room table set-up. Again, vintage linens.

How old are these things? I love it though. It always hung outside on our garage when I was growing up.

Fun christmas dishes. More vintage linens.

2 little hearts that always hang out inside the tree. I bought them for my mom and me the christmas before she died. One says mother and one says daughter. When Ellie leaves home (sob!) she will get the daughter one (or the mother one, haven't decided??) to take to put on her tree.

Ellie's playmobile nativity. Do you know how many pieces this thing has? She loves it though. It hangs out under the tree in her room.

and what is it about seasonal coffee and a fun Santa mug that makes every day better?

So I hope you enjoyed this little looky-loo into my Christmas! Come December 26, this stuff comes down! While I love it love it love it, I am so ready to take it down every year.