Christmas

I finally had time to blog about Christmas. With going to Phoenix immediately after Christmas, then coming back New Year's Eve, and Joey's brother being in town, things have been very crazy!!!! I am just glad I finally found some time!

We had an amazing Christmas this year. It was lots of fun because Ashlyn was really beginning to understand the concept more and more. She had been singing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" for weeks. She loved looking at light and the pretty Christmas tree.

We started Chirstmas Eve with out annual tradition of going to dinner at a German restaurant with my Dad's side of the family. It is a great tradition and I love getting to see family I don't often see. Ashlyn had a good time trying some new food. After dinner, we drove around and looked at some lights. We found an AMAZING house down the street from my parents. It was programmed to music and just so much fun to look at! We didn't get home until fairly late. We got home and changed Ashlyn into her Christmas pajamas. We then helped her put out milk and cookies for Santa. It was too cute because she even left a little Santa toy for him. Ashlyn then went to sleep so Santa could come.

We woke up bright and early Christmas morning. Ashlyn came down and was truly shocked to see her presents. She was really surprised that Santa ate her milk and cookies! It was very cute. Ashlyn spent the rest of the morning opening gifts. As usual, she got very spoiled! Santa brought her a pink kitchen and a Bitty Baby. Santa was a little concerned she wouldn't care about the baby since she is so attachd to her Ariel doll. No worries, she loves both equally the same! Just like a real Mommy.

After presents, it was time to eat. Unfortunately, Ashlyn was so tired that she fell asleep and missed Christmas dinner. We went home and set up her new kitchen and packd for Arizona. More info in the Arizona post.


All dressed up ready to go to dinner. It seems like just yesterday it was her first Christmas and she was only 6 weeks old.

Oops!!! A double of course!!!

Grandma curled her hair. Isn't it getting long?

We have her sit in this chair every year to see how much she has grown.

Ashlyn and Uncle Steven

Wearing the new sunglasses that Uncle Adam and Aunt Jane bought her. They are Ariel of course!

A family picture at dinner.

Her Christmas pajamas

Cuddling with Papa before dinner

Helping Grandma make breakfast casserole for the morning

Mmmmm milk and cookies

Sorry again.

Very carefully carrying Santa's plate

The plate in the morning. Santa was hungry!!!

Her first glimpse of the presents

Opening her stocking

Santa brought lots of good stuff

Eating cinnmaon rolls for breakfast

The adorable kitchen set Santa brought

Bitty Baby that Santa brought

She was very tired from such a busy morning!!!!

Beginning to look like Christmas!!!

It's beginning to look like Christmas and Ashlyn is very excited!!!! This is the first year that she somewhat understands the concept. She recognizes Santa and says "ho, ho, ho" when she sees him. We have been discussing him and I think she may have a good idea of what is going on. She can even sing the song "Santa Clause is Coming to Town". It is very cute! She tells us that she has been a good girl. Last night, we went to a light display that a local church puts on. It is very neat! There were lots and lots of lights. Ashlyn LOVED it! She got to see Santa and he even knew her name! It was a great experience.

My Christmas break started yesterday. I am looking forward to spending 2 whole weeks with Ashlyn. We plan to spend the rest of the week finishing shopping and other Christmas fun. After Christmas, we are heading down to Phoenix. We are driving, so we really hope that the weather cooperates. Ashlyn and I are looking forward to some sun!

A couple of weeks ago we got blessed with a snow day! It was such a wonderful surprise. Ashlyn and I had a great day together. We invited Auntie over and made cookies. Ashlyn had so much fun. We drank cider and watched Rudolph. It was a great day!

On Friday, we went to Ashlyn's school party. Joey had the day off, so he was able to go too. We got to eat party food. Ashlyn even got to decorate a cookie. We love going to events at her school. It is so neat to see her interact in her classroom. Tomorrow, she will be going to daycare for part of the day. Santa is coming for breakfast and she can't miss that!!!!!! I have an appointment, so I can't make it :( I am sending my Mom and the camera.

This post is kind of all over the place. I apologize. I have a lot of resting to do to recuperate from what was a VERY long first semester!

Cutting out cookies

A pretty star

Rolling out the dough

She is a natural! Must get it from her Great Grandma Anderson

She was having so much fun!

She made lots of cookies.

The cookie Ashlyn decorated.

Yum!!!! The first bite.

Oops! Repeat

The other night, Ashlyn was eating dinner and being very silly. I had to get out the camera.

Feeding Ariel some milk. She was thirsty too!

Ashlyn loved the party food.

Decorating with Mommy.

She did such a nice job.

What fun we had!

She wanted lots and lots of sprinkles on her cookie.

We even got a nice family picture.

Eating cookies. Her favorite :)

Sweet girl!

Thanksgiving

I finally got around to blogging! Things have been crazy as usual, and I just haven't had the time. I have also been really bad about taking pictures. Ashlyn went in for her 2 year checkup a few weeks ago. Her doctor said she is doing great! I don't have her stats in front of me, but she is in the 15th percentile for weight and the 70th for height. Another big change for Ashlyn is her grandparents bought her a "big girl" bed for her birthday. She is not too sure how she likes it. It has been a bit of a struggle to get her to sleep in it. We are going to keep trying.

We had a great Thanksgivng this year! I woke up bright and early and ran a 5k called the Turkey Trot. I ran it with my brother, sister, and brtother-in-law. It was a great race. There were over 2,000 people in it! Right after the race, we met the rest of my family at The Sunbird for brunch. The food was wonderful! The Sunbird is such a nice restaurant. After we ate, we headed up to Crystola for our 2nd Thanksigiving. We went to Kim's Dad's house. We had a great day watching football and having Ashlyn entertain us. Ashlyn had a blast with the dogs and horses. She actually fell asleep on the floor right before we ate. We decided to eat without her. After eating another wonderful meal, Joey and I headed back home. Ashlyn is staying with her grandparents in Buena Vista for the weekend. I miss her like CRAZY, but I know she is having a blast! I got some shopping done and already put up the Christmas tree. I look forward to her return tomorrow!


Katy, Steven, and I before the race.

She has gotten really good at saying "cheese" for pictures.

Such a little ham!

Family picture

She is the sweetest daughter in the whole world!

I love her so much!

Sitting with Daddy

She was doing something silly with her hair. We deicided to take a picture.

She is Too Sweet!!!

So occasionally at Ashlyn's daycare, they send home Happy Gram's. A Happy Gram is a note for when they do something interesting or special that day. This is the one I received today. We always knew we had the sweetest girl in the world, but this just confirms it. It seriously melted my heart when I read it:

Ashlyn was so sweet today. One of the other children was crying and Ashlyn walked over to her and started rubbing her back. She said "She crying". I said "Yes, she's sad". Ashlyn said "It's okay, no crying". So Sweet.

She is the best!