Christmas 2009

In somewhat reverse order because Blogger still uses a crappy photo uploading system.

Everyone in their jammies before we left Baba and Pa Pa's house.

Some quiet play after a lot of running around.

This is apparently what 3 years olds do on Christmas morning now.

I remember playing with my stick in the backyard.

With the "lay down stroller" she was hoping to get.


Dr. Funke giving Jake a check up. She decided that his ear needed to be amputated.

Jake wearing one of her pom pons.

Baby Goofy is her all time favorite episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so Santa stopped by Disney World to pick this up for her.


Checking on the milk and cookies in the morning.

She really liked the grocery store Daddy built for her.

Putting out the milk and cookies before bed. She's never wanted to go to bed as badly as she did on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus should stop by our house every night.

Aunt Moira and Uncle Paul got her an iguana for Christmas. Here he is with the rest of her lizard family.

Aunt Mary Ellen finally has a second in command to help her pass out presents.


Posing under the tree before getting ready for bed.

Pretending to fall asleep with Grandma Carroll at Christmas Eve Eve dinner.

Christmas - The "Big" Gift

After seeing a little grocery store set in a toy catalog, Daddy decided to spend a little more money and burn up 3 of his vacation days making one for Grace instead.

Didn't take enough before pictures. Actually, this is the only one.

A little hook on the side for grocery bags. We went around to Jewel, Dominicks and Whole Foods (the FANCY grocery store) to get a reusable bag from each one. Made a little extra space on the side for the register.


Sheves in the back for boxes and other food.


Bins for fruits and vegetables. The side and the sign on top were primed with a magnetic primer that didn't work as well as I would have liked. The magnetic letters we bought were too heavy for it and it won't hold them up.

Busy Weekend Part 3

Finally it was off to the now semi annual Ouper Christmas house walk.

Helping Roberta (who she kept calling Great Grandma for some reason) open her present.
Looking for characters on the character tree.

She kept coming back to this village to look at the rides. Here she is waiting for her favorite horse to come around on the merry go round.

Operating the train under the craft tree.

Busy Weekend Part 2

Next up was the church Christmas pageant and a visit with little Ben. Afterwards, we went out to lunch with Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Shockey.

Ben proving that the rails in the church aren't up to code.

Busy Weekend Part 1

Another party filled weekend. First up, our annual Zoo Lights trip with the Mondays. This year we went back to The Brookfield Zoo.

Misc.

Mailing off her letter to Santa.

Her Christmas Tree "nightlight"

Swimming at Liam's birthday party.

With Liam in the hotel lobby after his birthday party.

Party Weekend #2

Grace has been dragging us from party to party all month.


First up was a party with Grandma Carroll at the Kohl Museum of Bullying and Bad Manners. This was a private party so it wasn't very crowded and all the kids were actually there with their parents so they were wll behaved and monitored. I think it's spoiled the museum for me. I don't see how I can go back any other way at this point.

This morning it was her friend Natalie's birthday party at Gymboree which we haven't been to in a long time.

Grace's First Movie

We took Grace to her very first movie in a theater on Friday. She saw the Princess and the Frog and was a good listener throughout the whole movie. If only the rest of the theater was as well behaved as Grace. Especially the woman with the crying baby who kept standing behind daddy.

November Stuff

Drawing pictures for Grandma at her birthday breakfast.


With Charlotte at the kiddie table.


Grace and her cousins.


She decided Jake was cold.

Wearing the turkey hat she made at school.

At bookamania.

With Jim Aylesworth.