Jingle bells.. Jingle bells...

Jingle all the way!!

My kitchen is a mess at 10:00pm as we just got home celebrating Christmas with some friends of ours. Tim and I should be cleaning it up, but what is he doing? Rocking with a sleepy Emma. So I figure, if he is not cleaning, I will blog. I need to anyway to share Christmas!

Christmas was so great! Christmas Eve was a fun day with our Christmas party for the girls. Em and I went to the neighbors around 11:00am and the girls were crazy! They were dancing to Christmas music, running around chasing each other and were incredibly hyper! We brought in lunch from Panera (which is ALWAYS yummy!) and the girls took a nap. Which was great because by then, Kristen and I needed a break! Kyra wanted to watch Elmo's Christmas Countdown, even though Kristen and I were hoping for our yearly dose of Miracle on 34th Street. Mom and Dad came not long after that, the girls woke up, and we were off to our sledding party!

The sledding party was at our house behind the garage. A small hill good enough for now, but in a few years they will be bored with it. This year, they LOVED it! The best part for Emma was sitting in the wagon on the way over and in a sled with her cousins! She loves it when all 3 of them are riding together. I don't have pictures of it, but I think Kristen does - it is pretty cute! Then, after about a half an hour, we went back to Kristen's for cookies & hot chocolate (which is the only way I can get Emma back inside from sledding). After that - PRESENTS! Emma was a bit slow on the first one, but the second she handles without a problem. She loves the toy microwave and baby doll clothes she got from her cousins!

That night, Emma's half brother & sister came over for supper. Then - bedtime- which was needed. She was pretty tired after the party with the girls. It was cute to watch her on Christmas Eve as we set out cookies and milk for Santa (I know, Tim thought I was crazy too) but she kept going over and eating the cookie and drinking milk. Then, she would look out the window for Santa. But, she never got to see him!

Christmas Day she was up around 7:15. She walked down the stairs, her eyes got really big when she saw the presents and she started to rip right into one. After Tim and I verified it was for her, we let her at it. She was very excited about the presents! She would open up one, look really excited and then move onto the next. Santa treated her very well. She got a new Cabbage Patch Baby, a set of wooden blocks (which I think are her favorite toy), toy cleaning supplies, a computer set up for babies, Play Dough, a DVD for babies, wooden puzzles... that is all I can remember. Here is Emma feeding her baby. Overall, it was a fabulous morning! (Santa was good to me too - I got a new "Emma necklace" with a green stone for Emma's birthstone, a small digital camera, and a fleece coat)

For my favorite picture - Emma with her lottery ticket. Santa left scratch-off's in our stockings. Emma thought they were the best thing. Here she is trying to see if she won. For some reason, this picture cracks me up. She is concentrating so hard on that lottery ticket. Unfortunately, she is not a winner.

Later that day, we had Christmas with Tim's family. She had a great time there - what a ham! She loved looking out the windows and yelling "No Santa!" then she would run to the next window - "No Santa!" Back and forth- looking for Santa.

Now, we are just relaxing and I am trying to clean up the mess after the holidays. Emma seems to have a good nose for candy as she is always finding some that had been dropped from a stocking or something. A few times, I turn around to find her smiling up at me chomping on a piece of candy. Oh well, I guess that is what the holidays are for!

This weekend we head to Durand for my family's Christmas and then to the cabin for New Year! So busy - I am ready for it to calm down.

Happy New Year everyone! Be safe, be careful on the roads, and count your blessings!

Merry Christmas!

YEAH! It is Christmas. What a great time of year - and- I must admit the holidays bring a different kind of fun with a little one. While I know Emma does not really understand what is going on - she does understand a few things. LIKE - toys. She knows that Santa is going to bring her toys (if she is on the nice list that is) and whenever we talk to her about Santa, her eyes light up and she says "Ho Ho Ho." Today Kristen and I are having a party for the girls. We will bring lunch in from Culvers or KFC, then naptime for the babies and a cheesy Christmas movie for us! When they wake up, we plan on bringing them outside so they can go sledding, then inside for hot chocolate and marshmallows (which Emma LOVES!). THEN- presents! The girls buy one present for each other - so that should be fun. Tim is working from home today, so he should be around for some of it and I think Mom & Dad are coming up for the party also.

(here's a picture of Emma with Santa from the other weekend. She looks pretty happy, doesn't she?)

Tomorrow we are opening presents from Santa and then going to Tim's sister house for his Christmas. Next weekend is my family - so busy!

This past weekend we were up at the cabin and Emma had her first experience ice fishing. She loved it! She thought it was very neat to see the little fish in the buckets (minnows) and watch the tip-up for a fish. We caught two fish when she was with us, so she saw us catch some fish also. Overall she had a great time on the ice - she did put her foot in the hole once, which quickly ended the trip.

I have to run and make breakfast, but here are some other pictures of the past weekend. Sledding and catching snowflakes on our tongue!




MERRY CHRISTMAS!! BE SAFE and HAVE FUN!

From the Heuer's.

(Sorry, I am not checking the post for errors. I have a little one that is pretty sure she needs some breakfast!!)

To all those reading way into my last post

As much as I would like it - there is no baby on the way. So, the only reason I will not be drinking next year is that I have learned my lesson. How you may ask? Let's just say that since I do not remember crashing another company's Christmas party and dancing to THEIR DJ that night, I have no reason to be drinking that much next year. At least I did not do anything stupid or did not act too drunk - or so they tell me. Although, Tim is a pretty reliable source. The good thing about this whole situation?? The people I was with were just as happy as I was - even my boss!

More tomorrow hopefully!

And then - bed

What a long weekend it has been - AND - so much fun!

First - on Friday, I brought Emma down to Papa & Nana's for the night as I had a work party. I was not nearly as emotional this time dropping her off as I was the first time, although I did tear up as I laid her down for her nap. ( I decided to leave while she was napping as I thought it would be easier.) After that, I came back home, cleaned the house, fancied myself up a bit, and went to pick up Tim so we could go to the work party.

The work party was so much fun! Just our small department (with spouses, there was about 30 people there) in a banquet room at the Mariott. Each couple left with a metal bucket that was personalized and filled with a bottle of wine, two wine glasses, a candle, and chocolate wine truffles - not too shabby! The dinner was great, the all you could drink/whatever you wanted to drink selection was too available, and the company was great. We played Nintendo Wii's, chit-chatted and had a fabulous night. Plus, our room was very nice. It had feather pillows, a feather duvet, and Bath & Body works toiletries in the bathroom - which - came home with me and are in my overnight bag. Although I had a slight hangover the next morning, which I promised myself I would NOT have, it was a great time. Although - next year the drinks will not be flowing as much - here's hoping!

Saturday was filled with family! Dad, Mom & Aunt Linda came up for the weekend. My Mom, Linda, Kristen, and I went to see the Sound of Music at the Ordway. It was excellent - it definitely exceeded my expectations! Plus - Jack from Days of our Lives was Captain Von Trapp, so we saw a celebrity - HA! The cast was great, singing & acting great - all over - I highly recommend it. Little Gretel was a 4 or 5 year old from Woodbury and she was so cute! After that, we went to the Bayport Cookery where we feasted on a 5 course dinner. We had (1)Shrimp Bisque with a carrot & caviar topping, (2) Endive salad with pomegranates, poached raisins & Viniagrette dressing (3) Game hen with Pear Risotto (4) Pork Tenderloin with Celery Root, & some mustard thing and (5) Chocolate Truffle with Bailey's whip cream & raspberry sauce. It was all excellent. The great thing was that I may not have ordered it in a restaurant normally - but everything was fabulous! Talk about getting out of some of my comfort zones with food, but I was glad I did. It was a bit expensive, but for a special occasion it was fun.

Today we did the 8th floor of Macy's - which was good. Emma did really good with that. Her eyes were wide and bright and pointing at the display. She took a good nap and I am working on Christmas cards - I hope to have them all out tomorrow! Now, bed time for the work week ahead.

Discipline

So - the question of the day is how to discipline a year & a half year old. Is it possible? Am I expecting too much out of my darling child? For example - whenever she is done eating, she starts to throw her food on the floor. Tim and I tell her "No" in a stern voice, take her food away, and have swatted her little hand. What does she do? She looks at us and laughs. I think she is old enough to know not to do that. Am I wrong? Tonight, she got to be too much and I put her in her crib for a few minutes. That seemed to help. So, I may put out the pack-n-play for her time out spot again. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

Emma saw Santa this past weekend. Thankfully it was just at Hagberg's, which is a small grocery store in Lake Elmo. I say that because it was free to see Santa and we could take pictures with our own camera. Emma cried and screamed the whole time. So, I am happy that I did not have to pay money for that whole experience. We were only there for maybe 5 minutes, of which the whole time Emma cried. It was so cold, I was afraid her little tears were going to freeze on her face. I basically expected the crying anyway, as I can see why a little kid would be scared of Santa.

I am glad my work week is almost over. Christmas is so busy (I have STILL not started on my Christmas cards!!) that I feel like I need a break. This weekend will be a nice break also as Friday night is my work Christmas party. Our department is having a party at the Marriott hotel in Minneapolis - dinner, drinks, hotel room included - YEAH!! Tim and I need a night out. Mom & Dad have graciously offered to watch Emma for the evening. Then, my Mom and Aunt Linda are coming up to see The Sound Of Music at the Ordway and then go to eat at a little resaurant in Bayport. The restaurant is one that has no menu, they buy local food/vege's etc and prepare from there. It should be fun!

Here are more Christmas pictures as promised. Sorry it has taken so long!

Quick update

Just a quick one as I plan on getting to bed early tonight. Although, I plan that on most days I work, today I need to. We had our small Christmas party last night and it went great. I got to bed at 1am and Emma was up around 6:30. Needless to say, I am tired.

The weekend was spent getting ready for the party and then cleaning up after the party. Everyone had a great time - as did Emma- which was nice to see. I never know how she will act in those situations, but since the party was on her home turf, she had a great time. What a ham :-)

Yeah Packers! My parents were at the game and I am so jealous! I love Lambeau. Maybe next year. I took a nap during the game for probably about an hour & half. It felt so good; I needed it.

That is all. Hopefully more tomorrow night when I have energy.

clutter, cookies, and mayhem

Kids... gotta love them. Within the hustle & bustle of the holidays are certain expectations. Christmas cookies, Christmas gifts, Christmas parties, snow, etc. You get the picture. I love all the snow we have been having lately. What I don't like is the driving - especially in my commute to and from work. However, thankfully on Monday when we had like 5 inches of snow, my boss let me leave at 2:00 - 2 hours early! Which was much appreciated! It took me about an hour & half to get home, versus my co-worker (who lives in Woodbury) left at 5:00 and it took him 3 hours. Yuck!

Christmas cookies - Emma was a big helper yesterday while I was making peanut blossoms. She sat on the bar-chair in the kitchen and unwrapped approximately 15 kisses - and ate 4. Oh well, such is to be expected :-)

Mayhem- Christmas shopping.... I really need to start doing more of my Christmas shopping online - Especially when my stops include a little one. I was at one particular store (which I cannot mention just in case a certain someone will be reading) and Emma proceeded to take off her boots and socks. She always does this in the car, so I am used to it there - but in a store?? Seriously?? So, of course, I try to put them back on and she screams "NOOOOOOOO!" and kicks her little feet back and forth. Now, realizing I am that annoying mother with her ill-behaved child, I take a deep breath and put them in my purse until we need to go outside. I check out, bend down to attend to Emma and I get the "NOOOOOOO!" and kicking again. I try to reason with her to tell her that she needs to wear boots otherwise her little feet will freeze - but this does not help. Finally, with her crying and still kicking, I hold her little leg, jam her boots on her feet and leave the store - quickly... very quickly... Then, after that escapade, while leaving the grocery store with various vege's and candies for the cookie baking, she refuses to sit in her carseat. She will not bend her legs! AHHHHH! Why do I even bother??? Then, as I am driving home, I look back at her in the rearview mirror, sucking her thumb. She looks at me and blows me a kiss and I melt. It is amazing how they have the ability to do that.


Christmas pictures - as promised... I can only bring one up for now. I will try more later.

Smile for the camera

(But first an "AHHHHHHHH" as I had a huge blog typed and it disappeared!!!!) Okay, regroup......

I see more and more in Emma how much she loves attention and being a ham - not for me, mind you - but towards others. To me, she can be a stubborn, feisty little girl (sometimes) but for others, she turns on the charm. That was seen this weekend in Milwaukee. Emma, I, Mom, and Dad went down to Milwaukee to visit the Palmers and my dear friend Ande. A great time was had by all and we thankfully did not have to drive in bad weather - although the over-exuberant weathercasters in that area were declaring the weather treacherous and brutal, it was really not that bad. Emma really only wanted me to hang on to her the whole time we were there, which is odd as she loves Nana and Papa and will usually go to them with no problem. However, even though she wouldn't go to anyone else, she still proceeded to ham it up with her running around and around the staircase waiting to be chased -AND- continually putting her little hands on their little rock fountain even though she knew she wasn't supposed to. She would touch the fountain and then run over to someone wanting them to touch her hands because they were wet and they were not supposed to be. Plus, her little peek-a-boo game with uncle Roger and smiling shyly at everyone else. All-in-all it was a great weekend and great to see everyone again!

Yesterday we went to Kristen's to take Christmas pictures. I came armed and prepared with 3 different outfits and 2 different pairs of shoes. Depending on Emma's mood, she will refuse to put on things that I want her to wear - example: her cute little Christmas dress. I brought the tried-and-true santa suit for her to wear if she refused to wear anything else.

Sure enough, for me, she REFUSES to put on the Christmas dress, so I sigh and reach for the next option when Kristen comes up to the "studio". Emma runs over to her and says "Mama" and wants to be held. (yes, she still calls Kristen Mama) Then proceeds to let Kristen put the Christmas dress on her when not even 3 minutes ago she was crying when I tried to do it... ahh...the joy of kids. The pictures go okay, she tolerated us trying to get her to smile and doing "itsy bitsy spider" but was really more interested in what Kyra and Kaylee were doing. But, then Uncle Craig came in the room and it was like a light switch had been switched - Emma the model. She would do anything that Craig asked her to do - lay on her belly, put on the Santa hat, say Ho HO HO, you name it. If Craig asked her to do it, she would. It was really cute actually because he had her smiling and laughing pretty good. It just goes to show you that the little ones really do have a mind of their own.

I have not seen the pictures yet, but Kristen said they look good and I will post some hopefully tonight when I have them.

I am at work now looking outside at the beautiful snow we are having. In 3 hours though when I need to leave and drive home, I may not like it though. Traffic slows really bad, even when there is no snow on the road that it is frustrating!

That's all I know. I have a week filled with cleaning & baking as we are having a Christmas party on Saturday night and I don't really have anything ready for Christmas, except the tree.