Little Gym

Last year Eliza started attending a weekly gymnastics class at The Little Gym. She has really enjoyed going to class and it has really helped in increasing her coordination and spacial reasoning. Saturday was her last class and I know that she is going to miss her teacher, Miss Laura, but she is super excited about starting her tap and ballet class.

A Day in the Life

One of the reasons I started this blog was for Eliza. I wanted to create something that she could look back on when she is older and remember all the goings on in our lives. I have recently noticed that I tend to blog about the big stuff . . . holidays, birthdays , parties, etc. but I don't always include the day to day activities. I know that the day to day stuff can be mundane and not exciting to read about but I don't want to forget it.


I have decided to participate in a year long project that involves taking a picture each day and journaling about it. I realize that it is not realistic for me to think that I can blog everyday, but I know I can take a picture everyday. At the end of each week I will post the photos on our blog. I hope to perhaps create a hard copy as well but we will just have to see how things go.

Project Life

Week 1

January 1 - January 7, 2011

January 1, 2011: Our year began with a yummy donut breakfast. Eliza had her usual - pink icing with sprinkles.

January 2, 2011: Eliza has begun to ask for "privacy please" when she uses the rest room. This what I found when I stepped back in.

January 3, 2011: A few hugs for Bob.

January 4, 2011: Eliza jams to the songs on her new Ipod before heading off to bed.
January 5, 2011: Bob and Eliza catch a few more zzzzz's in our bed.

January 6, 2011: Stephen and I spent our afternoon dealing with his flat tire.

January 7, 2011: Eliza is dancing with her new friends, "The Fresh Beat Band".

Family Visits

One of my favorite things about having two weeks off at Christmas time (besides the obvious perk of not having to go to work) is having an opportunity to spend time with family.



I was so excited that this year we were able to spend some time with my Grandfather. I don't get to see him very often, and I was so tickled that we were able to spend some quality time with him.



Eliza and her Great Grand Dad became big buddies. She really enjoyed getting to know him and I think she pretty much talked his ear off.

I was so excited that we were able to visit my cousin Amy and her adorable new baby boy, Reid. I was a little bit worried about how Eliza would be around the baby, so I spent a lot of time prepping her about how to touch the baby. I explained that Reid was very little and she was only allowed to touch his toes. I just had visions of her trying to poke him in the eyes or something.

I worried for nothing . . . she was on her best behavior and was so sweet with little Reid. Even though she enjoyed spending time with him, when I asked her if we should take Reid home with us she was very quick and emphatic in her answer . . . . NO!

We also had an opportunity to spend time with my cousin Kristin and my cousin Stephanie and her lovely family. Unfortunately for some reason, I never got any pictures of them, but I really enjoyed having a chance to visit and catch up with them.

Before heading back home, we made a small detour and stopped by to see Steve's Aunt Jeanne. Eliza was very excited to see her Aunt Jeanne and even more excited when Aunt Jeanne gave her some yummy Christmas cookies.

We are so blessed to have so many special people in our lives and I am thankful that Eliza has had an opportunity to get to know them.

Walk of Lights

On Christmas afternoon the three of us drove up to Grammy's house. Our little family enjoyed some time alone, but Eliza was tickled pink when Grammy, GrandDaddy and Great Grand Dad arrived on the 26th.



Eliza loves spending time with her grandparents but her favorite thing to do with Grammy at Christmas time is visit the walk of lights. This was the first year that Eliza wasn't in a stroller and she didn't walk around the lights . . . she ran.

It has become tradition for Eliza to take her picture in Santa's chair. I hope Eliza will still be willing to do this when she is 16 - otherwise I am pretty sure Grammy and mommy might cry.

2008

2009

2010

Christmas Morning

Eliza woke up on Christmas morning to find that Santa had indeed been to our house. He left her gifts near the fireplace that way they didn't get confused with the gifts from mom and dad.


Eliza must have been a very good girl because she got everything she asked for . . . . a Barbie movie, a Barbie house and a castle.

Eliza was so excited to see her Barbie house which was such a relief since one of Santa's elves spent over SIX HOURS putting it together!

After the Santa gifts, we moved on to the tree for family gifts.

The adorable pink trike was a gift from Grammy and Grandaddy. Eliza was in awe when she saw it. She loves the pink and white streamers and she really loves the bell.

We had a truly wonderful Christmas and we are blessed beyond measure.

Christmas Eve

We always celebrate Christmas with Steve's side of the family on Christmas Eve. Before we headed out to church I wanted to get a few pictures by the tree of Eliza and Bob decked out in their fancy Christmas wares. Easier said than done .




I thought Bob looked really sweet wearing his Christmas collar but Steve said it made him look stupid. I don't think Bob really enjoyed wearing it, so I took it off as soon as we were done with pictures.

After church, we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's for a yummy dinner and of course . . . . PRESENTS! Unfortunately, this is the only picture I got of Eliza opening her presents. This was the year that she was REALLY into all of the festivities and she loved tearing off the wrapping paper. I am not sure that any of us opened our our gifts . . . . Eliza did it for us!

As usual, Eliza was really spoiled by her grandparents and her aunt and uncle. Grandma and Grandpa added to her Madame Alexander doll collection and gave her Little Bo Peep. Grandma told Eliza that when she was a little girl she had a little Bo Peep doll too.

Aunt Kristen , Uncle Richard and Jacob gave her a Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip dolls. She was instantly smitten.

This year we attempted to take family pictures after opening presents . . . . not the best plan. We had one very excited little girl, who wasn't really interested in posing for pictures.

When we came home it was time to put cookies and milk out for Santa . I was just going to put out cookies but it was very important to Eliza to put out milk as well because she thought Santa would be thirsty.

Once Santa had his snack, it was time for Eliza to head off to bed . . . .so Santa could stop by!

All I Want for Christmas

Recently a very special guest stopped by Eliza's day care . . . . . Santa Claus!

Eliza has talked about visiting with Santa nonstop and she apparently was not shy about letting him (and everyone else at her school) know what she wanted for Christmas.

What a difference a year makes. . . .here is her picture from 2009.

New Tree

Two years ago, we purchased this cute, but very small tree from Wal Mart. When we bought it we were still apartment dwellers and didn't really have room for a large tree. Last year we considered getting a new tree but thought that a big tree and a curious toddler could be a recipe for disaster.

This year we have "up sized" our tree. My in - laws decided that they actually wanted a smaller tree, so they were kind enough to give us there "old" tree. I am in love with our new tree and think that it looks great in the space.

Eliza is quite enamored with the tree as well, and unfortunately removed and subsequently broke the limited edition Hallmark Superman ornament that I bought for Steve the first year we were married. Ahh live and learn . . . . .

Welcome Back, Eddie

On December 1st an old friend came back for his seasonal visit. Eddie, the Elf has once again blessed our house with his presence.

As you may remember from last year, Eddie is one of Santa's special elves, who keeps a watchful eye over Miss Eliza. He flies home to the North Pole each night to give Santa an update and then finds a new hiding place each morning.

Eliza enjoyed having Eddie around last year, but I am not sure she really understood why he was here. This year she is truly infatuated with Eddie. She literally jumps out of bed and races downstairs to find Eddie each morning. She squeals with delight when she finds him and she periodically talks to him throughout the day. . . . . "Eddie you doing good?"

Eliza is not the only one who was excited by Eddie's arrival. In all honesty, I am not who is loving Eddie more - Eliza or her parents. Any tantrums, whiny behavior or general bad attitudes are quickly squashed when one of us says, "Well I guess we will have to let Eddie know about this."

I think we all may shed a tear when Eddie heads back to the North Pole next week.

Christmas Lights Video

I really wish I could do this to our house . . . there is NO WAY Steve would ever go for this.