Christmas 09...(18-19 Months)

Good Morning! Here's our sweet angel sitting so well in the kitchen watching Daddy get Christmas breakfast ready! As with most of you I'm sure, this year was a little different for us because of the weather. Our plans got rearranged, but I think we ended up having one the sweetest Christmas celebrations ever! We were blessed to get to hang out with a dear family on Christmas Eve (our service was cancelled, but I'm glad we got to have it on the following Sunday morning...we love our Christmas Eve services). Then we spent Christmas morning at home (no hopes of getting to Lawton on icy roads). However, we were invited to the Rosalez's for an amazing Christmas dinner and snowmobiling afterward!

Our traditional family 'pj' picture in front of the tree on Christmas morning...

Attempt Number 1...

I laugh so hard every time I watch that video...who knew you could put your video setting on timer too! Ha! I love how Elina held her little crooked smile the entire time too! I can't believe it only took two attempts this year!

Nina was surprised to find a pepperoni drawing on her card from Jason! (she hates pepperonies)
Elina enjoyed opening presents!

This is one of the prizes Nina pick out at the Chris Tomlin concert. She surprised Jason with a Glory in the Highest jacket...
Nina surprised Elina with her very own pet water frogs (and they're still alive!). Nina thought that since we couldn't take pigs to Canada...frogs were the next best thing! Ha!

Nina's first experience snow mobiling...

Christmas in Lawton with the entire clan...

There's that face again!...

Christmas in Burkburnett...

I made Nina a "C" ornament for her tree back home...we have an "N" ornament that is now part of our collection forever!

Nina, Jana (future sis-in-law!), and Jason's brother David... PaPaw helping Ellie open a gift...

Nina helping Ellie figure out her new puzzle...

Merry Christmas...(just a few months late!)

Practicing for Presents...

I week or so before Christmas, Elina got a hold of a napkin and ripped it to shreds. Jason and I got such a kick out of her aggression and intensity while ripping that we just had to let her do it all over again...this time camera in hand of course. When Elina saw that Jason got the camera out this is what happened...

Then she refocused and got busy!

Elina's First Christmas...

Visit www.moblyng.com to make your own!

Merry Christmas!

We hope you are having a wonderful holiday remember the birth of Christ and celebrating with family/friends! We love you all!

Here are some of our family pictures...

Elina didn't smile much, I think she was wondering why in the world we had her outside in the cold. We had our pictures scheduled for 5:00 last Sunday clueless that the cold front was going to hit at about 4:00! Our friend Kristie took about 15 QUICK shots and then we ran back inside!

Christmas Wreath...

Mrs. Brenda from church made this beautiful wreath for us since it was our first Christmas in our first house!...isn't that so sweet! Jason and I finally found the perfect spot for it...as you can see it is accenting a clock that is hanging in our living room. Jason won't let me put a battery in it since it clicks so loudly, so I'm very glad to be getting some use out of it!!

Mrs. Brenda wrapped the wreath so beautifully in a black trash bag (wink wink...she made a joke about it!), and this Christmas ribbon tied the bag...very pretty!

Anyway...Ellie got a hold of the ribbon and absolutely loved it! I know you aren't supposed to let babies/children play with ribbon longer than 7 in, but I just couldn't take it from her since she got such joy out of it. I just made sure to be in the room with her...Later on I cut it and put the pieces in her box of toys...

Thank You Mrs. Brenda!!!

Peeking around the Corner...

Ready for Winter...

Since I'm a huge fan of good deals and not paying full price for anything...I was one of those crazy shoppers that was out way too early on Black Friday! I was glad I went...I would have missed out on this adorable winter coat for Ellie! While we do especially love her new boots, they just won't stay on her feet. So they'll have to go back, and we'll have to double up on socks for now.

...How are thy leaves so verdant!

So is it wrong of me to let her grab the ornaments for the sake of really cute pictures this year, knowing that next year it's going to be a "no no"!?!?

It's just nurturing her desire to explore right!...she has to touch in order to learn right!...

Either way...she won't remember this next year anyway!

There's that face again...Love it! Love it!!!

...O Christmas Tree...

Is it me or does it look like she's trying to do the "sprinkler"!?!

O Christmas Tree...

I told you she makes this face every time she touches the tree branches!

Daddy's Quartet...

Daddy's quartet, "His Workmanship", sang at Josh and Lisa Arrington's church for a Deacon/Widow Banquet. They did a great job and we had a really good time. They just finished recording a CD, but it won't be out until January...can't wait!!!

Christmas Decorations...

Valerie requested pics of our tree...I went ahead and took some extra pics (imagine that!)...

Elina's first Christmas ornament from last year (I was pregnant...that counts!)

Some special ornaments that I had made for this year!...

no fireplace to hang our stockings from...so I hung a shelf in the kitchen (Ellie isn't too upset that we haven't found the perfect stocking for her yet!)

Our neighbors gave us this little snowman for Ellie's first Christmas...precious! (Thank you Blair Family!)

This feels weird...

This was Ellie's reaction when we let her feel the Christmas tree...

(she still makes this same reaction every time she gets to touch the tree)