Life in the country!: Dec. '11

We put up our Christmas tree and Christmas decorations the Sunday night after Thanksgiving break, after the girls were in bed. The next morning wen Alice got up she went around the house saying 'Oh! Mommy!' or 'Oooooh!' and pointing to each decoration as she noticed them. When Jameson turned the tree on she was quite pleased and then ran to get dolly and sat her in her lap, showing her the tree. This got us all excited for the Christmas season!!!

Alice and I made a countdown to Christmas. Her glue stick skills improved immensely and by the end she was doing a great job! The star read "Each night after prayers are said, take off one ring and jump in bed. When only the star is left to shine, then you'll know it's Christmas time!"

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony sponsors 'Lollipop concerts' geared for young children to teach concert etiquette and about select instruments. We went to our first Lollipop concert Dec. 3 and the UNI flute studio perform.

Anna started baby food just after Thanksgiving. After rice cereal, she got introduced to a new vegetable every 3-4 days: peas, squash (which she didn't like the first time around but has since decided is ok), green beans, sweet potatoes, and carrots. After vegetable, she got oatmeal, prunes, pears, and peaches.

As a Christmas present for my parents, I had a photo shoot with the girls. Here are the winners.

Here is a fun one from the day. . . Alice hard at work.

Alice love playing Peek-A-Boo with Anna at the table. It is SO cute!!!

I came up with several Christmas treats that Alice could help me make... Rice Crispie treat ornaments and Pretzel M&M's wreaths. She was a good helper and we had fun.

Several ladies from our church host a Christmas party every year, We eat finger foods, sing Christmas songs, and hear talents from whoever wants to share. This year Beth, who hosts the party at her house, and I played a piano duet. It was fun to perform with someone after not playing in any ensemble since college.

Anna rolled from her back to her tummy for the first time Dec. 13 for Jameson and Alice. I was out Christmas shopping. She continued practicing her new skill several times each day following and by Saturday she rolled over when she woke up half way through her nap. After crying for awhile she fell back to sleep on her tummy. She hasn't rolled over again to sleep since, so I guess she decided she prefers sleeping on her back. y.

Anna is quite the cutie these days! She is so much fun to play with and make smile and laugh!

First bath together in the tub. This required daddy's help, since Anna can't sit up reliably on her own yet.

Alice and Anna watching the snow (the only light dusting that we've got in Dec.)

I made snowman ornaments for our family out of can lids, felt, and ribbon.

Alice's helped paint the can lids white. :)

Alice excited to open presents at our home family Christmas.

Anna tasting her first present.

Dolly got a present too... a new dress!

We went to my parents for an extended Christmas weekend (Friday late morning through Monday night). As always, it went fast but was a lot of fun!

Alice helping grandma decorate Christmas cookies.

We opened presents at my parents on Saturday (the day before Christmas). My mom made matching aprons for me and my girls. She will have one too but it's not finished yet.

My brother got Jameson a new grill grate from Amazon... yes it came in this box!

Dolly got a soccer uniform from grandma. Alice laughed like crazy while daddy made dolly play soccer.

Alice and dolly got matching pajamas!

As usual, time at my parents included multiple rounds of cards (up and down the river) during naptime and after the girls went to sleep for the night. My brother also taught my dad and I a new game, Settlers of Catan, while I really enjoyed.

Alice and her dollies on Christmas morning. We opened stocking soon after.

I was sick, very sick, Christmas Day so that's where the pictures end. The girls and I spent the afternoon/evening at my parents while Jameson, my parents, and brother went to my Grandma's. Thankfully it was just a 24 hr bug. We spent Monday at my parents and then came home and spent the rest of the week at home as a family. We worked on projects and Alice gave up her pacifier. She was only used to having it when she went to sleep (nap and bedtime) but had been waking up during the night and crying until she got it back. I was not willing to keep waking up in the night for her, so we decided it was time to go. It was week long project as each nap and bedtime was a little more difficult, but she 'learned' she's not a baby anymore so she doesn't 'need' it anymore.

Jameson made this mirror for above our sofa table. I consider it a 5 year anniversary present and it's something I'll treasure for years. (The table was a wedding present from my Uncle Paul). He worked on it at my Uncle Paul's while we were at my parents for Christmas and then stained and finished it during his week off from work.

During Jameson's week off he also added to more lights in the garage to make it much brighter AND redid our half bath. This included paint, new lights, sink, mirror, and shelves. I made a new valance.

BEFORE (What the bathroom looked like when we bought the house 3 years ago. We had taken down the curtains but that's about it until now.)

AFTER

Jameson's family came up here New Years weekend to celebrate Christmas and Anniversaries.
Anniversary supper... Our 5th, Mom and Dad's 35th, and Jordan and Joys 9th. We had two kinds of lasagna and salad.