Bad Habits Early!

Well - not really we HOPE! But A got a hold of this small wooden spoon that came wrapped with another gift and was not quick to give it up for the rest of the night - Most of the time toddling around with it in her mouth, unfortuantely like a cigarette.

First Christmas!

A and Dad posing with their "Ho Ho Ho" hats!

A was no beginner when it came to opening her gifts.....she was very particular about ripping a piece of paper off and promptly handing it to Grandpa H. Occassionally, trying to rip into smaller pieces though before handing it off.


A' first pair of PINK Nike's from Grandma J and Grandpa H.

Ho Ho Ho!

A's Grandma D has been working with A for last few weeks trying to teach her to say "Ho Ho Ho" - well A has it down and quite often now I will catch her in her crib saying "Ho Ho Ho"

Merry Christmas

We hope you had a very Merry Christmas where ever you were and all the best in the New Year!!

My Mom Just Can't Keep Up!

Can you imagine the havoc two of us will create in this house.....So many things to teach my brother! ~ A

Basement Update

The carpet was installed today - and they finished today too! What's left you may ask....well it seem like lot's of small stuff - touch up painting, trim work, door handles and I suppose some cleaning. The plumber is coming tomorrow night to finish all the plumbing hook ups! - Were almost there!!

Lipstick....or is it??

A got a bit of a sugar treat last night. Grandpa D fed her some or shall we say a lot of his sugar cookie. She loved it....but was she ever wired from the sugar.....By 9pm she still hadn't slowed down so it was a bit of a late night getting to bed. NO MORE SUGAR COOKIES - GRANDPA!!!!

O' Christmas Tree!

So - getting an 11 month old to sit in front of the Christmas tree for a picture can be quite a challenge I discovered. But I think I may have gotten one out of the deal. A is soooo entrigued with the tree and the lights, and now the gifts too. It will be amazing if they are still wrapped by Christmas or still in the original shape...today she was insist on climbing on them and sitting or standing on the boxes.

The Great Escape Artist!!

So...lately A has not liked to lay still to get a clean diaper put back on...and tonight she proved to be especially challenging. In the end it took 2 of us - one holding her down while the other quickly did the duty.

Attempt Number 1 !! (She quickly got away with nothing on)

Attempt Number 2!! - (Half on)

And then attempt number 2 comes off about as quickly as it went on!

Almost got it!
Oh the Joys of being Naked!!

A Huntin' we will go!

For a tree that is....This morning we set off with 2 other families to find the perfect tree in the hills to call our own. 6 adults, 4 kids (3 under the age of 1 and a 2 year old). Tempature.....a balming 14 degrees with a windchill of -4 degrees.

T and E carrying the 2 girls on their backs....you have to look closely to see them under all the blankets and snowsuits.
A and S before we set off for our trek!

The "P" Family!!

The "G" Family!!

And Finally The "E" family!!
We got it - our perfect Christmas tree for 2006! It even fit in our house with nothing more than a small trim to the bottom. Keep in mind ours did look quite large until........
The G's had to one up us...and get one of the larger trees possible to cut. Maximum height of a tree you can cut down is 20 feet. I think they may have been close.
And the walk back....kid on back. Tree in front. It's a good thing our tree's were pretty light.

And the Painting Begins....

E began painting on Tuesday night......so far he is just priming the walls, but what a world of difference even a little primer can make. Our goal is to get all the walls primed and painted in the rooms that have carpet by the 18th - that's when the carpet arrives to be installed. I am sure after this little task E will never want to pick up a paint roller again...much like I am sure he would be happy to never pick up a shovel and move dirt again!

Christmas......before Christmas

Since we won't be in Billings this year for Christmas.....A got to open some of her Christmas gifts from her Grandma and Grandpa D, Aunt B & J and Uncle B and S. As you can see...of course they choose the largest toys currently on the market.

She also got to open her gift from Great Grandma D.

And absolutely loved playing with the tissue paper!!

First up.....The Baby Grand Piano....

A had a good time ripping the paper....but she was insistent on making them into the smallest pieces possible and then handing it over to you....sometimes it was a phantom piece of paper - thinking she had actually ripped something off...but in reality nothing at all.

Oh...the nosie this little piano can make....just remember paybacks. For every noisy toy A receives...I am sure we can find one even noiser!

A in concert......

And finally the riding zebra.....Although A doesn't look so happy about riding this zebra in this picture....she has warmed up to it....and I am sure as time goes on and she can touch her feet on the ground she'll come to love this too.

A also got a wooden cart full of blocks.....So we now have four very large items that have become a permanent part of our living room - (It's good the basement is almost finished) "But I love them all, Thank you very much." Love A.