Merry Christmas!!

I appear to be on quite a roll, here it is the end of March and I am almost done with December, at this rate I could be finished with March no later than August! Seriously though, it is nice to be getting some of these done, and if everything goes the way I want it to there should be some neat surprises coming up. I am not going to say what they may be (just in case they don't work) because I want to see if you notice what they are. Don't look at this post though because it will just be the standard tedium of my long winded ramblings, preventing you from getting right to the reason you are really here, looking at pictures of Emily. I think that is why Christa always puts one picture at the top, to keep you here long enough to scroll down and see the rest. So where were we, ah yes, Christmas. . .

This year Emily celebrated her second Christmas, and this year she decided that she would do it up right. Emily didn't do much on her first Christmas, in fact she didn't really even open any gifts until the middle of January, so she was really looking forward to celebrating the holiday on the day it was intended. She kicked things off on Christmas Eve with a visit to Great Bob. It had been a while since she had seen him, due to everyone in our little family being sick since just before Thanksgiving. Emily thought that this was a great way to start the day and she was very excited to see her Great Bob, and he seemed equally happy to see her. Emily wanted to make the day truly great so after visiting with Great Bob, we all went to pay a visit to Great Ray as well. Emily had a fun time rearranging Great Ray's living room, and Great Ray had a lot of fun tickling her. After visiting the Greats, Emily had a wardrobe change which included long underwear because our next stop was a visit to the windows at Macy's* (*formerly the Marshall Fields State Street store). Emily was a little disappointed in the windows, and so was I, they have been much better in the past. After looking at the windows Emily hoped to make the most of the visit and see the F.A.O. Schwartz inside. That at least lived up to expectations, and we even picked up something small for Emily. From here it was back to Grandma Kathy's for a nap and some yummy Christmas Eve dinner.

On Christmas morning we all headed back over to Grandma Kathy's for breakfast and presents from Santa. Emily was understandably excited about all of the presents as she had several opportunities to tell Santa what she wanted, and after practicing on her birthday she felt good about her unwrapping skills. In fact she was so excited that she didn't want to wait until the "official" gift opening to start and while breakfast preparations were being finished she started opening presents, not all of which were hers. We managed to separate her from the piles of gifts for a delicious breakfast, after which the gift opening commenced. After what must have been hours and hours Emily finally finished opening her gifts, she must have been a VERY good girl this year because Santa gave her almost everything she asked for. Emily was a little disappointed that she didn't get everything she had asked for because she felt that she had been VERY VERY good, I told her not to worry, I had a feeling there might be more later, and while she was skeptical she knew I was probably right, because I usually am. After some naps and some new toy breaking in, it was time to head over to Grandma and Grandpa B's.

Upon our arrival, Emily noticed another large stack of presents waiting for her here. "Daddy" she said, "once again, you were right, I bet the rest of the stuff I asked Santa for is here." I told her that judging from the number of presents she must have been VERY VERY VERY good and that Santa must have given her stuff other kids asked for in addition to what she had asked for. She agreed, and decided to get started being good for next year by waiting until after the delicious Christmas dinner to start opening presents. We spent the rest of the evening with Grandma & Grandpa B, and Aunt Susie & Carl, and had a really fun time watching Emily play with her new car and other fun toys. Eventually it got late, and it was time to go home. On the drive home Emily told us that she decided that she really likes Christmas and is looking forward to next year.

So there you go, one more blog done and one more week until it is a new year, I wonder what that week might hold? Let's hope we find out soon. . . until then here are the pictures you have waited so patiently for, enjoy.

Emily and Great Bob are a mutual admiration society. The two of them love to just smile and stare at each other. Goofballs.

Emily had a lot of fun visiting Great Ray. She did one of her favorite things, rearrange. She managed to find his shoe horn way under the table. He was very excited because he had been looking for that. Who knew? All it took to find it was one visit from Emily.

I don't think we could fit another layer onto this poor purple bundle. She is wearing a onesie, a pair of adorable pink polka dotted long underwear, a sweat suit, socks, mittens, a puppy hat and this puffy purple snowsuit--oh yeah, there was also a scarf that went on after we put her in her stroller. The poor little girl couldn't move, it was very much like Ralphie's little brother in "A Christmas Story," but it was really cold outside.

When we got back to Grandma Kathy's, we removed everything down to the sweat suit, so that Emily could play and then take a nap. When you're holding Emily, and she falls asleep...it is a foregone conclusion that you too, will fall asleep. Grandma never stood a chance.

Minus another layer of clothes, Emily was happily playing with a paper grocery bag while Grandma prepared our delicious dinner. (I told you that her long underwear was adorable.)

She also decided to taste-test one of the bells on Auntie Mandy's reindeer slipper.

Then she got into the action to watch Grandma make stuffing.

A very hungry, and sleepy, Emily decided to go sit with Auntie Mandy for a little while so that Grandma could make the final food preparations with two hands.

After dinner, Emily went to visit Grandma's "Santa Tree" to say goodnight to all of the Santas. "Don't worry," she said, "I'll be back tomorrow."

When we arrived on Christmas morning, Emily could hardly contain her excitement about what Santa had left under the tree. She had never seen so many presents!!!

Yes, that tall red & white striped one is for Emily. Lucky girl. How is she going to open that present, it is way bigger than she is.

I don't know who this one is for, but it looks fascinating!

"Hello, there are presents in here. Where are all of you?"

"Poochers, I think you look like you need a red bow."

"I'll give you a hug, too."

"Do you mind if I make myself comfortable on your feet for a minute?"

After we all had eaten breakfast, Emily was allowed to open her stocking gifts.

As the gift-opening continued, Emily (and Poochers) became more and more covered in bows.

Emily was very excited about her new car. She was also very excited about holding the two cards that you see in her hands. She would not put them down.

"What's in here?"

"Wow! Pink clothes with ladybugs on them! These will look great with my pink shoes."

"Mommy, this is a nice vacuum. I like that it's pink."

"Look out, Emily! The box isn't that big, honey."

After a wardrobe change, Emily was investigating all of the presents. (And making herself comfortable on top of others.)

This wagon was the mysterious gift inside that giant red and white present.

Emily loves sitting in her wagon, and getting in & out. One of the inside seats has a lid to hide things in. It is soooo much fun!

When we got to Grandma & Grandpa B's the gift-opening extravaganza continued.

She got a new walker/car to keep at Grandma & Grandpa's.

She also had a lot of fun playing with all of the other toys that she keeps there.

"Mommy, Daddy! Look at all the presents in here!"

She took a few lessons from Grandma B about how to guard your chocolate. Unfortunately for Grandma B, the chocolate Emily was using to practice with was hers.

Dessert was Emily's favorite...Whipped Cream! (Well, the rest of us had brownies under our whipped cream. Emily just likes the whipped cream.)

A very long, and very fun day led to a very exhausted little girl.

Rooting For The Redskins

I appear to really be on a roll here, some of you must be thrilled to be finally getting your Emily fix, and we are still in December. Just wait until I get all caught up, you'll be in overload!! It has occurred to me that although these most recent posts have been done long after the fact, I am writing as though they happened yesterday. I admit that I am taking some artistic license due to the fact that these have been dated back at the time that they should have been written, and frankly, they need to stand the test of time and fit with all the blogs that came before them. With that said, let's get started shall we?

Emily, like her handsome & intelligent father, is a Washington Redskins fan; she is also a fan of climbing as high as she can and causing as much trouble as possible. During one of the Redskins' incredible Sunday Night games on NBC, during their improbable run into the playoffs, we were at home watching the game. Emily decided that she wanted to watch from on top of the couch, not on top of the seat cushions mind you, but from the back of the couch (on top of everything). With that goal in mind, she put incredible effort into achieving her goal. She never did really make it all the way, but she had fun trying. She did make a place for herself behind the back cushions and managed to wiggle free from her jammies in the process. The Redskins won and all was right with the world.

From here the pictures are worth at least 500 or so of the high quality words I put forth, see you again soon. . .

Here she is, behind the back cushions, smashing a blanket down to create her "nest." At this point, notice that she's already removed her pajama pants.

"Mommy, what do you mean that I have to put my pants back on? I like them off. I'm hot, and they are getting in my way."

Stopping for a moment to watch a crucial point in the game.

Running around behind the couch cushions is fun!

Now she is actually pushing the cushion forwards to take up even more space and make herself even more comfortable. Oh yeah, she has also wiggled free of her pajamas completely now and is just lounging around in her onesie. Goofy Girl!

We call this video, "No Pants!"

This video runs for 1 minute and 36 seconds.

Try to imagine a lot of jibbering, laughing, screaming, and squealing in the background of the action. Watch out at the end, or she will try to poke you in the nose. Don't say we didn't warn you, if she is successful.

Santa Comes To Daycare

I suppose that I could just get to the point and start telling the story without all the other stuff I do at the beginning of each post, but if I did that how would you know that it was really me and not some nut job that hacked into the blog and started writing random stuff about Emily months and months after it happened, all the while disguising that fact by backdating the post? You wouldn't, that's why I am delaying the actual telling of the story, so you can feel comfortable knowing that the nut job whose ramblings you are reading is actually me and that the story of Emily is true (well mostly anyway with some MILD exaggerations and occasional embellishments). So here we are with another post taking us deep into to the recent past, or not so recent depending on how you look at these things. So let's begin to spin our tale, this is a short one, (if it was a tail it would be a cropped one, not a short one, but it's a tale as in story, not a tail as in wagging) and the pictures will tell most of the story.

Just after her birthday, but just before Christmas, we received a notice from Emily's Daycare (there has to be a better or shorter way of typing Emily's Daycare, I would use ED but that is an abbreviation used in schools for a student who is Emotionally Disturbed. Emily is most certainly not Emotionally Disturbed. Also, what if someday she starts dating a guy named Ed? That would be equally confusing wouldn't it, I am open for suggestions here. . . ) that Santa would be stopping by for a special evening. We let Emily know and she was very excited. Grandma Kathy & Auntie Mandy happened to be free that evening and would also be able to attend, and Emily was thrilled to show them where she spends her days. Unfortunately, there was an event at the church the same evening, so Grandma & Grandpa B were not available to attend. Emily figured, she'd show them around another day, so it would be OK with her if they went to their other event that night. When we arrived, things were already nicely underway, but the big guy was not there yet. Emily decided to spend her time waiting for the "Big Guy," by taking us on a tour of the rooms where she spends her time, the Infant Room and the Toddler Room. Most of the events for the infants & toddlers were happening in the Toddler Room. Emily spends her mornings in the Toddler Room, but at this point, had not thoroughly investigated all that the Toddler Room has to offer (as she has just begun taking a few steps here and there). She spent some time checking out all of the toys that are available to her in this room, redecorating the Toddler Room, and even indulged herself with some "Arts 'n Crafts."

After a short time Santa did arrive and he even had a special gift for Emily, and lots of other kids too. Santa gave Emily her very first set of Lego blocks, which I am sure that the Godfather suggested to Santa, as Lego's are one of his favorite things. Although he came bearing gifts, Emily was very disappointed in Santa. She had the opportunity to sit and chat with him a few days before while getting her pictures taken a the mall, and she could tell that the Daycare's Santa was not the same guy. She was curious about who this impostor was, and refused to look him in the eye. Notice that in all of the pictures below with her and Santa, she is cringing to get away from him and is not looking at him at all. She would not give Santa the time of day; not until much later in the evening when he came into the Toddler Room while Emily was doing a craft with me (not Mommy). Only then did she look at Santa, but she would not give him a smile. Poor Santa.

From here I will let the pictures tell the story, and count one more blog done and in the books. . .

"Hey, what is this? I've never seen this toy before."

"This is really fun, I'm going to have to remember that this is here."

Emily crawled through a tunnel, with a bunch of bananas in her hand and had so much fun, she started squealing.

Next, it was over to the shelves to pull everything down and throw it on the floor. She had a lot of fun doing this, too.

Back over to the tunnel for more screaming.

More throwing.

We made Reindeer Food with special sparkles to attract the Reindeer to our house.

Santa finally made his appearance, but Emily wanted nothing to do with him . . . even when he was trying to give her a present.

She did, however, enjoy the present. She really liked the curly ribbon on top.

She had a lot of fun ripping the paper off.

And she was fascinated by the Lego set's green lid.

She had some time for a rare session of Art 'n Crafts with Daddy.

Santa came by for another brief visit and tried to get a smile, to no avail.

Uh-oh! The ornament got knocked onto the floor and left behind a glittery residue. This just goes to show you that nothing is safe when Emily is doing Arts 'n Crafts. She really gets into her work.