Holiday Cheer!

Interesting how the smallest of differences are recognized AWED by my almost 3yr old.  In Elsie Anne's whole LONG life, she's never lived anywhere with trash and recycling service {and for the last 8ys, neither have Shawn or I}.  Her infatuation with this has brought about a Friday morning tradition... we sit on our driveway and watch our 'trash helpers' go around the loop, and finally make it to our house.  After our waving-and-clapping-like-crazy, for their hard work, they leave with big smiles on their faces, and sometimes even a TOOT-TOOT from the loud horn!!

So when I saw this idea on "lil light o' mine" blog, I just HAD to do it!  EA picked out the X-mas Tree cookies, and we I made the sign!  What a wonderful way to show our appreciation!

And boy did they appreciate it!!  They couldn't thank us enough times, it was so sweet!  EA was proud to make them so happy and told Daddy the whole story when he got home:)

TWENTY-ELEVEN!!

We were so fortunate to have Elsie Anne's 'Breck cousins' take her for a few hours so that I could have my first Ski Date w/ Shawn in 2yrs!  Shelby, Lexi & their mommy Kiersten had a ball w/ EA & had so many cute stories to report back to us!  It was our first time leaving her w/ anyone but family, and it was a perfect fit.  EA loves to play w/ the girls & the Stais family is our closest thing to family out here:)  Thank you, Thank you!!

Of course, the day we chose had to be one of the most bitter cold to date, this season!  It was -6*, but w/ wind chill on the mountain, it was more like -15*!!  OUCH is all we had to say!  Thankfully I was not the only one complaining about my fingers & toes, there was no way around it - everyone was FREEZING!!  Shawn & I trying to thaw out...

The whole group thawing out... us, Jeff, Paige.

Shawn was so kind to offer to pick EA up & let me have an apre beer w/ our visiting buddies!  After her nap we all chilled @ home around a cozy fire & got ready for our New Year's celebration!!

Me & Paige loving on each other!!

Handy-Dandy Timer Shot...

And @ the stroke of TEN-O'CLOCK, we rang in the New Year, East Coast time!!  Our whiskey shot was to toast & honor our buddy in Vail that, instead of getting remission news for Xmas, he got an "experation date" as he calls it.  Cheers to you, Tony, for so many crazy-fun times & many more ahead!!

Excited for 2011 and all it has to offer!!

Week Between!

Some of our best buddies that used to live here came to visit us, which has made the 'week between' a whirlwind of fun!!  We've done dinner @ home & restaurants, drinks @ bars & home, playing in town & home...we've just done it all!  Here's a few from the last few days!  EA playing pool w/ Paige...

I took EA home & the yaahoo's went out a bit longer... Paige, Jeff & Shawn!

Breakfast @ our favorite joint...Columbine Cafe!  Jeff & Paige

Elsie Anne being a ham & making her "funny faces"!

Adeline came w/ us.  We stopped by Peek-A-Boo Toy Store before going home.  The girls loved this seesaw!  Someday we hope to have a playroom, then we can have a toy this big!!

That night we went to Brooklyn's Billiards to meet up w/ more friends that had come back to town.  EA had a ball dancing on the open dance floor!  Shawn, EA & 'Uncle Donnie'

Lauren & Jesse came in from New Hampshire & planned the big shin-dig!!

EA & Momma perched @ the bar.  Thankfully we knew the bartender & he gave EA a few mixers to do 'magic tricks' with!  Don't worry, we left @ 7:30pm, before any of the riff-raff rolled in:)

Our walk back to the car involved a 3story staircase that Elsie Anne HAD to do by herself!!

It's so nice having our buds in town!!

Christmas Day!

Santa sure made it to our house!!  A load of presents, thanks to our families, & a 'treehouse' w/ sleeping bag to match, were on display as Elsie Anne tip-toed down the steps!!

EA w/ her sleeping bag back pack on, opening her 'Strawberry Shortcake' doll from her stocking!  She was in awe of each little gift she got.  She had to take each one in before she moved to the next one.  That's why it took us until 1pm to finish opening presents:) 

Yay!  EA was so happy to see her Ladybug Pillow Pet @ our house!  Thanks Uncle Brad, Auntie M, Brady & Logan - maybe she'll finally get over that commercial that comes on all the time:)

And, Oh My Goodness, look @ this cheesy grin when she got this gorgeous TuTu from Aunt Dana, Uncle Adam & Liam!  She wouldn't take it off until we made her @ nap time:)  Her first words when she woke up were "TuuuTuuu"!

Such an awesome gift - good, clean, fun ART - AquaDoodle!!  Thanks GeGe & Papa!!

One of her favorites of the day... Ballerina Jewlery Box!!  What a great idea GeGe & Papa!

Another favorite of the day... Cloth Doll House!  BumBum, I don't know where you got this (I've never even seen one), but she LOVED the family of Bunnies & their precious little house:)  Excuse her YoGabba-Gabba panties hat, her Daddy can be a little silly @ times!

These were just a few of the wonderful gifts EA received.  She is now completely outfitted w/ a whole new wardrobe of 2T clothes, all of which she admired after tearing into the boxes:)  She is such a girly-girl in that aspect, she loves getting new clothes!!

And we had to do another 'timer' pic of the family!  That is the cute Cloth Doll House w/ 'Elsie Anne' personalized on the roof!

I hope you all experienced the blessings that we shared today as a family!  It was amazing to see Christmas through the eyes of a toddler!  No matter how hard life & all it's obstacles get, our sweet baby girl always puts things into perspective & shows us what is really important.

I will try and upload a video of the fun sledding we did in the late afternoon! 

our ANGEL!

I was able to get Elsie Anne down for her nap @ 12pm so that we could get to the church by 2pm!  It was like a real performance w/ costume room, make-up area, & the snack room.  You could feel the kids' excitement - they all loved walking around in their costumes & face paint:)  This is Henry the Wiseman & EA the Angel!

Missy Moo w/ her Angle Wings & Halo...

The Daddys waiting for their Daughters to arrive on stage:)  Uncle Allen Stais, Matt Stais & Shawn!

EA & Shelby Stais got to sit together in the pews.  She really likes to impress the older children, so she was on her best behavior!!

All the Angels watched in envy of the Big Girls that got to sing solos!!  You can also see the precious Manger set that Shawn helped build on Thursday night.  Bethlehem in the background, the reclaimed wood Stable, Mary, Joseph & Donkey right next to Baby Jesus' cradle.

The Angels sounded beautiful...and EA looked beautiful as she twirled around & boogied to the songs!!

In her own little Dancing World...loving all the smiles she was getting from the audience! 

Momma got to sit w/ the Angels...just in case:) 

It was a fantastic experience!  We are so proud of our sweet ANGEL:)

Xmas Eve!

After the 'Christmas Story' play @ our church we went over to the Stais' house for a Fondue & Crab Leg dinner!  MAN oh MAN was it GOOD!  "Succulent" was the word we all used to describe the huge chunks of meat that came out of the 2foot long crab legs!!  And the cheesy fondue w/ veges couldn't have been more delicious!! 

Lexi, Shelby & Elsie Anne had fun all over the house, while Shawn & I were able to enjoy Christmas Cheer, Music & Spirits w/ Kiersten & Matt!  The girls were counting to TEN as loud as they could....

...then JUMPing from the ottoman to the couch!  The Stais' were impressed that EA held her own w/ the big girls & really made her own place w/ them.  No longer did she seem like the 'baby' visiting, but a buddy there to play!

We pushed EA until her breaking point and headed home @ 9pm!  Shawn & I finished up wrapping, setting out Santa presents & enjoyed a few more 'spirits'!!

One of the things I will miss the most after Chirstmas are the beautiful cards we've recieved that have brightended up our wall!  I think I'll make an excuse to keep them up a bit longer...at least until the New Year!

Practice Makes Perfect?!

Elsie Anne gets to be in our Church's Christmas Story play on Xmas Eve!  She will be an Angel & will sing 2 songs w/ the older children!  We are so proud of her, as she is the youngest child in the play, and was invited by the Children's Director to join the performance!!!  This Sunday, the kids practiced their songs in front of the congregation!

All the children...

EA started standing w/ some church friends, then saw her play buddies and ventured over! 

Grady, Henry(not looking), Claire, Shelby, EA, Lexi

We have been practicing her songs w/ the CD they provided.  I have a feeling she's going to do more dancing than singing!

The answer to our question... Practice Makes Perfect For Us!  It is incredible to watch as EA starts to fill her big girl shoes!!  We can't wait to see our Angel all dressed up in her halo!!

Oh Christmas Tree...

For the second year in a row, we've had to get a tiny tree that fits on a table.  Its not becuase of Elsie Anne, but b/c of our tiny townhouse that is packed to the brim w/ all of our stuff!! 

Elsie Anne already knew what to do since we've read & talked so much about Christmas!  Her first ornament to hang was her "ballewina" that she picked out @ the store:)

She and Daddy hung up a Santa Claus that came from my childhood days!!  You can see the cute ballerina too!

Shawn FINALLY purchased a helmet... about 6yrs late (since he started riding in the park, throwing himself over huge jumps & doing crazy tricks)... I guess, better LATE than NEVER!

Elsie Anne took a liking to it too! 

Thank you Shawn for following through... Now your Mom & I can rest easier:)

Christmas Denver Trip!

Sorry about the hiatus from blogging.  Lately I've been ON or OFF w/ keeping it updated.  I just haven't had the time to download pics & upload stories... 'TIS THE SEASON, right?!!

The Sunday we've been anticipating since Thanksgiving... Christmas DENVER trip!  Always the planner, I had our outings arranged around lunch, nap time & dinner:) 

First stop... Red Lobster for lunch, Shawn's request!  For all you southern folk that live near the water & get fresh seafood whenever you please, you just won't understand!  I always 'knocked' Red Lobster when I lived in Florida, but once I tried it w/ Shawn's family in Ohio, I've become a fan!  Don't worry, its not anything like the old run-down building in Tally, it's a big, beautiful, new building w/ a great ambience.  Thankfully, after a little nudging, my cousin (& fellow Floridian) LA & Mike, who live in downtown Denver, met us there!  It was the first time we've seen them since the summer, and OHHH, how a little family time during the holidays feels SOOO GOOD!!

Second stop... Bass Pro Shop!  We've been looking forward to this Santa ever since last year, when we stumbled upon the incredibly decorated 'Workshop' & 'North Pole' they created in the boat area!!  We looked around the HUGE store w/ LA & Mike first, then ventured over to Santa...

...we decided it would probably be best if Elsie Anne play w/ Daddy & I wait in the line?!  Well, after 30min of standing in one place, then the elf telling me I should move to another line that wouldn't block the cash registers... I decided that EA would probably not be seeing Mr. Bass Pro Shop Santa!!  As I walked over to my family rolling my eyes, Shawn knew he needed to lift my spirits & swooped us off to the Aquarium area:)  EA driving the boat like BigDaddy!

EA looking at all the tropical fish, while Momma fantasizes about being @ the beach and swimming WITH these little fishies!!

Third stop... Zoo Lights!  Elsie Anne took a well needed, but short nap, in perfect time to make it before the crowds!!  We didn't mind getting to see a few of the animals before it got dark!!

EA clapping w/ her mittens on!  She loved watching the elephants toss their big barrels around & eat their snacks that came out!  I didn't get many pics of the amazing lights b/c our camera just doesn't capture the magnificence!  There were light tunnels we walked through, light animals, lights everywhere you looked, it was a sight to see:)

And we shared our first experience of the Zoo Train!!!  EA was beside herself w/ excitement, even though this family shot doesn't capture it!!  We sat right behind the engine & after the train conductor said "ALL ABOARD!" Elsie Anne couldn't stop saying it:)  She was waving @ all the people we rode by & bouncing on the seat to the Christmas Music playing!

Then off to the Carousel, "merrygoround" as EA liked to say!  She knew just what to expect, since she got to ride one @ the Cincinnati Zoo w/ her cousins!  And we knew from that experience she couldn't just ride once, so we each took a turn w/ her!  She chose to ride the Giraffe & Cheetah, and loved every minute!  Each time she passed by one of us watching, she'd wave or make 'funny faces'!

After all the family fun, we knew we had an hour & a half drive back to Breck, so we left @ 6:30pm... but not before stopping @ the Zoo Store!  This trip's special animal to come home w/ us was Francis the Flamingo!!!

Thanks to my amazingly good natured husband for keeping me cool when things didn't work as planned!  All in all, we had a wonderful time as a family & shared new adventures with Elsie Anne!  If the bank Santa is all EA gets to see this year, I'm fine w/ that, since she really won't remember this stuff anyway... it's more for the pretty picture, right, hee,hee!:) 

Keep checking past this post... I'll be catching up back to Nov.30th!!!