Little Indian Boy

Vickey taught Daniel how to make this sound and now he has it down to a science. He even does a similar "motor boat" noise when I wipe his face after eating.

New Year's 2010

Christmas continued over New Year's weekend. We packed up the wagon (to the top!) and headed to Mechanicsburg on Thursday evening. Dinner with Jason's parents was steak and whole lobsters with champagne! By the time everything was cleaned up it was nearly midnight. We discussed going down town to see the Wrench drop but did nothing instead. Although I was awake, I completely missed the celebrated 12:00 ringing in of the New Year.

On the 1st we went to Greencastle for the annual Marquiss dinner. Steve's sister Barb and her four boys from Virginia did not make it this year (Barb's husband died last year after a year's fight with brain cancer) but everyone else gathered at Tom's house for the wonderful celebration. Daniel got to meet his other baby cousins Jesse, who is only about six weeks younger, and Cheyenne (2ish). It was a ton of fun to watch them all interact. Daniel took this opportunity to show off and sit up for the first time too!


Saturday we had Christmas with my parents. It was pretty low key; I asked for nothing but some help with paying for my new dining room furniture so there weren't many presents to open for Jason and I. Daniel mostly still liked the ribbons and tags but he did get this great toy that he can sit at or walk behind.

Daniel had a lot of fun standing on the balcony watching us below.



Sunday it was back to Jason's family for Christmas. His sister Meg and her husband Jonathan were up from St. Louis so it was extra special. We haven't seen them in a year! We had a great brunch together then opened gifts.

Daniel Can Crawl!

Isn't he adorable?!

Daniel's First Christmas

Daniel's first Christmas has come and gone. We stayed home this year and celebrated with just our little family (Grandparents Christmases will be this coming weekend.)Daniel didn't seem to think too much about the presents, or even the wrapping paper. He just wanted to eat the ribbons and bows. Jason and I bought him a cell phone, my sister Laurel sent him a huge box of clothes, a book, and a train. She sent me a t-shirt she made with Daniel's beautiful face in the O of LOVE. If it wasn't for her gifts, there wouldn't have been much under the tree!



At lunch time we went to a friend's house and ate great food and played games. It was very sweet of them to invite us to crash their family's Christmas dinner.

The whole long weekend was relaxing and so much fun. I just love spending time with him - getting to play all day, taking naps together, and watching him learn.

Tea Party

Christmas time is the perfect time of year to get with friends and do girly stuff like drink tea! I helped to host a tea party at my friend Shara's house last weekend. We had about 12 women from Sunday School together (without most of our kids) to chat, eat a lot of food and drink a lot of tea and coffee. I had a great time and I think everyone else did too.
We didn't get pictures until half the girls left so we'll have to do it again!

Lindsey, Courtney, Erika, Shara, Kat, Amanda

Daniel's First Christmas Tree

Last year was the first we cut down a real tree - it is well worth the extra time and money. I just love the look and smell of the real tree; Christmas seems more real somehow with a natural tree.
These pictures are pretty self explanatory. Daniel just loves the tree - the lights and shiny ornaments.

Roxy and Raider

While our family enjoyed time together over Thanksgiving, Roxy spent time with our friends Courtney, Jeremy and their dog Raider. Raider is a West Highland Terrier with youthful energy who thinks Roxy is wonderful. He wants to play with her, and of course, she wants nothing to do with him. The union of the two is almost always a circus. A fit of barking and growling while Raider tries to get close to Roxy and and Roxy saying "Back off kid!"

It seems they had an okay time together despite the perpetual conflict. They played together outside, had to get their paws cleaned together, slept in the same bed (at least one adult apart), and rested within the same proximity of each other (as close as Raider could get)!