Putting up the Christmas Tree

This morning we put up our Christmas tree.  Emily was very interested in helping put up the tree.  When we turned on the lights she got real excited and said "Lights ON!"  She enjoyed being picked up and looking at the angel on the top, and of course she wanted to grab all of the ornaments.  We are working on having her touch them with one finger, but she grabs, bats and pulls on them right now.  I am hoping that everything I put on the bottom of the tree is not breakable, I  tried to be selective, but it was hard.  Emily loves the Elmo and Hello Kitty ornaments I bought her at Kohl's yesterday.  The only problem is she doesn't want them hanging on the tree, she wants to play with them.

Happy Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for, the list is endless.  Last night at church we received a leaf when we walked in the door and we were asked to put what we were thankful for on it and then we hung them on a tree.  My leaf was full to the max, our family has been blessed with so much, family, friends, financial stability, health, God's love, food, shelter, clothes, etc.

Today we went over to my Aunt Joyce's house and had an abundance of wonderful food.  Here are a few pictures from today.  Emily was extremely tired today because she stay up late last night for my brother's surprise 40th Birthday party, and of course she didn't sleep in.  The top picture was at the end of today's gathering and way past her nap time.  I thought it was so cute how she is snuggled up to her daddy sucking her thumb.  The middle picture is of my brother Dave and my sister Linda.

First Time in the Snow

Emily enjoyed playing in snow today for the first time.  I asked her if she wanted to touch the snow and she took off her mittens and touched it with her bare hands.  It was hard because I kept putting her mittens on and she kept taking them off.  When I told her we were going to make some snow balls to build a snow man she went to get Lucy's ball (the dog).  She is so smart.

The picture of her next to the snowman didn't turn out well, but at least you can get an idea of how big our snow man is.  Unfortunately our snowman broke a couple of times, so it kept getting smaller.  

Family Weekend

This weekend we celebrated Thanksgiving with Jim's family.  

Our annual tradition is that Jim's mother and I also make Christmas cookies, this year we made Buckeyes, Lebuken, Springles, and Sugar Cookies.  Decorating is by far my favorite part.  Jim's mom is a great baker and cook, I have learned a lot from our baking tradition.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday with all of the holiday fixings - Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Squash, Green Beans, Orange Sweet Rolls, Cranberries, Dressing, Gravy, etc  Jim's sister Susan and her two boys Zach and Tristan were at Jim's mom's place as well - they are in one of the pictures with Emily.  One of Emily's favorite things this weekend was to play hide and seek with the cat Holly, and Holly was very good at letting Emily snuggle and pet her.

On our way home we stopped to see Jim's grandmother for a few hours, she is also in some of the pictures.  She always amazes me, she is in her mid 80's and walked 4.5 miles today, bowls in a league averaging 220 and was crawling under the kitchen table to play peek a boo with Emily.  I don't know a lot of women her age with so much energy.

Sorry there are so many pictures, it was hard to choose.  

Emily's New Friends

Today Emily and I went to one of my friend from High School's house.  It was fun to get together and have the kids play.  Here is Emily with Selma (8 months old) and with Davis (1 year -bottom picture).  She is starting to play with other children a lot more, and loves babies.

Twin Friends

I have an identical twin sister, and so when I see twins I always have a soft spot for them.  We met my friend Karla and her twin girls at storytime at the Chelsea Library.  Sofia (floral shirt) and Natalia (pink shirt) are just a couple of months older than Emily.  

It was cute how they would push Emily around on her car, which of course Emily loved.  Emily was a little attached to the dolls they brought, I think she was carrying them around the entire time they were here.  Sofia and Natalia where really good sports about the whole thing, they are very good girls.  Or course I am sure they get that from their mom, she is one of those people that is just like a breath of fresh air.  Karla is very positive and warm, she naturally attracts people.

New Baby Megan

Today I realized that my baby is not really a baby anymore.  She is a little girl.  Our friends Julie, Erik and Blake welcomed new baby Megan into the world this past weekend.  Holding Megan made me realize how big Emily is now.  

Here are a few pictures of us meeting Megan.  Emily was very gentle touching Megan's head, it was so cute.  Pictured are Julie, Blake, Megan and Emily.  Julie looks amazing for just having a baby, and she seems so well rested on very little sleep.

Great Grandma Weidmayer

Emily was so proud today when she was putting this necklace on at Great Grandma Weidmayer's house.  My grandpa stung these spools when we were young, and it makes a fun necklace.  It goes to show you don't have to buy toys, you can make them.  :)

We stopped by my grandma's to drop off some beef stew and chocolate chip cookies I made yesterday, what a perfect day for stew.  I can't believe it's cold and snowing already, but that is Michigan weather for you.

Dora Chair

Emily is not spoiled at all, she has hardly any clothes and no toys.  Just kidding.  I do feel a little less guilty seeing most of the stuff I get is at mom to mom sales.  Last week and today I went to mom to mom sales in Saline.  Last week we got an Elmo train set that we are wrapping up for Christmas.  Today we got some clothes and this Dora chair.  Emily looks so grown up sitting in her own chair.  

Today Jim was one of the only men at the mom to mom sale, he insisted on going, I think he was curious as to what these mom to mom sales are all about.  I have this feeling they were more exciting in his head.  

Winter Gear

This week we got out some of our winter gear.  We are lucky that Emily loves hats and doesn't mind having her hood up.  

Emily just loves being outside; we are so sad that winter is just around the corner and we'll have to bundle up to go outside.

Silly Headband

Jim wasn't really sure how to put on Emily's headband, regardless she thought it was funny ...

Tristan Reading to Emily

Here is a cute picture of Emily's cousin Tristan reading to her this weekend.  

Wood Stove

No, Emily's hair is not on fire.  Emily is walking away from our wood pellet stove, and I thought this was an interesting picture.  We have this great wood pellet stove that heats our entire house,  Jim put together the gate around the stove so Emily can't get to it.  The wood pellet stove sure saves our heat bill from getting too high.

Young Love

Emily's friend Blake was over yesterday, and here they are holding hands while they ate.   It was so stinking cute that they did this on their own.  

Seize the Moment

I'm such a planner I don't typically seize the moment very often.  Today Emily fell asleep in the car after swim lessons and running errands.  Of course she woke up when I tried to move her to her crib.  After lunch I called our neighbor and we went to visit their new puppy, which was really good with Emily.  Emily and I spent 1.5 hours playing outside and going for a walk.  What a GREAT November day, the weather was perfect.  Plus it made what could of been a long afternoon, go by so much quicker.

Grandpa Heiss

Emily said grandpa last night for the first time.  Jim's dad came for dinner and he was just tickled that she remembered him let alone said grandpa!  She is saying new words all the time, I think her favorite word now is "Okay" which is just adorable.  

Belated Birthday Dinner for my Dad

It's always hard to come up with present ideas for my dad.  What do you get a guy who pretty much has everything he needs?  Well for his Birthday I decided to give him a gift certificate for a dinner party at our house.  We would make dinner for my parents and 4 of their friends.  Last night my dad finally redeemed his gift certificate, 6 months after his actual Birthday.  

We made ribs, butternut squash soup, potato salad, spinach salad with strawberries, glazed pecans, cheese - etc, pumpkin pie bars, and we cheated on the rolls and baked some from the Common Grill.  Friends brought an assortment of homemade and bought wine.  

I am not sure who enjoyed the present more, my dad or my mom.  It was a lot of fun, and needless to say, a little bit of work.  

The above pictures are right before Emily went to bed, unfortunately I forgot to get out my camera earlier, so her hair is a mess from the pig tails and she is in her PJ's.

Happy Halloween

For Halloween our Bible Study group got together to trick or treat and have some fun.  Emily got the hang of trick or treating after a couple of houses and wasn't scared of any of the costumes.  That surprised me seeing she has been having some stranger anxiety; which is why you will see her crying in our group picture.  

The top picture is of Blake and her cousin Claire, the bottom picture I thought was cute of her hanging out with Claire.