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The lives of 2 blonds and a brunette.


Friday, December 30, 2011

Christmas in Wilmington

Yesterday, Harry, Alaina, and I drove to Wilmington, NC to spend some time with my parents. My brother, Clay, and his wife, Karen, and their son, Weston, were already in Wilmington. 

We opened presents once we arrived and Alaina got a new 4-wheeler! She and Weston both really liked it. 

Alaina pushing Weston on the 4-wheeler.

Alaina also really enjoyed Weston's gift... a scooter. 

Clay, Karen, and Weston left this morning to begin their long trip back to Oklahoma and we decided to go to the beach! 




We had a wonderful day and can't wait for my sister, Martha, and her children, Madison, Luke, and Alex, to get here very soon!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas everyone! 
We began our celebrations at our home today. We must have been good this year because Santa did indeed pay us a visit. After opening presents at our house we moved the celebrations to Harry's parents' home.

Oh yes, Santa did come.

Alaina's first present... a Minnie Mouse Cup.




Waiting for daddy to free the laptop from the package. 

Dancing on the dollhouse box. 


Chef Alaina at her grandma and grandpa's house. 

Reading with Aunt Laura

Reading with cousins Charlie and Leah

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Eve

We have had an enjoyable Christmas Eve at our home. We baked, watched Christmas movies, went to church, and had fun together as a family.




Christmas at the Nativity

Last night Harry, Alaina, and I visited a live nativity at a local church. We all really enjoyed seeing the animals, hearing the Christmas music, and listening to the Christmas story. 


I forgot our camera so I only had my phone to capture pictures. The video seems the best way to share all of the events.

Alaina really liked the camel but was unsure of the donkey. She also enjoyed waving at all of the nativity participants.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Santa Baby

Christmas Cookies and Playdates

I've been out of school for three days now (woohoo) and Alaina and I have been enjoying our time together. For any of you that know Alaina in real life, you know that she is a very picky eater. I've been trying to get her to try a Christmas cookie since I baked them weeks ago. Yesterday, I was eating a Christmas cookie for breakfast (don't judge me... you know you do it, too) and Alaina pointed to the cookie. Success! Alaina finally tried a Christmas cookie and liked it! 


After the great cookie adventure Alaina and I headed off to a play date with some of her friends.


Here they are! From left to right Liam, Alaina, Kathleen - Lilly's mom, Lilly, Zach, and Beth - Zack's mom. Missing from the picture is Ayla who was playing in another part of the room at the time the picture was taken. The babies had a great time playing together. Alaina was a pacifier hog and was stealing everyone's paci (Zack's is in her mouth in this picture). That's my girl!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Grandpa

My grandfather passed away yesterday so I thought it was only fitting that I share some of my fondest memories of him today. He lived 89 years and in that time he made his mark on both the world and on our family. He fought in World War II with the Navy in the Pacific and opened his own jewelery store in Alliance, Ohio. He fathered 2 children and adopted another. He has 9 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Grandpa and me

Martha, Clay, Grandpa, and me

There are a few fond memories I will always carry with me about my grandpa. I will always remember how he used to bring bags of butterscotch to our house when he visited. He would feed the butterscotch to our horse, Hasan. I think that grandpa really enjoyed Hasan. 

I will always remember going to my grandpa's jewelry store to pick out my first pair of pierced earrings (my uncle, who is a doctor, pierced my ears when I was in 6th grade and my grandfather supplied the earrings). I loved visiting grandpa's jewelry store and I especially loved going into the safe.

Finally, I will always remember my grandpa's humor. My brother, Clay, was obsessed with the movie "An American Werewolf in London" growing up. Grandpa watched this movie with us on one of his visits and disappeared upstairs for a few minutes mid-movie. When he came back downstairs he was wearing his bathrobe and had his pants rolled up underneath it. He told us that the movie had scared his pants off. 

I loved my grandpa and I will miss him but I know that he is in a much better place, now.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Alaina's Bike

Yesterday, Alaina and I had Christmas with Paula and her BFF, Emma (Kevin and Harry were still at work). They got Alaina a bike (since she likes riding Emma's bike so much) and Alaina was tearing around the house on it today. 


Alaina and Paula

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Christmas at Birkdale

After visiting with Santa, Harry, Alaina, and I snapped a few pictures at Birkdale Village.







We had a great time and got some really nice pictures.


Visiting Santa

Today, Alaina visited Santa and told him she had been a good girl this year; she also shared her Christmas wish list.


She was very well behaved during her visit and I'm pretty sure Santa will bring her everything on her list.


Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Alaina Has Skills

Our little lady has been working on using a spoon lately. Yesterday, she fed herself her macaroni at dinner and did a really great job. 
As a righty...

and now as a lefty.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Our Little Jumping Bean

Alaina has recently acquired a new skill... jumping! She loves to practice her jumps in the evening. Occasionally, she even gets both feet off the ground.