Merry and Bright ~ Christmas 2009

I'm finally getting around to updating our blog! With the holidays, things have been a bit busy, so I haven't had much time to devote to blogging. Anyway, here are some "Christmas Fun" moments I captured during Reese's first Christmas. She had a blast and loved having our family snowed in at our house! Yep, that's right, we had a good old fashioned South Dakota blizzard on Christmas Day. The nasty weather outlook had been all over the news on the days leading up to Christmas, and because we happen to have an inside scoop at Kelo News (thanks Katie), my parents and my sister Katie and her husband Ross decided to come on Wednesday and hunker down for the storm. Gratefully we were able to make it to Christmas Eve mass and celebrate and worship, but the weather took a major turn for the worse shortly after. My aunts Kathy and Maureen and brother Chris made it over to our house, the Blizzard Headquarters, and we enjoyed our Christmas Eve together. Christmas Day was spent, by the boys, doing much digging out. Despite the weather, we had a wonderful Christmas! But, the Christmas celebrating is not over! Kevin's family is coming this weekend so we will get "Christmas Fun" Round 2!

The start of the blizzard

My sister Katie, Me, Reese and my Mommy on Christmas Eve

Reese opening, or should I say eating, gifts Christmas morning

Mmmm, wrapping paper!

Rubber Duckie, You're the One

I couldn't help myself. I got this cute little duck bathtub to put inside our big bathtub as a shower gift, and I FINALLY got around to blowing it up. Reese LOVES it...both inside and outside ot the bathtub. :) Who knew a bathtub duck could provide such entertainment???

And...our baby girl is 8 MONTHS OLD!!! PS...on a side note about our big ugly blue chair...it finally clunked out, so we found ourselves at the furniture store looking for a new recliner. While we were at it, we got a new couch as well (as the couch was just as old as the chair), but I refused to throw away the blue chair until we get all 12 pictures of Reese in it. Thus, the clunker sits in our spare bedroom in the basement, lonely and broken, just waiting for the 10th of each month. I'm going to miss that old thing...

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I am a Christmas fanatic! Anyone who knows me will tell you I'm a straight up cheeseball when it comes to Christmas. I love the Christmas music, all of the awesome Christmas shows on TV(especially the classics), fa la la la laing and decorating our house, picking out the perfect gift, Starbucks Gingerbread Lattes :), and just the all arounds good cheer it seems to bring to people. Of course I know and celebrate the reason we honor Christmas, the birth of our Lord Jesus, and I love that too. Well, this year with Reese, I'm loving it even more! I can already see her morphing into a Christmas nut...sorry Reese, you don't have a choice. Ok, so she doesn't REALLY get what's going on, but she but she sure is cute! Here are just a couple pix I took of Reese the other night at my aunt's house...poor girl...she doesn't even know what she's in for! Ha ha!


Did I mention I love little Christmas outfits???


Ooooh, and Christmas Jammies???

THANKFUL...

For Thanksgiving, we packed up and headed to Midland to spend some time with Kevin's family. In reflecting on the things I am thankful for this year, the list is long, but family is definitely near the top. We are so grateful for our family and friends and for all of the support we've been blessed with. And of course, we are thankful for our little turkey! Although Reese spiked a temp and fought a fever for most of our stay in Midland, she was a trooper and enjoyed her first Thanksgiving. She especially loved spending time with her new cousin Alexis and taking pictures in their matching outfits. :)

Reese sharing all of her wisdom with Alexis

Happy Thanksgiving ~ 2009

Reese and Great Grandma Ardis

Pretty girls