Grandpa's Last Gift

I need to update the blog with our Christmas news, but, for now, I wanted to share this.  Mike's dad Sully was a great craftsman.  He used to make beautiful adriondack chairs for kids.  The day of his funeral in July, I was talking with Mike's brother Bill and he was saying that all the grandkids have one of his chairs.  I told him, 'What about Maelie?'  Bill went into Sully's garage and came out with one of the little chairs.  For Maelie.  Grandpa Sully had made extras. 

This year, on Christmas Eve, we took down Maelie's Rainforest bouncer, and replaced it with Grandpa Sully's chair.  It's Grandpa's last gift to Maelie.  And will be treasured for generations, I am sure.

Mommy's Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I want to know where the heck my chubby-cheeked little baby went in such a short time???  Here she is last year:

And here she is THIS year:

So, Santa, can you slow time down a little bit so I don't turn around and have her be all grown up??  But, if you can't do that, can you at least help us all get through the 'terrible twos?'  I'm afraid, like Christmas, they are upon us. Just slip Mommy a little something extra in her stocking...she's going to need all the help she can get. 

My regards to Mrs. Claus. I'm sure it must be hard to watch all those elves grow up, too.  With that, and keeping your whites as white as they are, she must go through a good quantity of rum balls, too!  I'll have to call for her recipe....

Fly safely, and fire up Rudolf.  There's a snowstorm a-brewin'!

Sincerely,

Maelie's Mommy

Interesting Revelation

So, I had an interesting revelation last night.  After years of preparing for Christmas, I always think, damn, I wish I had another week...where did the time go???  Then I realized, every year, I go into December thinking Christmas is at the end of the month.  But, you know what???  There's a whole 'nother week AFTER Christmas before the end of December.  Interesting, that.....

A Message From Santa!!!!

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/3e7e9c5a80687965e384a8327b3ea318

Vietnamese Jingle Bells

My hubby found this and it's totally got me rockin' today.  I love it!!!!

Laundry Day!

So, a few weeks ago, we had a GORGEOUS Autumn day.  We decided to take a drive to a lake not far from home, and then took a pilgrimage to a laundromat.  Yes, we have laundry facilities at home, but this was like an adventure for my husband.  Why?  Not sure.  But, when he was young, he used to go to this laundromat with his Grandmother, and has talked about it ever since I've known him. So, we loaded up all of Maelie's clothes that needed washing and took them to the laundromat...about a 25 minute drive from home.  Yes, there are laundromats a few blocks from us, but it wasn't the GIANT WASH.  The lake we stopped at was on the way, though, and in the same town as the laundromat is a really nice, small cafe that we've been to once before.  Maelie is a celebrity there, so we had a nice dinner while the clothes were drying.  An odd adventure, to say the least, but it was a great day. 

Thanksgiving Photos 2009

Here are the photos from this year's Thanksgiving.  I think our little girl has changed a bit from last year!!!