Playhouse Disney Live!

I've been looking forward to this for a while, and tonight was finally show time! I got some great, center stage, 7th row discount tickets at work to take our family to see Playhouse Disney Live. The show featured many of Elise's favorite characters including the cast of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, & Goofy), Handy Manny, The Little Einsteins, and Tigger & Pooh! Elise really enjoyed the show and participated by singing, dancing, shouting, and clapping her hands. It was so much fun to watch her...and the show was cute too. Jamie and I kept looking at each other and giggling at how much fun Elise was having and how amazed she was to see the characters from TV and the computer come to life before her eyes. She got a Handy Manny hat and wore it during quite a bit of the show. Here are some pictures of the event:

2007 In Review

When I first began thinking back on 2007, it seemed like a pretty low key year. I started to go through pictures to do a slide show, and I realized that we actually had a really busy and eventful year! I think overall it was a pretty good year too. Rather than type out all the highlights, I posted the slideshow that I created at the top of the page. It is narrated with captions, so enjoy our year in review!

Today a King is born

We have exchanged an unreasonable amount of gifts this year. And to think this was supposed to be a low key Christmas. We definitely did not end up sticking to that plan. It's been a little difficult to keep focus on the real meaning of Christmas with Elise. She is still pretty young to grasp that concept, but we have been talking about today being Jesus' birthday. I'm looking forward to her getting a bit older so we can really start learning more about Jesus. This year it is safe to say that the gifts have overshadowed things a bit! I am starting a One Year Bible reading group on January 1st, and our little group will endeavor to read the entire Bible in 2008. Having said that, check out all these gifts!!! This is a combination of gifts for both sides of our family, though.

We had a great time last night with my parents, my grandmother, and Jamie's dad and stepmom. Dinner was yummy as usual, and then we spent the rest of the evening opening gifts and having coffee, hot chocolate, and dessert!

After all the activity last night at mom's house, we headed home and prepared for Santa! Elise sprinkled reindeer food in the yard and we put out cookies and milk for Santa. Then it was off to bed!

"Sprinkle on the lawn Christmas Eve night,

Rudolph's nose will make it sparkle bright.

As Santa's reindeer roam,

The scent of oats will guide them to our home."

This morning we all woke up super early to be sure we caught the first glimpse of Elise coming downstairs! Santa was very good to her this year.

The boys also enjoyed getting a lot of new toys from Gizmo, Scrappy, Carmella, and Santa!

It's been another great holiday season. This is traditionally the time of year when I'm very thankful for all that we have been blessed with...and also very thankful that we are returning to normal!! Elise has a hard time when deviating from her schedule. She also has some difficulty with transitions. The combination of the 2 make this time of year a little bit tricky. We have a lot of great fun, but it's hard on her to an extent. I think she has definitely been overstimulated a few times in the last couple of days. I will be glad to put some order back to the house tomorrow and get back into our routine. No more candy for breakfast!

Let the fun begin!

Yesterday the formal Christmas fesitivities finally began! One of our traditions since Jamie and I married is to decorate Christmas cookies for Santa with some old-fashioned, homemade icing. It is something that Jamie's mom used to do with him every year when he was a kid. I bake the cookies and he makes the icing - then we all decorate! They are sooo yummy!

We also have an annual celebration with Ken, Mary, and Eric. Mom put out a really nice spread this year and we ate a ton of food, enjoyed good company, and exchanged gifts.

Mom and Ken at the buffet!

My love and I

The whole fam!

Mary and Elise enjoying the dancing Santa

Mary, Elise, and Grandmother

All the guys

It was a nice evening, and we are looking forward to our family gift exchange tonight.

"Elise Mommy Talk"

Okay this is hilarious, so I had to share.

I bought Elise a Dora Christmas DVD at WalMart on Friday while I was picking up some last minute stocking stuffers. In the video, Dora sings Feliz Navidad.

As much as we've tried to help Elise say "Feliz Navidad", it comes out as "Elise Mommy Talk". And she sang it ALL day yesterday.

I'm so proud!!!

As I have mentioned before, Jamie began working on his masters degree in November. He is taking part in an accelerated program that will be completed in May 2009. He's been very nervous about this, because he does not think he is a very good student. He's been begging me all along to help him with his assignments, but I've been telling him that he needs to try on his own first. I think he sells himself short!

He just found out his grade for the first class, which was completed on Sunday when he took his final exam. He made a 96!!! I knew he was going to do great, and I am so proud!!!

Way to go my love! I knew you could do it. See what a difference it makes when you aren't living in a frat house?? *wink*