Sledding

It snowed all night on Christmas Day and we had a fresh new layer (about 6") of snow on the ground, so we all decided it was time for some sledding. There is a good hill over by Jill's parents house in South Jordan, so we made the trip and enjoyed some snowy fun.

Before we left, Ivan and Adam shoveled the walk.
Tim wants to know, "Do I look like a unicorn?"Walking over to the hill, Allison and Ayden rode over in the sled - until they were dumped over and had to be carried to the launching area - too hard for the little girls to walk in the snow

She wasn't too cold and enjoyed the snow this time.

Swinging with Daddy and she loves it.

Part of the family all bundled up. (Nikki, Adam, Tim, and Rita)

She smiled all of the way down.
Surprise, surprise - our little dare-devil loves to sled.

Tim and Rita taking a turn and getting a good push off from Eric, luckily they didn't get dumped over.

After sledding, we all were hungry and made a trip to Cafe Rio - YUMMY!
Allison had fun talking to both tables.

Allison is having fun sticking her tongue out at the camera and thinks she is so funny. Plus, you can catch some views of everyone in the sledding crew.

Christmas morning

Rita and Tim went down to American Fork for Christmas morning. So for Christmas morning, it was Ivan, Allison, Adam, and I - Nikki was sick with the stomach flu (so sad to hit her on Christmas morning)

Ivan and Allison started a fire before opening presents to add to the atmosphere.

Getting her presents.

Getting ready to open presents.Here is the present sash.

What is it?

Puzzles from Papou, Yiayia, and Aunt Kailey - yeah so much fun

Pop up toy, "I love pushing them down"

Stuffed animal from Grandma Carol and Opop. She loves to cuddle all of her stuffed animals and pat their bums, just like we do to her.Adam gave our baby boy his first shirt. "Ummm... boobies"

Tired from all of the unwrapping, so I'm chillin with dad!

Christmas Eve 2008

Everyone came over to our house for Christmas Eve.

We started out with making Christmas cookies - Allison was too young, but the tradition is started.Eric and Tess.Tess the Christmas Elf.

Papa stealing a cuddle with Carson

Christmas Dinner

Christmas Dinner

After dinner the girls were restless and Rita's singing (and bouncing) worked to calm them, while the boys cleaned up Christmas dinner.

Rita, Tim, and Adam arrive for Christmas

On December 20th, Rita, Tim, and Adam arrived from Florida for Christmas. Nikki (Adam's fiancee) arrives in a few days. Eric, Jill, Ayden, Jared, Lori, Creede, Carson, and Tess all came over to see Mama and Papa and we had a yummy dinner. They are all here until January 3rd.

Papa is the story reader. Ayden is enjoying "Piggy Wiggy"All of the kids had to get in some reading time. Of course, they all had to squish into our smallest chair, but Aunt Jill loves the cuddles.

Ayden and Creede love to wrestle and tickle eachother.

Here is round two on videoTess wearing Papa's hat - a cowgirl at heart!

Visiting Santa

Today, Allison and I went to see Santa with some friends from the ward while Ivan went to pick-up Rita, Tim, and Adam. The Christmas festivities have been officially started...

Allison and Braylin waiting in line for Santa.... clueless of the scary white bearded man coming up.Allison was happy and walked straight up to Santa. Then she realized he was scary and backed away. I put her on his lap anyways and the crocodile tears started flowing.

"Mommy why are you leaving me here"

A day in December

Our little garbage picker.
Allison loves going through the recycles despite the covered trash cans. This morning she walked out of the kitchen with yogurt container on her foot and the blueberry crate in her hand.
Can you say... garbage collector for a future job!

When ever we go shopping, Allison hates sitting in the cart; she want to roam the store.
But of course at home, in her push shopping cart, she is willing to sit or stand and play in the basket. This girl is killing me.

Christmas fun

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

A snowy day

Finally it feels like Christmas. Although the natives think I am crazy, this is one of the reasons we moved here - to enjoy a wintery Christmas season. Today it snowed about 3-4 inches in the morning, so it was time for Allison to experience playing in the snow.

Getting ready... reminded me of "The Christmas Story" where the mom gets the kid dressed up and he can't move. That was Allison, she fell over while putting on her jacket and was stunned that it didn't hurt, but then squirmed around and couldn't get up.
Is it bad to laugh at your kid?Ivan shoveled off the driveway and walk, so we decided to surprise him.

Getting ready to play...

OK, I'm standing here...

but I don't like making snow angels....

playing with the snow isn't bad.

Please take me inside

I've had enough of this white powdery stuff.

Our 1st Family Christmas Tree

Last night, we had a family night and went to a Christmas tree stand and picked out our first tree. When we got it home, it was a bit too tall for our ceilings, so Ivan had to cut down the trunk. It made the house smell wonderful and VERY Christmas-y. Allison loved walking around with the tree stump.
So far she hasn't bothered the tree - but time will tell...

A Thanksgiving blessing

Thank goodness for Thanksgiving weight gain. Allison finally tipped the scales at 20 lbs and can turn forward in her car seat - no more crying. Hallelujah for Tracey's chocolate chip cookies and Aunt Ginny's lasagna. She giggled and laughed on her first ride facing forward.
Such a big girl!

Thankgiving in Chicago

This Thanksgiving Ivan, Allison, and I traveled to Chicago to spend the holiday with the Rousonelos family. I flew out with Allison on Saturday - so stressful traveling by yourself with a one year old, but thank goodness for Delta, they saved the seat next to me, so Allison had some space to play and the 3 hour flight went well. Before the holiday, Kailey and I went to see a movie "Twilight" and had fun being sisters. Then Allison and I went to Aunt Ginny and Uncle Mark's for dinner (my mom's sister), we had lots of fun and of course Allison had ANOTHER birthdy, but unfortunately I forgot my camera to document it.
Ivan arrived on Wednesday morning, just in time for the holiday preparations.

Thanksgiving

Dad mashing potatoes with a special potato ricer - interesting product - the potatoes turned out so yummy, but that might have been the sour cream, cream cheese and butter.Ivan helped make the cobb salad by shreading the rotissery chicken, getting his hand full of guck.

I fell down on the job for taking pictures of Thanksgiving, I didn't get any of the Rousonelos spread - and what a spread it was. I ate so much, I really thought it was going to pop! All of the greek hors de'overes, turkey, and holiday yummys. Then there was an entire buffett of desserts - yum!

Here are the two pregos - I am 22 wks and Eleni is 20 wks.

Her LAST 1st birthday party!

Ivan and Kailey gave Allison a bath before Allison's birthday party.

Why do kids drink bath water - ICK!!!

Why is there a fire on my cupcake?

Yummy pumpkin cupcakes - Thank you Tracey! This is what a cupcake is all about!!!

Lots of presents.... Allison is getting good at opening the wrapping and she loves to tear the paper

Of course, then she wants to play with the presents. If you try to take the toy away so she can open the next one, she gets mad. I guess the days of open a present and toss it aside for the next one will be coming soon.

She loved the big book and all of the presents. Thank you to Papou, Yiayia (Tracey), Aunt Kailey, Yiayia Nola, Great Uncle Stan, and his girlfriend Sophia.

We made it out of Chicago just in time. Our return flight was at 7:30am on Sunday morning - not so exciting, but when we arrived home we found out that we just missed the snow and ice in Chicago and avoided the delays. Thank goodness!!!

Allison enjoyed riding around in Ivan's suitcase, she didn't want to get out! I'm just amazed his suitcase got unpacked the day we got home, another reason to fly home early.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for the love, support, and health of our family and friends!