Happy Christmas and Merry New Years

Christmas morning was celebrated on New Year's Day. We got up and opened presents then went to breakfast at the Flying Biscuit. Growing up, my family would go out to breakfast at the one Denny's open in town on Christmas morning. We had a lot more options since we waited to celebrate and the Flying Biscuit did not disappoint. I'm pretty sure I could eat their cheese grits everyday of my life...they're so good. Anyway, here's Christmas with my family at our house.

Rosemary's new Cinderella set. Cinderella's clothes only get changed twice a day...those little things are hard to change!

Rosemary was hanging up her Little Mermaid ornament. My mom gets the kids a new ornament every year. (Unfortunately, the one she got Ben last year is the one that broke this year).

Ben's showing off his Toy Story ornament. I don't think this one will break.

Ben's first train set from Grandma and Grandpa W. It was a hit.

Rosemary's very own camera.

Opening Glee!

Mom's table runner.

Dad's big Tervis tumblers.

Merry Christmas...finally!

Merry New Year's Christmas Eve

We moved Christmas to New Year's to celebrate with my family. My parents came up New Year's Eve with Ben and Rosemary. We ate our Christmas dinner, watched some fireworks, then played Aggravation and Whoonu.

Waiting for 2010 and playing some games.

It's hard to get a good picture of fireworks.

Our family pyro.

Watching the show from their seats.

Rosemary spent the entire time with her hands over her ears.

Grandma W. and Ben.

Christmas with the Peine's 2009

This was a weird Christmas season for us. The plan was for my parents to come up December 24-26, then we'd head to Groveland/Clermont for December 27-29, and be back in Gainesville for the remainder of our time off. Instead, I came down with strep on the 23rd and went to the doctor to start antibiotics right away. They didn't work, so rather than celebrating Christmas the morning on the 25th, I was visiting the local urgent care center again in an attempt to get some antibiotics that would actually help me feel better. The kids went to my parents' house Christmas afternoon and Jonathan and I stayed in Gainesville waiting for the strep to run its course, watching lots of movies and attempting to sleep.

Anyways, by the 29th my fever was finally gone and I was feeling good enough to venture out of Gainesville to celebrate with the Peine's.

Getting ready to exchange gifts.

The girls were playing dress up and took Ben back with them. I about fell over laughing when I saw Ben walk out in this little number. He was so funny.

Olivia is awesome with Ben.

The Peine's open presents from youngest to oldest. There are so many now that we do the kids first, then do the adults. Ben's currently the youngest so he got to go first.

Rosemary got a princess sleeping bag from Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Joel.

Watching everyone open gifts.

Working the room.

Matthew's dartboard.

Breanna's bath wrap.

Olivia's bath wrap.

Rosemary got a Build-a-Bear outfit from Grandma and Grandpa. Do you notice Rosemary's outfit? She says she's Mary, I think it looks like she's going to start singing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" any second, and Jonathan thinks she's in mourning.

The kids got personalized duffel bags for Christmas. Rosemary is actually inside the bag.

And Ben's in his.

All the girls got cute dress up outfits from Grandma and Grandpa.

The grown-up exchange

We exchange names for the adults and each get 2 names.

Jonathan had Zach as one of his names. He got him a Camelbak.

Jonathan got a cool thermometer from his parents...but they broke the rules, neither of them had him!

And he got two tripods.

Jonathan also had his mom. A few months ago, Jonathan went to their house while they were out of town and got their old film reels from the 1960's and 1970's. He took them to a local video company and had them converted to DVD. The photo above was the moment that Janice realized what the gift was.

Checking out the list of videos on the disk.

Watching the DVD with the family.

Christmas Tree 2009 Final

Our tree for the Christmas Season. We only had one ornament casualty and I don't think that's too bad considering how curious Ben is these days. Ben broke one Mickey Mouse by banging it into another Mickey Mouse. The glass Mickey Mouse didn't stand a chance.

And here are a few of the newest ornaments:

Rosemary's ice cream cone ornament she made with my mom.

My 30th birthday trip celebration ornament.

From the Smith House and our Labor Day camping trip.

From the cruise.

From Janice and Richard's trip to the Smoky's.

Christmas Gifts 2009

It felt a little bit like Santa's workshop exploded in our house the month before Christmas. I'd had grand plans to get all the gifts that I was making for Christmas done over the summer, however, painting the exterior of our house made other projects seem less important at the time so I just kept putting them off. As a result, I stayed pretty busy in December finishing up gifts.

Ezekiel and Ian's travel pillows.

Ezekiel and Ian's crayon rolls.

Rosemary helped me make hot/cold neck wraps for her preschool and ballet teachers.

A Minnie Mouse apron to go with Nikki's Disney cookbook.

Baby Catherine's initial shirt.

Bibs for Catherine.

Emma's photo frame.

Mom's trifle bowl.

Olivia, Breanna, and Sarah's bath wraps.

Mom's burlap table runner.

Janey & Dwayne's Wedding

On December 18, our family headed down to Orlando for our friend Janey's wedding. Janey and I went to high school together and were roommates for 2 years in college. We made it to the ceremony just in the nick of time (thanks to Turnpike lane closures and the rain) but had a wonderful time celebrating with Janey and Dwayne. This was the first wedding the kids attended and I must say, they did a good job. Both were quiet during the ceremony and then antsy later, but they were quiet when it counted!

I took pictures during the ceremony, but absolutely none of them turned out. And I have no photos of Janey and Dwayne. Rosemary took one of me with Janey on her disposable camera so if it turns out, I'll add it to this post once I get those photos developed.

Ben was so fun...and so hungry...and so on the move.

Rosemary was quite excited about going to a wedding. We had prepped her beforehand about what to expect and she absorbed it all. On her note to the bride and groom she had me write, "Happy Birthday." I'm not sure she knows the word "Congratulations" so I think "Happy Birthday" was the closest sentiment she knows that conveyed what she wanted to say.

I don't think I've danced so much at a wedding. Rosemary loved to dance and it was hilarious watching her break it down to Boom Boom Pow.

We spent the night at my parents' house. I'd hoped to get a nice pic of all of us dressed up for the wedding and in the rush and excitement it just didn't happen. At least we got one of Jonathan and me afterwards.