Happy 2011 everyone!!! This will likely be our last update as a family of three...kind of crazy to think about the fact that next Christmas the baby that we haven't even met yet will be almost one year old. We had a wonderful and relaxing week between Christmas and New Years, which is exactly what we all needed. Autumn was in need of some quality time with Mommy and Daddy and she definitely got it. We had such an awesome week hanging out with her and we felt like the old Autumn was back. We know things will get busy again soon, which made the time with her even more special.
Our families were great about traveling our way this year since we weren't able to leave town. Nick's family came down the weekend before Christmas, and we celebrated Christmas with my family New Years weekend. As always Autumn was totally spoiled by both families with lots of cool gifts! Christmas weekend was just the three of us. It was a little weird to not be with family for the first time ever, but it was nice to spend the weekend in our pajamas. Autumn was more into Santa this year and was excited to see that he ate the cookies and drank the milk that we left for him. At first she was concerned that someone else had eaten them and she thought we should leave more out for him Christmas morning, but once she saw that he had left gifts she realized he was the one who ate them :).
New Years was pretty low key too. We had a crazy night at home making chocolate fondue and drinking sparkling grape juice at midnight. I know, you're all jealous.
Enjoy the pics and hopefully next time you hear from us we will be introducing a new member to the family!
Here's Autumn in her Christmas dress. It was a pretty hilarious scene at my sisters house trying to get the kids dressed. Autumn was crying because she didn't want to wear a dress, Maddie was crying because Shannon had her try Autumn's dress on as an attempt to get Autumn to wear it and then Maddie did NOT want to take it off, and Brian was dressing Jacob and hiked his pants up so high he looked like Urkel! Eventually we got the dress on by telling Autumn that we were going to Jesus' birthday party and you had to wear a dress to get in.
I can't believe how grown up she looks in it!!
...checking out her new ornament for this year
Autumn and Nick have read through her "Twas the Night Before Christmas" book every night for the past few weeks. She thinks it's the coolest thing ever because Grandma and Grandpa Church and Latta all recorded themselves reading it, so it's like they are there to read her a book every night. I have a feeling we'll be reading it well into February.
Okay, a few things about this picture:
1. We are all wearing handbands as demanded by Autumn. There was no taking them off that day. Lucky for Nick he got the blue one, but Rog doesn't look too shabby in yellow either!
2. Please note my parents' sweatshirts...that's right, they pulled out the ol' puffy painted Christmas sweatshirts that my sister and I made for them...in 1990!! Personally I'm impressed that they still fit!
Santa brought Autumn a pack-n-play, stroller, bouncer, etc for her baby dolls. She then discovered that she fits into it too and spent most of Christmas weekend eating snacks and watching tv in it. Autumn and Macy became pretty good buddies over Christmas break too.
Decorating Christmas cookies...a two year old with a container of sprinkles is a recipe for disaster!
Hanging out with cousin Brady on their new snowboogie boards from G&G Church!
Amazing how pulling out the Mickey Mouse chairs can get three kids to sit down and smile all together!
