Happy Holi-daze

After seeing Santa on the firetruck driving through our neighborhood, I'm really hoping to see him again. I love the holiday season with all the parties and decorations and singing, not to mention candy canes! My playgroup had our holiday party where all of us kids got to run around crazy-like and enjoy snacks before our gift exchange. It was probably a good thing the community center was empty because we needed all that room, and it was an even better thing that the ornaments on the tree were plastic and unbreakable!

Guess where they found the troublemakers?

I am SOOO good at opening gifts.
Can't wait 'til Christmas!

Mommy and Daddy took me a Sibling class to get ready for JJ. We were supposed to cover topics like jealousy, feeding, and talking about why babies cry. I was probably a little bit too young to fully appreciate the message (it was targeted to 2-5 year olds), but I think use 2-year-olds -- or ALMOST 2-year-olds -- really just enjoyed doing art and watching the video. I did get excited when the teacher pulled out toys to show us what babies play with; I immediately ran over to pass out toys to everyone in the class and was a bit disappointed that we weren't actually supposed to PLAY with them. We got to swaddle our own baby dolls, check out the rooms that Mommy will be staying in, and even see a baby in the nursery.

I enjoyed playing with glue

Daddy helps me with my art project
(a picture of moi for the baby)

Storytime

I am SO ready to become a big sister

I had a "holiday party" at school which was really just a really busy snacktime. I made cookies for the party, and Mommy and Daddy came to join me at school. I am convinced that cookies are a big part of the holiday season.

Making cookies for my class party

What is this?
Oh, yes, all of the kids in the class
running around the room in circles screaming.
It was fun!

Taking a break with Daddy

Mommy has finally broken down and bought me an outdoor Christmas ornament (not a deer though; I'm not a big fan of the deer). I got a snowman that I turn on each evening when I get home from school and got some window decorations that were as much fun putting up as they were taking down and tearing into little pieces. There are also some knick-knacks around the house that I am constantly reminded to look with my eyes, not with my hands.

Me and my snowman

Whoa, it's like stickers for the window!
Luckily I haven't confused the two yet.

Eyes, not hands, eyes, not hands.

Some other random pics:

Smiling my "cheeeeeese!" smile after making (yet more) cookies

This is my smile that I shoot Mommy
anytime she looks at me from the front seat.

Pushing Baby Pooh around the house. Yay for free strollers!

More pics from these events and other days in my December album!

Decem-brrrrrrrrrr!

It sure has been cold around here! We've been keeping ourselves busy inside with lots of fun activities. I've especially enjoyed drumming while Daddy plays his 'tar and building "tow-wers" with my blocks until they fall as make a "mess!"

Posing with my tower in my old costume that I found

Cozying up in front of the TV

We're a real marching band

Headstand?

Adding more ornaments to the Christmas tree
(I helped Mommy decorate it this year!)

Hmmm, a little lumpy.
And where did all my extra blocks go?

Who, me?!
You don't KNOW that *I* poured out all the crayons!

We did venture outside to attend our neigborhood's Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting. I got to see my friends, play with snow, meet a reindeer (which I still swear must be a moose), wave at Santa, listen to some good music, and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. It was way too cold to stay all the way until the tree lighting, so we went to go look at this house near our neighborhood that goes all-out for their Christmas decorations. In fact, during the holidays, the city changes the street to one-way and puts up "no parking" signs so that it doesn't get too congested. I really enjoyed looking in the windows.

SNOW!

Who should I throw this at?

Hmmm ... fun but cold

I licked off all the suger
and left the cookie for Mommy

See-food! Daddy's so proud.

Check out this house!

Does YOUR garage look like this?

I also did my first "allergy challenge". Since I tested positive for egg allergies, Mommy decided to take me to my allergiest to get my H1N1 shot since it has egg protein in it. I had fun making a turkey out of the gloves, but I did NOT enjoy the shot ... either dose! The first shot, I was immediately wary of the nurse and the syringe; the second time he came in the room, I started "boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo!"-ing as soon as he poked his head in the door. Plus, I have to go back in a month to get the other half. Ugh. Good news is that I didn't have any negative reactions to the shot -- which was sort of expected since I haven't had any reactions to shots before -- but it was good to confirm it with my doctor.

PRE-shot (happy)

POST-shot, well one of them (not so happy)

I created my December album if you'd like to visit!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Daddy and Mommy came up to my school the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to share snacktime with me (we're pretty sure it was the school's ploy to get everyone to leave early). :) Afterwards, we went to the park where we ran into ... Sofia!

Friends, siblings, and mommies

Whee!

Giving it a go

On Thanksgiving Day, Mommy had some friends from work come over for our Thanksgiving feast -- Amanda, Katy, and her husband Casey. Shu-Shu and Shen-Shen were supposed to come up with Baby James, but they got the flu instead! Yuck. Mommy and Daddy decided to go the easy way and ordered yummy food from Luby's. Mmmm. After we feasted (well, after everyone else feasted while I took a nap and then woke up during dessert), I got to play with everyone -- including playing golf and football -- while we watched the Cowboys game.

Mommy also took advantage of the pretty weather to try and get a good shot for our annual Christmas card. Of course, afterwards, we had to go visit the ducks. Here are some outtakes, and keep your eyes out for the real thing in the mail!






I had lots of fun with Mommy and Daddy during the long weekend! I think that pretty much wraps up November. See you in December!

Accessorizing and Meeting Santa

Every girl knows how important accessories are to complete the outfit. I definitely have much more opinion on getting dressed these days, hence the beautiful ensembles:

One headband, 4 bows, 2 bracelets and mittens.
What am I missing?

Backpack, headband, bracelets, and slippers. Check!

Knee-high socks (Mommy's), huge bib, and yogurt. Done.

Swimsuit and flower bracelet. Good in any weather.

What is this? Oh, yes, au de grape smeared on my neck.

Sometimes it's not how you accessorize yourself
but how you decorate your food.

A hat, a basket, and a bell. Ready for the holidays!

Even before Thanksgiving was here, we went to visit Santa at the mall. Mommy's been preparing me -- btw, Santa says "ho ... ho .... hoooooo" -- but I still wasn't too terribly keen on meeting the guy. No crying, exactly; we just didn't hit it off right away. However, I am quite excited to see his picture now and want to say hi to Santa all the time.

We're going to see Santa!

Um, Mommy? Daddy?

Mommy is starting to get ready for my baby brother to get here. I'm not quite sure why that involves all MY stuff. Hmph.

I know I never liked this thing before,
but I want to be in it now!

Whaddya mean you're going to start "going through" my old clothes?!

More pics in my November album if you want to check them out.