Christmas

Did we tell you the xmas tree fiasco?  We decided to go BIG since this was the first Christmas in our new home and we were ecstatic to have enough room to fit a tree larger than 3ft.  Picture a scene right out of "A Christmas Story" (the one where the kid gets bundled up so much that he can't put his arms down).  In our case, it was Cali awaking from a nap that wasn't long enough followed by being immediately shoved into too many layers and squooshed into a car seat....we only got to the end of the subdivision before we had to turn back due to our screaming toddler.  On our second attempt, we got lost, I had a coughing fit, and by the time we arrived it was almost dark.  The owner took us on a 4wheeler into the boonies where we were supposed to look at a 30ft tree from the ground and decide if the top 10ft looked good enough for him to cut down.  On the way home, our tree fell OFF my dad's trailer and we proceeded to RUN IT OVER.  When we got it home, we then had to use all our might to shove it through the sliding door and then attempt to get it in the tree stand and decorate it with a large ladder.  But don't you just LOVE real trees! :)

 This year we had a xmas cookie making day with both of our families.  Cali is more excited here by uncle Nick being goofy than the cookies, but she had lots of fun decorating for the first time.  She couldn't quite figure out how to shake the sprinkles on without jamming the shaker into the frosting each time though.  We had some PRETTY cookies this year!

 We saw this face quite a few times xmas morning!

 Baby's second xmas

 Cousins.  I'm guessing these boys are going to get my little one in some trouble in the next few years....

 The Kinsey annual cookie contest:  do you think we made enough?  The winners this year:  Dylan, Brooke, and my dad

 Kinsey xmas at Bill and Al's house

Grammie and Cali doing the newest dance move--the fist punch

I've Taught Myself to Type (although I can barely say my ABC's)...

....incredible, I know!

So here's the story.

My mommy and daddy brought me to my great-grandma's house on the lake for the Kinsey family New Year's Eve holiday weekend -- a mouth full, to say the least. Anyway, I got to hang out with my cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and a bunch of other people who were all so very nice to me. We did all sorts of cool things like puzzles, read books, took naps, drank milk, had our diapers changed, ate a bunch of good food, and a bunch of outdoorsy stuff. We went on a long magical walk where 1/58th of the trip I was in a mommy-drawn sled and the rest of the time my sherpas carried me. I was sure glad when we got to the destination, a bar, where I could relax and have a drink. All in all, it was a fun trip. What can I say, people love me!

Oh, you were serious...you are going to pull me...in this THING?

Okay, we're moving...

It's getting pretty fast...

Hold on tight...but seriously folks, I liked it. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Can you believe they carried me the entire way like this?

Me and my pops chillin' on the ice. My first time playing hockey. Aren't we cute?

And then there's these guys

The whole family, including me in the middle, on New Years Eve!

Our Angel

The perfect mix of John and I....our brown-eyed blonde.  

White Christmas!

Today, according to the local weather man, we can expect up to 2-inches of snow. This made Cheyenne a very happy "little" girl because she can now have a white Christmas. For Cali though, this meant putting on about 15 layers of clothing (boots, socks, tights, pants, overall snow pants, shirt, fleece liner, coat, hat, and mittens--not in that order...that would be absurd) because we took her outside to play in the frosty white fun.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

SANTA

Not too sure how we got 2 months behind again....oh yeah, we became home owners...but here's a little something to keep you going until we get one of our notoriously long catch-up entries posted.

We were slightly hopeful for Cali's meeting with Santa due to her super excited reaction to any blow-up Santa or figurine of him, etc.  However, this is the first of 20 shots the photographer took--and this is the ONLY one where she's not reaching for mama or crying :)  Daddy wanted her to wear the Packer jersey she had on that day for the picture, but mommy made her put this girly dress on...and how adorable is she!?  I can't believe how big she is.  Look how much she's grown in the last year!  And I think I know why she was smiling last year and was quick to escape this year--compare the 2 Santas!!

Catch up-Part 2

Fall family photo

Daddy and Cali

Pumpkin mid-flight as Cali pushes it off the edge

At church for cousin Brody's baptism.  Can't get enough of this baby face!

 Sharing the window with cousin Parker--squealing at the puppies outside

 Cousin Brody pooped after an exciting day

 Random photo--this was the out of control bonfire we had with the Kinsey fam at the lake one night.  A friendly police officer payed us a visit--luckily, right after we finished hosing it down enough to save the tree next to it.

 The rocking horse my dad made me when I turned one--refurbished for Cali.

The Elegant Farmer!  Can't wait to live across the street from this place.

 A hayride

 A super big rocking horse!

Apple picking

 Mmmm...and not nearly as messy as the strawberry picking we did this summer.

Cali climbed right up this ladder

 The rare photo of the 2 of us :)

 Sportin' the shades

 Awww...

Catch up again

 The first of two installments of me trying to play catch up... And I skipped 2 major events this summer--our trip to CA for Kristen's wedding and Disneyland, and my UWP reunion (those pics are on my facebook page).  And these are in no particular order...hey, you're lucky i even got going on this again :)

Mommy finally bought Cali a rocker.  Don't get to rock her to sleep in it, but we can snuggle and read.  

Grammie's rocker.  Cali is thrilled after realizing she can crawl up there on her own!  Then she gets it going and says "Raa Raa" (misses the second syllable of most words)

Mom, this rock is HEAVY! 

Riding on the train at the zoo with Daddy's work friends for Zoo A La Carte

The Fall Festival up north--Cali disappointed her ball didn't reach the pins...

but super excited to find this treasure at the rummage stand!

Meeting cousin Brody for the first time.  After frantically trying to crawl over him and get into mommy's lap at first, she finally decided she would share mommy and kiss the baby.

Mommy's UWP friends and their babies

Here's Cali about to tell you what a cow says at the WI State Fair

Driving the boat with Grandpa

Cali's first official fort

Cali going down the slide by herself!

Pulling pony all around the house

 Does this go around your neck mommy?

 Cali's response to "Ready to go Bu-bye?"--she grabs my purse and heads for the door.

 Sandbox fun with Grammie

One of Cali's favorite activities--picking "tatos" with Grammie.  Then she eats the small end and throws the rest.

 Look Uncle Dylan--the leaves are changing colors!

 Doesn't she look so tiny here??!  The backyard is the one time she could care less where Mommy is--she's off on an adventure.

A nature walk