Happy 2009!

Before Christmas Eve dinner...

Nate and Kate

Mom and Nate

The tree...

Treats for Santa...

Christmas Eve Bedtime Story (classic)

Grampy reading to Nate and Kate just before Santa comes!

Christmas morning opening my first present-- Elmo

Christmas day at Grandma and Grandpa's house with cousin Gabrielle

Have you seen my new Bike?! It's from Uncle Mike and Aunt Heidi

I can't wait to ride it this summer

Grandma, Aunt Elaine, Rebecca, Justin, and Kim


Happy New Year! This has been one of the best years I can remember. Our New Year's Eve last night was so different than last year. To ring in 08', we spent the day strolling the streets of Antigua, eating Pollo Campero, and listenting to fireworks and music until 6am! Of course, we didn' intend to hear the music ALL night long. This year we went to Walmart, made a yummy dinner, watched Sprout TV and went to bed early! Just what the doctor ordered...

We had many milestones this year...too many to list them all. We came home (which is probably our biggest!!), we celebrated our first birthday, we started school, we took our first steps, we cut our first teeth, we spoke our first words, and we had our first Christmas together! We are hopeful that this year will hold just as many 'firsts' and even more memories.

I can't say enough how much Nate loved Christmas. He really liked to hand out the gifts and open presents that didn't even belong to him. He got a little fussy on Christmas Eve...he was just getting over an ear infection and we discovered his molars were coming through! He has been such a good sport in welcoming their arrival...but his little hands are constantly in his mouth, and it may be another week before any ground is broken.

We enjoyed all 4 of our Christmas'. We spent Christmas day with Grandma and Grandpa H and Aunts and Uncles and cousins. We had a great time (except Rich got a 24 hr virus of some sort!). The day after Christmas we spent with Grampy and Juanita and Kate and Aunt Momo and Uncle Alan, and Aunt Joanne and Gram. The kids favorites were Dora's house and the baby and carriage. Yes, that's right, Nate LOVED Kate's Baby and carriage the best. He pushed it around like he was on a very serious mission. He also loved all his blocks and his new Elmo doll. On Monday, we exchanged gifts with Nannie and Bud, and Nate loved all his matchbox cars (yes, this little boy was SPOILED!!). Finally, this morning, we did our Christmas at home. It was very small considering all that was done already, but it was so nice and refreshing to be at home relaxing in front of the fire.

Nate will return to school on Wednesday and life should go back to normal soon. It has been so hectic and I think he now expects presents when he wakes up every morning...he'll have to wait until his Birthday in May. :-)

Pics are above from our week of Christmas traveling. I have more to post once I get them all downloaded in the days to come.

Best wishes to all for peaceful and healthy New Year!