Our Christmas.

Christmas Eve we decided we would open 1 present each ... they were so excited!

 

Lol I don't know where she learned this look, but boy is she sure good at it. 

But she quickly changed back to super happy about her new Bills pillow pet from daddy =).

The next morning we opened the rest, before everyone came over for the open house.

Daddy's work desk calendar =)  She loves to look at pictures of all of us right now.  We have lots of frames up around the house and she'll pull us over and point and point until we get her close so she can admire.  =)

This Christmas we decided to stay home, and have lots of family time.  We invited everyone over on Christmas afternoon & were so thankful that so many people were able to come.  It was great to hang out at home and let Kayden roam, and show everyone how hard we've been working on our house.

Christmas Eve was spend preparing a lot of stuff, baking, cleaning, organizing, along with all the norm that has to get done - nap time, food, etc ;-).  I kind of still feel like it didn't really happen; like we didn't really have people over.  It just all went so fast.  So much planning, shopping, cooking, cleaning went into it, and then whop - all in 3 hours, it's all done.  But it was great - to get to host our first Christmas! =)  Sadly, I didn't get many pictures - so if anyone did get others, I would love for you to email them to me!! <3  Thanks! =D

After party ;-)

white elephant & birthdays.

Annette's family plays white elephant every year - here's some of that..

Kayden had a blast, watching everyone running around stealing presents ;-)

And I couldn't leave with out taking some pictures of those adorable puppies!

"Tag Dad!"

Gma & Gpa's Birthday =).  I love little munchkin in this!

December randoms.

Her little scrunched up nose is the best!

She loves her room these days.  She likes to grab our finger and drag us in there.  Sometime's she happy with that, but usually she wants us to sit on her little rug, no where else.  ;-)  Once in awhile she'll just go in there though, happily and content, by herself to play.

I love how she squats..

But as soon as she notices me, she wants to show me all her "cool stuff" in her room ... like the diaper pail. Really cool Kayden ... I wouldn't breath in if I were you lol.

In December, our friends Emily & Molly graduated from UNM, so we were able to get a sitter and go celebrate for the night.  This is that =)  Love that handsome guy!

Tree fun.

Ah man.  As I put these pictures up, I just laugh.  Putting up the tree was SO much fun this year!  We totally procrastinated... it seemed like our whole mo-jo was mixed up this year, cause of our super busy November I guess .. and all the holiday things got lost in the jumble.  Anyways, we finally got our Christmas stuff out and put up the tree, we had to after all, we were hosting Christmas!  (I can't believe we didn't do lights OR luminarias!!  Or our awesome snowflakes for the window or the snow in the windows, or our super cool Santa&pups blow up!  Especially that everyone was coming over.  Time just flew by.  Sad!  I'll have to show you all those next year, and hopefully our front yard is more gorgeous!  baha!  We decided we're just acting like it didn't happen .. the tradition lives on!! lol! =D)

Kayden was SO excited about the Christmas bin of goodies!  So many shiny, sparkly, cute, fun, squishy things!  Now that I'm writing this, I'm remembering that I don't think I took any pictures of her with the "Christmas Toys" .. which is sad .. but omg she loved those things!  We somehow got a collection of fun, christmas stuffed and some singing -"animals" from all over the family this year...and she had a hey-day!  Singing friends; Rowdy Reindeer, Tippy Tree & Snowman-Pup Duo, lit up her face when they would sing.  And Penguin Buddy is the exact right size for Kayden to carry around as her buddy.  Hilarious.  These would end up in the most random places around the house, and let me tell you, they aren't quiet; to try to carry back to their "place" after the girl goes to bed with all those jingle bells!!  

Anywho - back to the tree!  We had a blast setting this up =)

"See munchkin, put it on the tree like this..."

Lots of fun little gadgets to tinker with from the box .. pipe-cleaners and such ;-)

"SO FUN!"

She was helpful for a couple minutes ... 

Hahaha - this little sequence will forever (I hope!) make me laugh!  I can remember her lauuuuughter as she pulled on those, thinking she had Daddy on a leash, while he's oblivious with his back turned as she starts.  I saw the whole thing coming, but no way was I going to stop this hilarious photo-op!  =D

She was such a blast this year.  Multiple times daily, she would want to go and just sit on the dining room rug and stare up at the tree.  "Ohhhhhh", she would say.  So cute!  She would get up real close and examine the ornaments and occasionally try to take them off.  But generally, just wanted to look and enjoy =).  After Christmas we left her new toys in there for a few days so she could have the best of both worlds; tree & toys!!  =)  She's so cute and so fun.  I can't believe by next Christmas she'll already be two!! =(  

No baby, don't ever grow up! 

<3