Christmas Eve with the Kitts/Conns.

Ah.  Christmas Eve.  It was full of many things.  We had decided, long ago, that Christmas Eve would be OUR family day, because we knew the rest of the weekend would be craziness.  So that's what we did, and I'm so glad.  =)  We, of course, put off/were too busy until then to make the Christmas goodies we gave to our family down here.  So, we were super busy running around all day for; last minute ingredients, candles for luminarias, gifts, etc.  Lesson learned, it is wayyy too crazy out there.  We won't be doing that again.

After all the goodies were finished, we got to business--of enjoying our family day.  We set up luminarias together.  Dominic on the roof, I around the driveway and sidewalk, and Kayden on the porch in her new bouncer from Grandma Kreisher for Christmas. =)  It was such a great day out, but started getting a little chilly as we went along, so Kayden got to wear this great hat.

After we got them all set up, we drove around to look at all the lights with our homemade caramel apple cider.  As you can tell, Kayden really payed attention.

Came home to our pretty house.

With our pretty tree.

Kayden finally woke up from her nap, after much anticipation on our parts haha, and opened her first present ever =D  I don't know what she's looking at here, but she was too funny.  All she wanted to do was stuff allllll the wrapping in her mouth.

We got her a cool thing that projects a little movie on the ceiling for when she's going to sleep.  Now that I think about it, I think it's kind of a present to us haha.  (Dominic picked that out, haha.  ;-)  The present I picked out was from Santa.  Just kidding, but seriously.)

I looove these adorable little santa and reindeer pants!

It's your First Christmas?? You don't say...

Dominic...I mean Santa... filled our stockings.  Big bones for the dogs, formula for Kayden, and candy for us. =)

And just a shot of little missy hanging out in her great cradle while we were getting ready for the wild day of Christmas.

Christmas Eve was great.  We decided that we are going to make it a tradition to hang out all day together, look at lights, and open our family presents together on Christmas Eve.  We also are planning on giving her an ornament each year, and when she moves out she will have her own collection started.  =D  This year her ornament is her own "handprint" that we tried to make, but turned out more as a blob. She tried to grab the ornament instead of stamp her hand, but it was hilarious.  And I think is even better than if she had really stamped it haha.  We went to get family photos taken together, and more pictures of her (duh.), but some family members haven't gotten theirs in the mail yet (haha sorry. i'm a slacker, i know.) so I'll have to wait to post those. =)

I love that I have my own family now, and we can choose anything and everything.  We can choose our traditions, our plans, our outfits for family pictures ;-).  It's great.  I am so glad and grateful I have my great little family (including the dogs) and we could all spend Christmas Eve together as a family.  I hope we have many more of these.

Rolley Polley Olley.

 Ohhh no!  I'm in for trouble!  Chickadee can roll over.  And boy does she love to do it.  However, she does not enjoy the aftermath of being stuck on her belly.  She's rolled over a few random times lately, but yesterday was the first time I've seen her do it again, and again, and again.

Reeeeeeach.

Getting closer.

So close.

Getting it.

Hey drool face you made it!! =D

Kayden loves the dogs.  She loves to yank their ears.  And watch them wrestle.

Big 'ol kiss! =)

And the dogs love her.  Here is Dozer laying next to her this morning.  They go where ever she goes.  Never out of their sight.

Daddy reading Kayden a story lady night.  =)  I love this picture, and this precious moment.  Aunt Chris got Kayden this great book for Christmas, that I remember reading as a child with my mom.  I love that Dominic jumped right in and started reading to her =).

"I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living

my baby you'll be."

And I'll throw these two spoiled goof-balls in just for the heck of it.

And little missy almost standing ;-) (She's leaning against the couch, and Dominic is about to catch her, but hey, it was fun.)

And just a little video of her the other day.  It's not the best because she notices the camera and doesn't do what she was really doing.  But often, when I put her down for a nap, she'll just smiiiiiile, and taaaaaalk to me.  It's the CUTEST thing, and I have such a hard time leaving her for her to go to sleep, but I know that if she gets too tired, it'll be worse.  She's so sweet though, she just lights up. =)

Oh my goodness, today we were just hanging out on the bed.  I was giving her kisses on her neck and she was CRACKING up.  Soo much.  For like 20 minutes she cracked up.  It was the funniest thing.  Wish I could have gotten a video of that!

We've just been busy getting Christmas presents and goodies finished, and wrapped.  I ordered a couple packages online this year, and they somehow got shipped to my old address.  So I've been chasing those down all week, and finally picked them up at FedEx last night, after about 7 hours of 1-800 number calling, and going back and forth because the place I ordered it from said FedEx already had the package and I must go through them, and FedEx said they could not put an address change or hold on the package because the company forbid it.  I got it all worked out, and went to pick them up last night and the guy almost gave me the wrong package!!  Luckily, I knew it wasn't the right shape, but good lord-crazy guy.  Anyway, back and forth, back and forth.  I got my packages.  Whew.  So yup, this week has pretty much been craft finishing, card writing, goodie baking, packing tracking, present wrapping, luminaria folding (my first time, its crazy I tell ya), birthday celebrating, and soon...Christmas celebrating.  Busy week, hopefully I will get more chances to update.  If not...

Merry Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays.  Hope everyone has a great, yummy, happy, warm, enjoyable day, where ever you are, what ever you're doing!

-Xoxo-

Dominic, Kayla & Kayden.

I love Christmas Time.

Kayden met Santa!  We went to the mall to let her meet him and take pictures yesterday.  In the end, it turned out very fun, and I'm so glad we did it.  It was worth it.  I must admit though, I had a little melt-down.  I don't know why, but I just can't handle all that craziness.  Well, I guess I probably do know why: after an hour and a half of all the people, the noise, the toys from the kiosk's running over my feet, the family behind us wrestling and hitting me constantly, the rude employees.  Not to mention while we were trying to change Kayden she pee'd all over 1. herself 2. my jacket and 3. the stroller.  She also needed to be fed right when we got to the part in the line that is hard to get out of.  Anyways, with all that and more going on, I feel claustrophobic, like I need to get out of there...asap.  Lol.  But we made it through it, and now have pictures to prove it! =D  I tried to take a couple with my camera from underneath the picture lady, and only got a couple before it died.

At allllmost the front of the line, we found this cool mirror.  Why they don't have them all through-out the line, I do not understand.  She got a kick out of it though, for the 1 minute we got to stand in front of it.  We got a kick out of it too. ;-)

I think this is such an adorably cute scrunched-nose face =)  She was looking at somebody, and liked what she saw ;-)

Today I did my first attempt at home-made sugar cookies, with home-made frosting.  =)  This morning Dominic had a football game (the Championship game, which he won ;-) GOOD JOB babe, I'm proud of you.), and Kayden was asleep so I thought it'd be a good time to try.  I enjoy baking goodies to take to Grandpa and Grandma Kitts.  During football season, they always have open house kind of things on Sunday's.  No pressure to make it, no specific time.  It's great.  We come over when we get going (which is really nice, at the fact that every day is different for us, and it's hard to get going), and chow down on some great food.  (They always have something that people can eat all day; sandwiches, pizza, stew, burgers, etc.)  And even better, at least one person is usually excited about the treats I bring over...makes it totally worth it.  Anyway, I'm partially satisfied with these...I messed up on a few, and rushed on most.  But not to shabby for my first try I'd say...

In her baby bath she has a slant thing that she lays down on, that keeps her head above water.  Lately, she's been acting like she's dying to be sitting up in her bath.  Yesterday we were giving her one, and let her sit up and this is what she did. =)  I love it, she looks like she's lounging.  =D

Playing with her little Santa Duck. =)

 And this face, just cause it's cuuuute!  It's from my phone, so not the best.  But I like it.  I'm pretty sure this is when Dozer was licking her hand, and she's looking at me like, "Hmm, I'm not too sure about this Mom.  He's so slobbery."  I told her, "Kid, welcome to my life.  That's how I feel about you." ;-)  Juuuuust Kidding.

Oh, I remembered what I was going to write on here the other day.  Last week I had just fed Kayden and was burping her, when she spit up.  A ton.  It dripped down her, me, the couch, and the floor.  I was trying to readjust Kayden so I could clean it up, when along comes Dozer.  Sweet little thing rescued me from having to clean...and licked up alllll of her spit up.  That is so disgusting.  But I found it hilarious!!  I don't know why, but I cracked up, the entire time he licked it up.  Just the way he puts his head into I guess, as if it's soo delicious.

Kayden has been loving her toys.  She really loves her standing up one, so she can bounce.  She loooves to hold her head up, and tries to hold it up while she's in her car seat.  She likes to practice to stand too.  But most of all I think she loves when Daddy throws her up and catches her, and plays airplane, and "the sprinkler dance", and "up to the sky, down to the ground", and all kinds of stuff. =)

He's a great one. So is she.

 Just a few quick ones from my phone lately.  Don't have any new one's on the camera yet, since I did the world's longest blog yesterday.  Just a few of her playing with toys.. as that is what she is usually doing if she's not sleeping or eating.  =)  She absolutely loves this frog.  Her face lights up every time.  It is connected to those little hook things, that allow you to move toys to hook onto pretty much anything.  (Totally amazing).  I hook them on her toy for the floor, her car seat, the top cabinets and put her in her bumbo when I'm cleaning the kitchen and they dangle.  I put them all over, anyway, they get moved around, so when lil froggy comes into sight from where ever it was last, she is very excited! =)

When we went Christmas Tree Shopping, we thought it was going to be freezing, so we tried to put her in this.  She quickly got frustrated because it was so hot while we were still in the house, trying to get her in her car seat.  We ended up taking her out of it because her car seat had this padding this-for when she was a newborn- to help support her head.  I finally took that out of the car seat the other day, so we'll have to try this cool little baggy thing again.  I had to take a quick picture with my phone before we took her out of it though.  Too cute!!  I want to go some where freezing just so we can really use this.  I love how I caught her looking up at him too.  That look she does is precious.

This was a couple weeks ago, watching educational YouTube.com Videos =).  

And this little cutie.  I just had to put this one up to help myself remember just how sweet, and handy, and amazing he is.  He even is smiling when he's doing things that I know aren't his favorite, but he does it.  =)  Up on the roof doing one of the million things he has to do on the roof.  (We've had a LOT of issues with the roof lately, not to mention getting the cooler ready for summer (when I was a crazy hot preggo lady), and getting the cooler ready for winter.  This guys is such a trooper.  Gotta love him! =) )

I've been in a mood of admiration towards him lately.  I don't know if that's the right word exactly...but I just think he's incredible.  I feel like we just started dating again for some reason.  He makes me so giggly, and silly.  Anyways, the story I am getting to, that is another one to add to the list, just happened today.  It's Friday, it's been a busy day for both of us.  A busy week, month, year.  Anyways, Kayden was in quite the mood.  Quite the horrific mood.  To say the least.  He was being so patient (as always) and trying to put her down (for a looong time--she was being very difficult).  I had just been sitting in the living room, doing...nothing particular.  Enjoying the quiet finally, I suppose.  And he came out, relieved, and then suddenly...embarrassed.  He quickly looked for the monitor and sheepishly asked, "Were you listening to me??"  Right away I knew; I wished I had been.  I asked what he was up to? (That silly goose is usually up to something, I've learned this.)  He replied with a big 'ol smile, "I was singing to her. =D" And without me even having to ask...he broke out in example.  "You are my sunshiiine, my little sunshiiine..."  Boy I love this guy =).  I am so lucky to have him as the father of my daughter.

Once again, I had something else I was going to write about but now I've forgotten.  We've decided we're starting a new tradition.  (We were reading a list of them, and picked this one)  That each year we will get little missy a special ornament and jammies.  I think it should work out well =) because we will be having family day on Christmas Eve.  "She" will open her jammies on Christmas Eve evening, put them on, and put her ornament on the tree.  This will hopefully happen every year, and when she moves out she'll have her own collection to start her tree with. =)  I think it's a cute idea.  That and that when we have more little kiddos, I think it's a fun idea to have them all sleep in the same room on Christmas Eve, and they must complete the puzzle we give them before they can wake us up for presents. =) (I'm getting the 5000 pieces, I don't care if they're only 4.  Haha, juuuust kidding.)  I am very excited to start having these family traditions, and fond memories.  I hope the kids think they are fond memories.  I suppose time will tell...

Family trip to River of Lights.

Oy freakin vey.  I have a hard time starting posts.  I feel like I will get interrupted...or something else comes up.  Anyway.  I have like a zillion pictures to post so here it goes.

We went to the River of Lights this weekend.  It is so cool.  But soo packed.  So tricky with a stroller, thank goodness Dominic is so patient.  We went and got hot chocolate =) but it was gone by the time we got through traffic.  We parked, and rode the little train that goes between the zoo and aquarium and botanical gardens.  Kayden's first train.  That was fun.  It was freezing so we had to bundle her up, and I of course, had to take a million pictures of her sucking on her fluffy glove.  She would suck on it and then realize that it in fact was not her fist, but a floof of fur, and make the funniest faces.

What are we doing mom??

Here's just some of the chickadee playing with her toys.  She's a crack up these days.

She has to have a little blanket folded up underneath so she can reach to bounce.  She loves this thing.  It makes lights and noise, and is very entertaining =)

I really wonder how I will feel when I look back and read these in the later years.  Anyway.  Here's a couple "samples" of the awesome ornaments that Dominic's mom made.  Sadly, many are wounded, and I am on repair duty.  I need to get on that.  They are too cool.

 

And our tree topper/angel.  In loving memory.  (I wish I had met her, but I hear a lot a great things about her)

And our little family trio of snowmen.  I love them.

We also have all the other home-made ornaments from my room-mate days with Carol, from Grandma's, from friends, from all over.  I just thought, I need to take a picture of the whole tree!  Silly me!  Probably on Christmas.  We have decided we're staying here for Christmas (sorry Colorado family).  Dominic was a trooper and traveled to Colorado for Thanksgiving.  It was his first holiday away from his family and I know it was really hard on him.  (I saw those tears filling up your eyes when you said you missed them babe.)  I couldn't do it to him two holidays in a row.  He was trying to be a trooper again, in planning traveling again, figuring out what we're doing, brainstorming ways to make it all work.  (Dominic's dad's bday is on the 23rd, and Annette's is on the 24th, so it adds to the calender as well.)  He is so sweet, and always tries to make sure I'm happy.  But I know that it was hard.  And he compromised with me about Thanksgiving, so I can compromise with him on this one.  I also want to have our own family time, as our new family.  We've decided we are going to have our own little family time on Christmas eve.  All day.  =)  I can't wait.  

 Cool, now that all the ornaments are documented.  Haha.  This past weekend we enjoyed a rare moment of everybody in the bed.  Every body.  Literally.  Usually Dominic is ready and rearing to go, or Kayden is hungry, or ready to be changed, or the dogs need to go potty, or we have somewhere to go so we've gotta get showers, or...something.  So I love the moments when we can just hang out in bed.

Ohh the puppy!  She loves to grab and yank on them right now.

 Got her! =) Riley is so pretty.  And sweet.

I took this last week I think.  She is 1. SITTING THERE BY HERSELF! and not toppling over.

And 2.  She looks tiny on that big 'ol couch, and adorable.

This is a craft I did for Dominic.  Each day of December has a love note, a service (backrubs, etc), or a date (River of Lights, Christmas movie night, Christmas Light tour (driving around w/ hot chocolate as a family) etc.)  I took a picture of it because a blog that I follow was accepting pictures of Christmas Crafts as an entry to a contest.  Unfortunately I freakin missed the time.  Oh well.  We also have a ribbon of cards that have been sent to us.  I love it.  (Thank you those that have sent us cards and presents!!  I will try my hardest on Thank Yous, but right now I am focused on Christmas cards, and getting pictures out, so know that I am thankful.  Thank you.)

Our family stockings.  =)  I love the look of this, and the sound of that.  I used left over glitter glue from last year and didn't have enough, so used silver and blue for the dogs', and I'm not very fond of them.  I'll have to make new one's next year.  Also, if we ever have anymore kids, we'll have to venture out of Walmart apparently for a different design.  We now have them all.  Dominic said they need to make a reindeer or something.  How can they only have three designs? ;-)

Uncle Chris came over last night for tacos.  I was taking pictures, as usual.  Dominic told him to "pinch her cheeks a little so she'll smile".  This is what we got.  HAHA!

This little guy.  Ohhhh, this guy.  He's a rascal.  The picture is bad because I had to zoom so much.  But anyways, this little fellow terrorizes the dogs.  Every single day he comes up to the neighbors roof that is right outside the living room window and has a staring contest with the dogs.  They hate him so much.  He knows what he's doing.  And what he's doing is making my life more loud lol.

Kayden is about to wake up from a nap, I have a feeling.  The dogs have been sleeping in her room with her.  They follow her everywhere.  She is getting really good at sitting up, not quite there though.  We took pictures this past Sunday, and she is freakin adorable.  I can't post them yet though, because last time I posted them right away, and no one was even excited when I gave them the actual picture.  So build up the anticipation people.  You won't get a picture until you're dying to have one this time suckers.  ;-)  I've been working on all my projects, and Christmas presents still.  I do this to myself every year.  I can't believe Christmas is only 10 days away!  And the year is almost over.  That is so crazy.  2011!

Dominic is at work and has a football game later tonite so we are just hanging out in our pjs today.  It's super gloomy and rainy out.  Gross.  I stay inside if I have the choice.  And I do today.  So that is what we will do.  I'm working on starting a new blog, about my traveling, so I can make it into a book, and just have it all put together to remember them.  I will try my hardest not to let it put a damper on this blog.  I may need to start another one just as a journal ... sometimes I catch myself typing things on this blog that probably shouldn't be on this blog.  I am getting very stressed and bothered by all the hands pulling my arms in opposite directions.  Especially with the holidays.  We will, obviously, try our hardest to make everybody happy.  But this year, I am determined to make our family happy first.  Kayden, Dominic, and me.  It's a lot to handle, a lot of pressure.  Hopefully the holidays will go over smoothly.  If not, next year we will go to Costa Rica and dissapear.  ;-)  But seriously.  Not sure what else there is to update... I'm having writers block.  

Toodles.