Christmas Time....

Finally!!! It is 53 degrees outside and I am writing about Christmas! What is wrong with this picture?? Oh well, can;t wait for the 20 inches of snow that we will probably get in March!

We had a lovely Christmas holiday surrounded by most of our family (missed the Patterson side!!!) and best of all, Emma got to wake up Christmas morning in our new house (we were excited about that tradition starting:))

On Christmas Eve we had my mom and Denny over, and my Dad and Jackie (as they had arrived at our house, to stay, in our guest bed room, with a real bed!), for our tradition crab leg dinner. Below is Denny holding little/big Olive

Papa Jim, ever the good sport, letting Emma pretend to cut his hair! Notice the Fancy Nancy blanket - I MADE it for Emma! And, I made a matching one for Olive, and for Emma's new American Girl Doll that Santa brought. Thanks to my mom or I never would have accomplished the blankets (well, almost accomplished as they still aren't finished on the one side!).

CRAB LEGS!!!!

Emma took such a long hard nap during the day on Christmas Eve that when she woke up she thought it was morning, so wanted to some PJ's on to go downstairs:)

Emma and Daddy putting food out on the lawn for Santa's Reindeer - a cute idea that my mom brought for Emma

The whole fam-damily!

Emma Christmas morning at 6am... holding the present that she was CERTAIN was the American Girl Doll she asked Santa for - LOVE that smile!

Patiently listening to the letter Santa wrote back to her. The night before she "accidentally" tore open a gift and saw what it was, and was VERY disappointed that she found out! From then on she realized she really didn't want to know what was inside ahead of time (good lesson learned!).

One of two mid-air shots we got of Emma! The joy of Christmas morning with a young child cannot be matched.

Everyone was a wore out from the early morning rise and all of the excitement that came with opening gifts - Papa Jim and Olive sound asleep.

Emma with Nana Jackie and the Easy Bake Oven they got for her. Looks a little different than when I had on all those years ago!

This one is actually from Christmas dinner, the girls in matching outfits, and Emma's new doll and horse (yes, she is spoiled, I know - talk to her dad!!!).

Second mid-air shot from when she unwrapped the horse!

Emma runs like a heater, just like her Dad, and often it is just easier to take the top off. Wonder how long we'll get away with that? This is her, after Christmas dinner, opening a few more gifts.

We had Christmas at my Mom's house on Monday, arriving about 9:30 to open stocking and have brunch. My mom made matching hats for Emma and Olive - CUTE!

Olive and Grandma Loerch

Daddy and Olive

This fall Emma told both Elliott and my mom that she wanted a locket (a la Ramona and Beezus, I think) so that when I died she could put my picture in it!!! Well, thankfully I am still alive and she got a locket from Grandma Loerch that has my, El, her, and Olive all in it!!! She was THRILLED and said, "I was dreaming of getting this!!!!"

The grand kids, all in hats my mom made for them. Emma, Landon and Olive... We were LUCKY to even get this picture! Poor Landon (we found out two days later) had a double ear infection AND Roseola (fever followed by rash), and did not nap at all that day!!! Becca and Chris were troopers:)

Hope everyone had a happy holiday... And a joyful New Year!

More to come... I must get caught up!

Love to all...