Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Christmas Festivities

Okay, I know this is starting to feel delayed, but at least it is not New Years yet. Also, this is the second time I have written this post. I finished with it the first time and blogger lost more than half of it...so, here I go again. :)

This year we had a lot of changes in our Christmas celebration. Usually we spend Christmas Eve with Mom, my sisters and their families and Christmas with the Sanderson extended family. Neither of those happened this year (at least, not on Christmas Eve or Christmas). Also, our original plan was to go down to Dayton on the day after Christmas for the Lewis family Christmas. However, this did not happen because of Jeromy's work schedule. So, here is what really happened.

We ended up celebrating the Lewis Family Christmas on Sunday, December 13th. Garnetta and Jamie came to Toledo and stayed until Tuesday. It was nice to see them and we had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas. Unfortunately, I did not get any pictures of this celebration.

The Sanderson Family Christmas was held on Sunday, December 20th. As usual, we had a wonderful time with all the family. There was a $10 gift exchange for the kids (we drew names on Thanksgiving) and a white elephant exchange for the adults. It was a lot of fun! However, once again, I did not get any pictures of this event.

We spent Christmas Eve with my Mom. After Abigail's (and Jeromy's) nap we went out to lunch (no where special, just McDonald's) and then to the Children's Wonderland at the Erie Street Market. It is usually held at the Lucas County Rec Center, but due to "wonderful" decisions made by the Lucas County Commissioners we almost didn't have it this year. Luckily, a group of people got together and put up a smaller version of it. It wasn't nice as previous years and not nearly as large. It would have made it worth it though if Abigail would have been into it. Instead she just pushed her stroller around the whole time. There were a few things she liked and I did get some pictures of her looking at them.




This clown thing was Abigail's favorite thing at Children's Wonderland. She kept coming back to it.




After Children's Wonderland we went home to rest and I began preparing the little dinner we would have after church. This year our church service was at 5:00. Usually it is at 10:00 p.m. which is too close to my bedtime and I am usually very sleeping. It was a very nice service. Afterwards, we returned to our house where we ate dinner (sloppy joes and other such stuff) and played Phase 10 (even Mom played!)

Christmas morning was very exciting! Abigail really got into it!

Here is our tree before the opening of presents began (notice how there are no ornaments below a certain point):


Abigail amazed by the tree:


Abigail even helped open her presents. She opened every single one (with a little help from Mommy and Daddy, of course)


All present opening stopped for a moment when she saw the Lego table hiding behind some other presents. She loved this thing! It is my Craigslist find (I got it and two tubs of legos for $15!).


She thinks she should be able to climb into her doll's stroller.


Later that evening, Mom, Julie, and Lee joined us for Christmas dinner. This was the first Christmas dinner that I made totally by myself (well, almost by myself). Afterwards, Julie and Abigail had a screaming/yelling match (one of Abigail's favorite things to do).




Then, Julie and Lee played with Abs and her new lego table.




After Abigail went to bed, Jeromy, Julie, Lee and I played some games. We accidently woke her up with a rousing game of Jenga (who knew?).

On the day after Christmas we finally got together with my mom, my sisters, and their families at Kelly's house. We had a brunch which was very tasty and, as usual, we had WAY too much food. Here are some pictures of the fun that day.

Abigail is wondering when she gets to open all the wonderful presents...or why there is a bow on her head. :)


I don't know what they are doing, but I think it is a cute picture. Abigail loves her big cousin Elena! (and Alex and Landon)


Abigail decided she would enjoy the buffet in Lucky's dog dish. We did not know she was in there until she showed up with her mouth and hand full of dog food. Yum!


Landon playing with Diesel's toy.


Elena playing with the Barbie pool that we gave her. I fear there is revenge coming my way in the future.


Alex playing with his lego set that Grandma gave him. Jeromy helped him to put it together on Sunday night.


All in all, it was a great Christmas holiday!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Decorating Christmas Cookies

Today we had our annual Christmas cookie baking/decorating event at Mom's house. We started this tradition a few years ago. Laura, Kelly, Mom, and I (with the help of the kids, of course) spend a day cutting out cookies and decorating them. It's nice because we get them all done and get to spend time with each other. It's also nice because the mess is only in Mom's house instead of at all our houses. It was a long day (it didn't help that I have a pretty bad cold that I caught from Jeromy and Abigail). Here are some pictures from the day:

Abigail and Landon did not know what to think of the whole thing. They started out in their booster seats watching everything and playing (or eating in Abigail's case) the flour.










Elena cutting out cookies. I think she is trying to get at the right angle...actually, I'm not sure what she is doing. This seems to be the only picture I have of the cutting out process. Mainly, because shortly after this my hands were covered in flour and dough. :)


The cookies are all baked! Almost 200 cookies!


Let the decorating begin!






The Aftermath!


The finished product!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

OSU/Michigan Game

Today Laura and Andy had us all over to watch the OSU/Michigan game. It was a beautiful day and we were even able to go outside for some of the day and enjoy the weather. I have to be honest, I don't think I watched any of the game. We had a great day hanging out with family and friends.

The face-off is about to begin (actually those are Laura's chip bowls)


Watching the men throw the football during halftime


Uncle Lee showing Abigail how to throw the ball


Elena "pouting" after Julie hit her in the head with a football


Abigail trying to figure out what to do with the football


"No one will play cornhole with me, so I'll play by myself."




Jeromy and I played Andy and Lee in a game of cornhole. They won, but surprisingly it was a close game (I'm not very good)




"Hello Mr. Hand"

Friday, November 6, 2009

Swimming at the YMCA

Earlier this week Mom asked me if I could help watch Alex and Elena until she arrived back in town from her conference in Columbus and I of course said that would be fine! (We love to spend time with our niece and nephew) Now, since I don't really have anything for them to do at my house in cold weather except play wii or watch a movie (they don't find Abigail's toys very fun) I decided we needed to do something fun. So, a couple days ago I decided that we would all go swimming at the YMCA in Temperance, MI (they are a part of the greater Toledo YMCA system so they are part of our membership). I also invited Laura and Landon to go with us as well. So, around 4:45 this afternoon we loaded up the van and away we went. We had a great time!

Abigail was not fond of the "mushroom." In this picture Jeromy is trying to introduce her to and she wanted nothing to do with it. We would like to go to Soak City this summer so we decided that we need to go to this Y a couple times this winter and hopefully she will get to the point where she will like it.


Elena playing in the "mushroom" and Alex playing in the shower thingy.


Alex going down the slide he called "Wicked Awesome!" He had to take a swim test in the deep end of the pool before he could go down the slide. After the test as the lifeguard was tying the string around his wrist which stated that he had passed, he looked at me and with a smirk on his face said "That was super easy." He's so cute!


Landon and Abigail having fun splashing each other. They're going to be best friends.


Jeromy and Elena being silly with Abigail.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Trick-or-Treating in Findlay

Tonight we started a new family tradition of trick or treating in Findlay. It was Laura's idea. Each year, Findlay has their trick-or-treating the Thursday before Halloween. She thought it would be nice for the kids to go trick-or-treating each year together. That way we could all do our own thing on Halloween night, but they still get the opportunity to have fun together. Tonight was interesting to say the least. Hopefully it will be a little easier next year when Abigail is almost 2. :)

Abigail still not understanding what is going on. Doesn't she look cute? Kelly said she looked like a Monchichi.


Alex as Ron Weasley (from Harry Potter) and Elena as Snow White.


Even Aunt Kelly got into the fun dressing up as the Evil Queen. Hopefully Snow White won't eat a poisoned apple. By the way, Landon is dressed up as a Lobster. He was so cute! Honestly, ALL four of the kids were adorable in their costumes.


Abigail traveling around the neighborhood. I think she was trying to figure out what was going on.


Right before she totally began throwing a fit because she was too tired we let her push the stroller around. This seems to be her new thing.