New Year's Eve 2009

The local in-door play place celebrated New Year's at 6PM (midnight London time) for kids...so, we're done. The kid's celebration was great.










At dinner (our tradition has become Indian), Violet got to sit with her friends at a "kids" table. She did mostly well with that situation. She also decided she wanted to wear her necklace like a headband...


...until it came time for a group photo. Then she decided the necklace should go across her face. This is her intentional pose for a group photo.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Jackie!

Today is also Aunt Jackie's birthday. Aunt Jackie is probably going to kill me for posting this photo...


...so in return, I will post these photos. They were painful to take.

NOTE A: Yes, both Dave and I went to UT, but (long story) I'm not a fan of the institution...or cheerleaders.

NOTE B: It's a nice touch that you can see me being a stage mom in these photos. Great. Happy Birthday, Aunt Jackie.

First Time at Chuck E. Cheese

The second part of Emmy's birthday celebration took place at Chuck E. Cheese. It was V's first time at Chuck E. Cheese and she was scared as hell of the animatronic Chuck E. Cheese.

Here she is meeting Chuck E. Cheese as she has a death grip on Aunt Jackie (who's also celebrating a birthday today):


BJ and Drew.


This is the only ride Violet really liked at Chuck E. Cheese. Or as Uncle KL called it, "the lame blue one that she likes."


Still not sure about the mouse.


Emmy's birthday celebration.


Happy Birthday, Emmy! (mostly in-focus, but not looking at the camera)

Children's Museum with the Cousins-in-law

This morning we hit up the Children's Museum for Violet's second-cousin-in-law, Emmy's, birthday. Emmy is not in any of the photos below. She's like bigfoot. On the very rare occasion in which I was able to capture her on film, she was blurry beyond recognition.

Instead, here's Ty:


Violet and Drew.


Ty, Violet and Drew, doing "warrior" poses.

My Birthday Book

During the holiday break, we've been sorting through everything in our house, streamlining and preparing to welcome little David into our home. Tonight I found a book my Mom put together for me called "My Birthday Book."

I have a baby book too, the birthday book is different. The premise of the birthday book is to document things specifically on a child's birthday.

My Mom died in 1991. We never had the opportunity to discuss politics or really any "adult" topics. Which is why I found it hilarious when I read this (verbatim) in my birthday book.

"My Second Birthday...

Dates of significance for the year: (there is only one date noted)
June 16, 1978 -- Jimmy Carter gave (underlined) away the Panama Canal."

Seeing as we lived in Panama, where my Father was stationed to help defend the Panama Canal, at the time when Jimmy Carter carelessly relinquished one of the most important security and trade assets of our nation, I very much enjoy knowing that my Mother had a similar detest for the stupidity of that particular action and politician.

Violet's Night Out

Tonight Violet is spending the night with her Grandma and Grandpa. They just sent us photos. Violet looks like such a big girl in these photos...she's only been away from us for a few hours.

Aunt Jessi, Violet, Grandma Gerri:


Unsanitary cookies (I know my child):


Uncle Pat and Violet:

Through Violet's Eyes

We let Violet run wild with her digital camera for 24 hours. We just downloaded the photos and here are some of our favorites...

"The Object of My Affection"


"Discipline"


"My Feet: A Series of Tens of Photos"


"Grandpa"


"Grandma"


"Ignored Warning Sign"


"Dell"


We're proud of Violet's emerging photography skills, but Adele took the cutest photo on the camera...

Christmas Day 2009: Part II (Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's)

I love the fact that Santa still comes to my parents' house for me. Sure he usually only brings me a little something, but I like that he's still thinking of me.

Speaking of good gifts, I wish the world would take a lesson from my Dad's wife, Gerri. The woman stuck to the Amazon wish list and it was awesome. We actually received things we wanted and/or needed...like my sweet new Pyrex set!

Oh and Uncle Pat drew my name this year...Uncle Pat, the 20-year-old college student got me the baby book I wanted for little David...damn Uncle Pat almost made me cry. Luckily my tear ducts were exhausted from earlier in the day.




This photo captures why we're willing the endure the Dora torture. You give Dora, you get love.


Someone got very stingy with Little Baby Jesus (he was not flying today).


Violet's first time to wear perfume. It was questionable at best, but the scent, Iris by Givenchy, was quite nice...and I don't wear perfume, because I'm allergic.

Christmas Day 2009: Part I (Santa Delivers)

I'm going to be honest. The photos below paint a picture of joy that was not present during the majority of this morning. Violet was tired and didn't want to listen or cooperate -- which sucks, because you don't want to yell at your kid on Christmas morning...combined with my pregnancy hormones and the high expectation I had for how the morning should go...let's just say that Dave is an exceptionally good sport. Merry Christmas, babe.






How lady-like. Violet loved the presents her Great Grandma Judy sent.


I'm glad we gave Isla a Viewfinder before Violet received hers. She thought it was so cool that she had one "from Isla."


Santa brought little David new bedding. For close-ups on the bedding, go here and here. As a side note, orange is a great color for kids born after February 14, 2010 (Chinese New Year). Next year is the year of the tiger.


Violet liked trying on her baby Brother's new clothes.


Nothing celebrates the birth of Christ like a gummy crocodile.

Christmas Eve 2009: Part VIII (The Snowman)

Someone is supposed to be asleep in bed. Instead, they are pretending to be a scary "snow man."

Happy holidays from Violet.

Christmas Eve 2009: Part VII (Santa Prep)

Tonight we put out the traditional pizza for Santa. The beverage Violet selected for Santa this year is hot cocoa.

May she go to sleep soon, so Santa can get here already.

Christmas Eve 2009: Part VI (Fairy Basketball with Adele)