Year in review (2010)

So, Eric and I were reviewing our Christmases and New Years' Eve's together, and we got quite a chuckle out of it.  We've been together now 6 holiday seasons and we can't believe it, but each one (and each year) just gets better.

This year was a heck of a busy one for all of us.  If we think back, Amara was only 19 months old in January.  The whirlwind of 2010's activites hadn't revealed themselves in any form to us, but man were we in for a ride! 

We kicked the year off with showers for soon-to-be-arriving cousin Giddeon, her 4th, and for visiting friend baby Ali.  Next, we started preparations for Kristin's upcoming nuptuals and Amara's 2nd birthday!

Shortly after that--though no one else knew yet, Eric and I found out in June that we were blessed and lucky enough to be parents for the 2nd time, just before me experiencing a ruptured disc, prohibiting me from doing much over the Summer.

Somehow in all of that, we found, bid on, and won the bid for what would become our 2nd home together, and our 3rd move in just over 4 years.  Add on to that celebrating near all our families' birthdays, and we had a very busy Summer as we moved into Copper Ct.

Fall brought us lots of moving, organizing, planning, working, and preparing, as we learned Amara would be a big sister to another baby girl in our family.  We also added another class to our growing repertoire for her, and she became a Bear Cubbie at the local Gantz park barn tumbling class with a few new friends.

In November we found out that Amara will be a cousin for the 5th time, but the first on the Young side to Uncle Matt and Aunt Steph.  Time will tell if the streak of boy cousins will continue or be broken.  We were also VERY lucky to have sold the house at Schuylar, in just over 2 months in a terrible housing market and recession--it was meant to be.

Eric and I can't believe all this year has brought us--all positive things, but wow, we wonder why we're tired :)   We're still organizing, and planning, with now only 6 weeks until baby sister arrives...but we couldn't be more happy and thankful for all of life's blessings in 2010.  The room is almost ready, Amara talks about baby sister often, and we haven't figured out yet how to be parents to two little blessings, but we will. 

Many thanks to all our friends and family for all our great memories--way too many for us to list, but all of them are special and remembered in our hearts.

Christmas evening

After the busy morning, we headed over to mom and dad's to see if Santa visited there, and to visit the boys.  We hadn't been there just a few minutes when they showed up too--

...but not before Beanie got to receive her first (of I'm sure will be many) motorized scooters from Grandma and Grandpa.  It was SO cute--they said they ran across it in a store and decided she just had to have it!  She jumped right on it without hesitation and quickly learned how to protect her knuckles from getting scraped on the cabinets as she blazed through the kitchen at lightning (2 mph) speed.

She had fun opening and sharing with the boys--they all got their share of farm equipment, Beanie, her first combine!  We even got some pink John Deere gear for baby girl--a first for us, considering with Amara, all our digs were green and yellow :)

Uncle T and boys got her a cookie monster, a new favorite friend for her bed, and she loves her Weebles tree house and yummy pizza and mixer set to accompany her new kitchen set too.

We stayed and played with her toys and their toys and boxes, and whatever we could find, but it wasn't long till we could see the energy draining and the day wearing on her (and all of us).  We packed up and headed home, with the promise to return tomorrow and get her goodies to play with, and for a quick visit of course.  Watch out for the newest driver!

Christmas morning

No surprise to us, Amara woke up right at 7 Christmas morning--this has been pretty typical for her the last few months, so we weren't expecting a Christmas miracle like last year--when she slept in till almost 11 (miracle for US that was). 

After the kitchen set, the red wagon from Grandma and Grandpa Jahn was next to be opened--and of course, proved to be the item requiring the most tools and assembly for the entire day.  Later on though, Grandma and Grandpa Young got their workout in driving her and chasing her all over the kitchen and living room in that thing.

She came into our room, like always and snuggled with us as we watched a few cartoons and asked her if Santa had come--she wasn't the 'typical kid' you think of on Christmas, blazing down the stairs, I think she barely realized what was happening.

We all made our way downstairs--Eric and I started on breakfast, as she admired the gifts and boxes with bows.  Her kitchen set was disguised by a sheet to cover things up, complete with bows--but I think she passed it up several times before she really got curious.  Finally, she asked "what's under there" and we told her she had to pull it off to find out, and she discovered her new kitchen pieces! 

Just about that time, the grandparents showed up, ready to open gifts themselves.  We had a full house, Uncle Matt/Steph, Aunt Kristin/ Jim also came as the morning went on and we all enjoyed breakfast bake, tater tots, biscuits, cookies, juice, and coffee. 

Amara would open a present, then take a break--ask for her blanket and lie in my lap.  A combination of being low on sleep, overwhelmed, and unsure about this whole production, toy opening took quite a while for sure.

A few highlights though--she did enjoy playing on her (newly constructed by dad and grandpa) balance beam.  The window markers in mom's stocking were a hit with she and Uncle Matt as they drew on the kitchen door.  All the different food kits (veggies, sandwiches, apple pie and tea set) partnered well with her kitchen as she played and kept us all in food and drink all morning too.

She did perk up though, when ERIC opened HIS remote control car--we were all cackling at her laughing and chasing it, the dog, running it down the stairs, and all over the kitchen.  I bet we played with that the most of anything besides the kitchen, it was hilarious.  She crashed it into everything and everyone--even to the point we suspect we might have broken something, but we're going to charge him up and see how it goes tomorrow.

Everyone was winding down from all the excitement and heading back to their respective houses to rest and recover and we did the same--though, I'm sure, for about half the time we all needed.  I guess knowing that we were heading to see the cousins at Grandma and Grandpa's might have hindered that a bit--but we assured her she could still stay in her jammas!

We all had a great and magical morning, filled with laughs and giggles.  What an amazing little girl we have and are so lucky to have our little (so too be expanding) family!

Christmas (Eve) Traditions

We had it on good authority (from Santa Dennis' visit) that we needed to prepare for Santa's arrival this year-- so with that in mind, we lovingly prepared our Santa treat plate.  We made sure to include carrots and raisins for the reindeer, as well as Santa's favorite chocolate cookies for a snack. 

After getting that ready, Eric was excited to kick off his new tradition of growing candy canes for Christmas morning.  He'd heard this from a friend last year, and we thought Amara was still too little to understand--but we tried it this year.  He got a sweet red and silver striped vase to use, filled it with potting soil, then waited for Christmas eve night.

He brought Amara a handful of starlight mints.  As we all unwrapped them, he showed her how to place them in the soil.  After getting just the right amount in there (5) he gave her his special concocted watering agent to add (red, silver, and green colored glitter in a shaker container) and she watered her mints with magic dust.

We placed the vase up on the mantel and told her to be sure to check it in the morning, that Santa might leave a surprise for her, and went to bed...

the next morning, she didn't exactly remember and come charging to examine it, but once Eric reminded her and they did go check on them, she was excited to see the newly grown candy canes that had magically sprouted overnight.

Thanks daddy.

Christmas Eve

As far back as I can remember, we've gone to Christmas Eve candlelight service.  Sometimes it's long and uncomfortable, but sometimes they really streamline it and we're out in 45 minutes.  Since Amara, we hope and pray for those quick services!!  Granny always loved that service too, so it will always hold a very special place in my heart and I am thankful that Amara got to do her first one with her, Granny's last.

We headed out to catch the 4:30 service just as it was getting dusk--one of those dark Ohio Winter evenings where you can't believe it's only 4 o'clock, and met up at the church.  Amara looked like a little live doll in her dress, she RARELY dresses like that, so it was unusual for us, but she didn't seem to mind all the fluff too much.

Amara liked the singing...for the first few minutes, then it started..."I want to go home."  She was SO patient.  Eric and I entertained her with our iPhones, grandma brought cheeze-its, and she walked the aisles from person to person, all to get to the part to light the candles.

She made it, she (of course) enjoyed the candles, and even more, blowing ours out!  Practice for that big birthday in May!

Out to the car(s) and home to get ready for Christmas Eve--I couldn't get her to take her pretty dress off, it was so sweet :)  Never fails though, when we have a sleepy toddler, the 'swinging from mommy and daddy's hands to the car' game, always gets us headed where we need to go!  Merry Christmas Eve!

Visit from Santa

Hard to believe this is already our third annual visit from Mr. Santa Dennis!  For me, it immediately brings back his first 2 visits--Amara at 6/7 months, and Granny flirting with him, getting a photo of the group of us at mom and dads, then last year, with her white sweater dress and boots, high-fiving Santa in her uncertainty to sit with him for very long...

This year, at the new house, he let himself right in the front door, bells blazing, and we were all shocked to see him!

She ran around saying "this is my mommy, this is my daddy, this is my Grandma, this is Ily, this is my Grandpa" as if to reintroduce him to all of us.  She quickly jumped paces to sharing her books, showing him stunts, and doing all of those 2-year old toddler things, that make you grin to yourself (in their inability to sit still for more than 7 seconds).

But neither Santa Dennis, nor we, minded.  He is so sweet and patient with her, he tries all his tricks to engage her and she was so sweet. She doesn't know a stranger--Eric had told her a special visiter was coming ( to coax her into clothes vs. her jammies) and she truly acted as if he was a friend, someone she knew and was comfortable with, who'd been here a million times.

He tried to explain to her the magic of Christmas (see red light on his finger) and how it makes Rudolph's nose light up, the reindeer fly, and a slew of other powers.

He brought with him a book about how reindeer came to be the animal of choice in pulling his sleigh--she was interested for a few pages.

I think he was asking her what she wanted for Christmas, or telling her to be good, that he was watching--I'm not sure that she grasped that part, but you can tell she's interested in the moment.

A hug from Santa after he gave her the WONDERFUL toy of a band in the box, which we all participated in an impromptu jam session with.

After telling her to be sure to lay out cookies, and that chocolate chip are his favorite, she sprinted to the kitchen to have daddy get here one of the batch that I'd just made--she never eats more than a bits, but they shared a nibble, while he told her to be sure to lay out raisins for the reindeer too.

Such a sweet tradition, we have daddy to thank.  Next year should be interesting--he will have his hands full (so will we) and I bet he doesn't have to pry to find out what she'll want him to bring this time!

Magic of Christmas

One night when we'd just ordered pizza in and were winding down for the evening, Amara decided that she was particularly interested in the tree, specifically the ornaments.  The tree hadn't been up long, just a few days, but she was enamored with a few special ornaments, and wanted to visit and touch them regularly.

She wasn't aggressive with them and didn't want to take them off, rather would just study them and gently touch or squeeze them, as she moved from one to the next on the tree.  She mostly visited the one band of the tree, closest to her arm's height, and from time-to-time would look over to us to make sure we were watching, as if to reassure us that she wasn't hurting anything.

All snugly in her kitty pajamas, she really looked innocent, if only for a second, admiring her handy-work on the tree.  I'm glad the play area outside her room overlooks the living room, she can see it whenever she wants, and we try to make sure it's on anytime we're home to enjoy it.

Snow day!

The first 'marginally big' snow (3-4 inches or so) hit early this year, mid December. I can't remember a year when that happened, let alone was cold enough outside to make it stick around for a few days, but it did! ...and it was beautiful!

Amara was so excited to get bundled up and head outside into the powdery whiteness with Grandma.  She had all get gear on and off they headed out the front door.  I grabbed my camera, unsure of what (if anything) would happen, but glad I did.

First, she started of touching and kicking the snow--then something made her decide to bend down and lick the snow right off the flower pot!  As I'm yelling from the doorway (with no shoes on) not to lick the dirt, Grandma jumps into the game.

It was still flurrying around a little bit and the snow wasn't particularly wet or clumping--you know, the kind that blows around, so I think she was having trouble picking it up or holding it, really.

She really started enjoying herself after a few minutes, and then Grandma had to show her how it was done.

Mom dug right in with her bare hands (too) and before I knew it, the two of them were sharing fresh snow right off the ground! 

I'm not sure if they got around to making snow cream at her house, but Amara liked it just the way it was.  She kept taking bowls to the back door and having Eric fill them up for her, as she brought it to the table and enjoyed bowl-ful after bowl-ful of the fluffy white, powdery snow.

Can't wait for the next snow!

Cookie day '10

The annual tradition continues!  Always with a new face or two, and with my amazing friends and family to catch up with and share time and memories too!  Amara even now gets to have some friends come over and play, giving her much more to do than watch me bang around the kitchen, or chase the dogs--though, she could do that every day.

Not sure how many bottles of wine were flowing...but there were several corks, let me assure you.

The original cookie day trio--loved hearing Megan's story recount of the first bourbon balls (rum, jack, whatever we could find) back in the early 90's.  We think it was '94, though none of us could be for sure.

Old school cookie lady, Casey, thinking her first one was maybe 2000, and doesn't remember having so much fun with balls, until Kortney and Val came into the picture.

The girls occupying themselves.

I think she was kind of done by this point.  We weren't nearly as ambitious as other years--a lot of folks had to cut out early, but we still had a VERY nice spread and everyone left with lots of yummy treats.

Watching TV.

Hard at work, Kortney and her famous balls, Megan telling stories and initiating Tony into the group.

I think this was the jam cookie recipe.  Something that sounded like a polish word of some kind.  They assured me they were good, I somehow missed those in my take-home box.

The ball-ers.  Big ups to Gary, who told Val "go, get out of the house, I'll watch the boys!"  WOOT!

Beanie and Kristin--I think they were playing kitchen in the other room, ironically.

Amanda and Mal--Mikayla didn't make it this year.  They appear to be alternating.  Maybe one of these years they'll both be there!  It's funny--until a few years ago, we had no kids...then there was baby Lucas (aww) now he's a BIG kid, and there is another round of kiddos attending...I told Eric he'll have to convert the living room into the daddy's den for the day and run a day-care out of there, sooner or later!