Decorating cookies

To get ready for our Christmas with the Youngs, at Aunt Kristin's house, we decided to make some sugar cookies. Dad loves Grandma Harmon's sugar cookie recipe, so we whipped up a batch and let them cool.

Amara got started on the decorating. She didn't really care much for the icing part, but REALLY enjoyed shaking the colored sugar on them. By the end of the decorating escapade, Amara was decorating like a champ, and I think was genuinely dissapointed that all the cookies were iced and decorated. Guess this will be our new seasonal favorite--Valentines day is only 6 weeks away after all :)

Christmas afternoon with the cousins

Amara has 3 cousins, our nephews--Kalvin, Jackson & Garhett, or as she calls them "K, Jax, and G." After they'd had Christmas at their house, (and we at ours) we all went to the Jahns' for their Christmas together.

Amara really loves those boys and we knew she'd have fun watching them open and play with their gadgets, which she of course did. They were such a whirlwind of trucks, games, paper, etc. that I think she didn't know who to watch first!

She ended up with G's new helmut on, which was pretty funny in itself...then they all went into the basement to play with some new toys and old. ALSO--I didn't get a picture of it, but Jackson was playing with one of the helicopters we got him in the family room. Amara thought it was clearly the funniest thing she'd ever seen--so, the next day, dad had his charged up and ready for her--and has been entertaining Amara with it every day since then.

Christmas morning at home

Well, after a very eventful Christmas Eve out--little miss slept in till after 11 Christmas morning! Eric had already made the fresh squeezed pineapple/ orange juice. Grandma Jahn brought breakfast casserole, and I made mini-tater tots and biscuits...not to mention, the living room was filled with presents, all 4 grandparents, Kristin and Jim, Ily (Shadow was in the garage), and E and I bustling around. We'd all eaten and were enjoying our spiked coffee, when the littlest Young awoke...

When she finally made a peep, Eric and I raced up to get her (for fear she'd fall back asleep again) and quickly told her that all her Grandparents and Aunt Kris/ Uncle Jim were here (we've long-since learned that she doesn't do well with "surprise" guests waiting for her downstairs.) So both Grandmas came up to wish her good morning, and we headed downstairs for breakfast.

It took her a good 15 minutes or so to wake up, eat some breakfast, and really even acknowledge any presents. Mostly, she was interested in bows (of course) and occosianally as Eric or I would open something near her, she'd rip a scrap of paper off--then sign to one of us to open it. We kept the Grandpas hopping with tags, fastners, taped boxes, and installing batteries!

I think she had toy overload, because between all the people, toys, presents, etc., she didn't really know where to turn. She did enjoy some of the fun "pretty," smaller things in her stocking--that was fun. Clips, candy, pretty packaged, things...but mostly, I think she was quickly ready for her nap.

She had a VERY busy morning, with lots of family, love, memories, and laughs--it was a great Christmas morning, and I know we all had a great time!

Christmas Eve

The Christmas "window" for us this year was a long one! We started off at Christmas Eve service with my mom's church, First Baptist in G.C. Dad snapped one quick shot of Amara by the tree in her pretty Christmas dress, before we bundled up (it was COLD) and headed out! Poor thing had barely woken up from her nap, before we had to whirlwind out the door.

The service itself was nice--beforehand, she enjoyed seeing the drums and different instruments, but as soon as "quiet time" started, she was restless and not enjoying being contained in an aisleway between Mammaw, mom and dad.

She entertained herself with books, toys, and the nice couple behind us, but wow. What a LONG service--even though it was maybe an hour 15?

Back home and to bed, to get ready for a big day ahead!

Santa (Dennis)

Last year, Eric found Santa Dennis--who saved us from desperation. We (purposely) waited until the weekend before Christmas do to pictures, but when Amara caught a Roseola bug, we had to postpone. Well, all the Santa's had gone back to the North Pole, except Santa Dennis. He came to mom and dad's for a special visit--one we'll always remember with Grandma Lucy.

This year, Santa Dennis came in his usual full glory--and as Amara had learned about "Sanaa" and seen many pictures, we didn't know how she'd feel about the real guy (he is kind of larger than life, and certainly much bigger than an ornament or a card).

At first, she was happy to see him, but from a distance... We tried seeing if she was interested in sitting on his lap, but she wasn't interested at all; however, she did quickly warm up to him, and in no time was sharing toys, giving him a sucker, and high-fiving, and waving bye!

Santa brought a very special present, a wooden toy truck--that we hope she'll have for many years to come. She sat with him as she opened it and then immediately jumped down, to start playing with and sharing her toys.

Although we didn't get a traditional "posed" picture, we all really had a great time, and hopefully she'll look forward to her visit from Santa every year now.

Suzy Loo Who

One day, after a nap, Amara started waking up with a few waves/ curls. Because of the length of her hair right now, she ended up with a curl right up on top of her head!

At this particular moment, we were enjoying lemon yogurt and a HUGE winesap apple from Lynd's, that we saved from back in the fall. Dinner of champions, I know...and yes, Amara enjoys eating her yogurt with both a spoon and a fork. Lucky for us, it's thick enough that she CAN--basically, she does it "self" until she gets tired of not getting big enough bites, then lets us help her. But boy, oh boy, does she enjoy her fruits by herself!

Waiting for Santa

Mom snapped these pics at her house recently, and sweetly duped them "waiting for Santa."

The REAL story is that this window looks directly out onto mom and dad's driveway. This is pretty much the primary entrance into their house, so she's able to see anyone coming and going (as are the dogs). I THINK she picked up on the dogs always running to that window, and/or sitting in that chair, but now SHE has started going to the window too.

Last year, mom got a picture of her 2 dogs and Ily in the front bedroom, but I guess this year--Amara has replaced Smoky, either that, or she is just smaller and can get into spots he can't!

Santa Dennis is actually coming for a visit again soon, so I wonder if she'll see him coming in the window--AND what she'll think?