Oh Christmas Tree...

"This tree isn't very impressive, are you sure there aren't any more pieces in the box?"

"What exactly do you do with these ornaments?"

'"No, I don't think these should go on the tree. Let's put them in my toy box"

"These can go in my toy box? OK I will make a compromise"

This year was a completely different Christmas than last year. Last year I tried to comfort a screaming baby all day long with no time for anything Christmasy. I am not sad that Christine is no longer a baby. She was a lot of fun this year. We did a book countdown to Christmas by wrapping up 12 Christmas books and putting them under the tree. Each night we would unwrap a book and read it before bed. It took about five nights for Christine to get really good at unwrapping the books. Perfect practice for Christmas day!

The trouble-maker is at it again!

One afternoon I was trying to do a few things on the computer while Christine was playing. I was only just getting started when I look over to see what Christine was up to.

What is all that stuff on the ground? Play money from Monopoly? Wait a minute, we don't own Monopoly...

Cash, credit cards, gift cards...yep, definitely the contents of my wallet thrown about the room. She had accomplished this feat (going into my bedroom, finding my purse, pulling out my wallet, bringing it into her room, and dumping everything out) in about 1 minute flat. Is there some kind of competitive sport for this? Because Christine is showing some natural talent here!

Next up, we have what I like to call "Fancy Nancy makes the cookie container Fancy"

I was in the middle of cleaning up a craft project (glittering all my old ornament glass balls BRILLIANT idea BTW.) Christine, who also thought this was a brilliant (and FANCY) idea, stood up on her tippie toes and pulled down a bottle of modge podge, a bottle of silver glitter, and a foam brush from the kitchen table, and knew exactly what to do.

Very fancy.

This last one doesn't require much explanation. I was on the couch looking over my Google Reader on my ipad when Christine climbed onto the couch then onto my lap right between me and my ipad.

Mommy I am closing your crafty blogs and opening up "Moo Baa La La La"

Oh Christine... we love you!

Thanksgiving 2011

For Thanksgiving in Houston we always go to Aunt Joy and Uncle Dennis' place for a BIG wonderful Thanksgiving meal. (Aunt Joy is Jeff's Mom's sister) We usually have 30+ people!

This year Jeff and I brought two pies: Apple Pear Crumble and Cherry Pie. However those couldn't compete with the Pumpkin Cheesecake. We lose again! (We also brought yams covered in brown sugar and marshmallows. DELISH) Christine somehow convinced GiGi to feed her pie and discovered that she LOVES pie.

The highlight of Thanksgiving this year was Jeff's brothers and their families drove down to Houston! It was so fun to see them and spend some time together. Christine loved playing with her cousins.

Emmy and Christine (the twin cousins) showed off their piano skills

Emmy taught Christine how to wear a necklace like a purse.

And Mia and Rachel smothered Christine with love!

After Thanksgiving we spent a little time a Gigi's. The older cousins shot bee-bee guns while Christine and I hid in the house. We played card games and Mia and Rachel showed off their magic tricks. Then Jeff and I mystified them all with our TRUE magic skills.

BRB I'm TXTing

Oh hello Mom. Were you looking for your phone?

I was just texting GiGi.

NaNa needs to get texting on her phone.

Just got a message. C U LTR

The Nilla Wafers

Mini Nilla Wafers are a recent discovery and Christine LOVES them. She would eat them all day if I let her, so I have to give them to her sparingly. So if Christine sees a chance to get them she goes for it! The day this photo was taken I was in the kitchen and Christine was playing, then I heard a crash and the Christine started crying. I ran out from the kitchen to find this! The box of cookies must have started off on the edge of the table. From there I assume that Christine was able to knock the box to the chair, but because the chair was pushed in under the table she couldn't get the to box so she tried to pull the box through the bars of the back of the chair, but the box was too big and as Christine tried her best to pull the cookies through, she brought the chair tumbling down!! I laughed so hard when I look at this picture. My smart lil' trouble maker!

Steamroller

This is the steamroller that Jeff mentioned earlier. It's hard to describe, but basically it is where Jeff and Christine roll around on the carpet. Christine loves it and just giggles and giggles when Jeff plays it with her.

Grandma's Trip

Christine loved having Grandma at our house last month

And why wouldn't she? Grandma gives her chocolate chip cookies!

and let's her sit at the table like a big kid

and Christine's favorite, took her on walks every day to see the squirrels.

We did a lot of fun things with Grandma while she was here. We went to the zoo, the art museum, the Quilt Festival, and the Nutcracker Market. We tied off two quilts and worked on crafty projects. And best of all my kitchen was magically clean every day!!!

We love you Grandma!