Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas and really enjoyed not having to travel anywhere!  Leah slept in, and Eric and I commented that this was probably the last Christmas we'd enjoy sleeping in 'til 8 :)  We had a nice breakfast and then started with the stockings and gifts.  Leah was slow at first: ripping a little, handing to Eric, ripping a little more, handing to Eric.  Finally, she got the hang of it and the pace quickened.  Then she had some new toys that interested her, and she wasn't interested in opening more presents.  It was pretty funny really!  The biggest hits were definitely the Brobee and Abby dolls, but she's been playing with everything.  The gifts were great, but we are truly blessed by Jesus' sacrifice for us.   Such love!!  We hope you all had a fantastic Christmas.

I'm having some issues posting video, but will try again tomorrow or the next day.

Last night I told Leah that when she sees the camera she should give an exaggerated smile and swing her head back.  Here's one of many shots like that.
Our yummy Christmas dinner.  Thank you Karen and John for the beautiful centerpiece.  It's beautiful!



Looking at the tree first thing in the morning...
"What do you do for the camera..."
After the unwrapping, Leah settled down with a snack...and Brobee...

Booby-claus exhausted himself running around the house like a maniac and finally settled in next to Eric....
hugging her Abby doll....

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Children's Christmas Party

Leah and I went to Eric's squadron this morning for the Children's Party.  It was fun.  They had food, drinks, decorations and crafts set up.  Leah made a reindeer antler hat, which she helped me decorate with foam stickers.  I couldn't get a shot of her in it because she was NOT a fan of having it on her head and would immediately take it off.  Oh well.  Then the big event:  Santa's arrival on the MC-130P!  Eric volunteered to be on the crew who taxied Santa in and was able to see the gaggle...I mean group of us...from a pretty cool perspective.   Leah would only keep one earplug in, so I had to cover her other ear with my hand, that while trying to get video of the plane.  I think most of the video is pretty shaky and erratic :).  Unfortunately since the squadron had a crew there and ready to fly, Eric had to stay and fly a mission...on a Saturday...cutting short the crew's time spent with their children at the Children's party!  And they wonder why morale is so low!!    Oh well.  Overall it was a great time!

All the kids waiting patiently for their names to be called
Santa was driven off the back of the plane and came to us like this...
I was holding her when the plane taxied in, and I turned the camera around to snap a shot of her expression.  This is the closest to center I got...

Leah dancing with the other kids...
Santa waving from atop the C-130
Opening up her gift from Santa. She was very meticulous.  She'd rip off a small piece of paper and then hand it to Eric, then rip another piece and give that to him.  Very methodical...
Eric said, "I think Christmas morning is going to take a really long time!" :)


We were hopeful she might sit on Santa's lap since she wasn't crying YET and she had waved back to him...but... 
Things went downhill from here...

Sitting in Eric's seat.  Of course she wanted to grab the controls and "drive" it like a car :)



Santa and his crew...




Sadly, this is the best picture with Santa this year!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Abbey Cadabby

Leah for some reason has taken a STRONG liking to Abbey Cadabby, and loves 'saying' her name :) It's so cute that Eric and I walk around all day trying to get her to say it!

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Palm Beach Zoo

We went to the Palm Beach Zoo the day before we left.  It used to be the Dreher Park Zoo and was much less...interesting...than it is now.  We were really impressed.  Leah had fun although I think she was still a little too young to fully appreciate it.  I think her favorite things were feeding the ducks and riding on the carousel with Pop-Pop!  
This bird was really neat.  He would pick up a toy piece with his beak and systematically try putting it in each hole until it went in the right one.  Then he'd pick up a different shaped piece and try again.
With Pop-Pop next to an owl...



Feeding the ducks...

Visit with Grandma

I had a 3-4 day period of severe (at least it was to me) morning sickness while we were in WPB. Unfortunately my visit with mom fell in that sick period, so I didn't get to fully enjoy our time together.  Aunt Sharon, Leah and I drove to Al and Janice's house (which is about half-way) and met my mom there.  Fortunately Al and Janice arrived home from their vacation while we were there so we got to see them too!! Leah's looming naptime and plans later that night for Mitch's birthday party had us leaving earlier than I'd have liked, but it was a really great visit!





Catch Up

We had such a wonderful time in WPB catching up with friends, family and neighbors we haven't seen in a really long time!  It was truly a blessing!!

Deb and I, with Leah and Sebastian Jr
with Mrs Ramsay (Deb's mom)...
the proud grandparents...
Mrs Ramsay and Sebastian...
Leah and Sebastian playing NEAR (but of course not with) each other at the mall's play area...

Leah took a brief liking to this kid...

Eric's Aunt Luann with Leah and cousin Colin