One Last Party

We had one last party with the Simkiss family tonight. Poppy, Mom-Mom, and Uncle Steve were there, and everyone said Emily was the best-dressed of the evening!

The Christmas Loot

Emily got to test out her new presents today and had a blast! First up, her new tricyle from Mommy and Daddy.


Next, her busy ball popper. Thanks, Aunt Kelly and Uncle Rob! You didn't get to see her try it in person, but you can still see how much fun she had here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9OIR6kwllc


And last but not least (for today), a baby doll and stroller. Thanks, Aunt Erin and Uncle John!


I couldn't believe it, but when I asked her if she could take her dolly for a walk, she put the doll in the stroller and then pushed her straight across the room, all by herself!

Merry Christmas: Take 3

Our final stop was Mom-Mom and Poppy's for Christmas dinner and, you guessed it, more presents!



But what's better than presents and cookies? Sophie!




She found lots of other fun things to do, too!








I think she was still looking for Santa, but this long Christmas Day had to come to an end sometime!

Merry Christmas: Take 2

Our next stop was Mimi and Pop-Pop's for some breakfast and even more presents! Emily dug right in...






...but soon, even she had enough of all the presents!

Merry Christmas: Take 1

What a difference a year makes! Last year, she was half asleep when we brought her downstairs for her first Christmas. She's still not running down the stairs just yet, but I think she's catching on to this Christmas business pretty quickly.



I wonder who gets to open most of those presents?!




Presents are exciting, sure, but Emily soon found something even better: Santa's leftover cookies!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

...when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.







The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

See, Our Cats Do Exist!

Adventures in Decorating

Tonight we helped Mimi and Grandpop decorate their tree while Uncle Richie and Auntie D were home for an early Christmas celebration. Things started out great, with Emily helping to hang Daddy's Ironman ornament...


and Mommy's picture...


and Uncle Richie's too.


Uncle John helped Emily hang some ornaments while Aunt Erin tried her best Emily impersonations...














but Emily tried to set everybody straight...

and soon it was time to send our little helper to bed.


Later, as the rest of us sat admiring the fully decorated tree, some of us, not sure whether we were overly tired, or perhaps a little tipsy, noticed the tree looked a little tilted and then, maybe, no, wait, is it? Oh, s---, it is! It's falling!

Here we are in the aftermath:


(Can you find the beer bottle in one of these pictures?)














Thanks to a quick dash by Grandpop and a full-body catch by Aunt Erin, only a few ornaments were sacrificed during the falling of the tree, so we were all able to have a good laugh over it once it was straightened up again. If only we had it on video!