Wednesday, December 31, 2008

goose egg and happy new year

Okay, so literally SECONDS after I finished with my last post, Paige went running out of my office and smashed her little, cute head into a wall.  I guess she could not see that well.  You can see the lovely goose egg that she has on her forehead.  It's pretty big.  Poor baby.  It's still there this morning, but a little smaller.

A little bit ago, she tried to put on the surgical cap again - over her eyes - and this time her Mommy gave her the option of either wearing it ABOVE her eyes, or not wearing it at all.  She threw it on the floor in protest.  Such a spirited little one........we are in such trouble.

Also just wanted to wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year!  Goodbye 2008 - and hello 2009!!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

this kid is too much

Took this a couple minutes ago. She INSISTS that the scrub cap be pulled down this low - cried when I tried to pull it up higher. She can still see, apparently.  She just barked at a commercial for Marley & Me.
This morning, putting on jeans over her pants....all by herself.  This is her new favorite pastime. Why do we buy her toys - jeans are her most favorite plaything.

Monday, December 29, 2008

project 365


So, I usually don't talk too much about scrapbooking here.  However, I feel that I MUST tell you about this new kit that I am SO getting.  It's called Project 365, and it goes on sale Jan. 1st, over at kitofthemonth.com - a Creating Keepsakes sponsored site.  The basic idea is that you take a picture each day for 365 days - a year.  The kit is an album with plastic pages that have slots for each picture along with a slot for journaling each day.  Each two page layout is a week. If you are interested, you should check it out.  You don't have to be a scrapbooker to do this. There is no cutting, pasting or anything.  Just print your pictures, write a little something, and you are done.  I think it would be so cool to look back at this slice of your everyday life years from now. Below is my day one picture - I started on Dec. 28th so that I could start it on a Sunday.
Paige in her "hat".  It's this cardboard ring that was in Emily's Strawberry Shortcake puzzle box.  I put it on Paige as a joke, and she got very upset when I tried to take it off.  She wore it the whole time she ate her lunch.  She thought she was very cute.
Emily this morning doing her USA puzzle.  She loves puzzles.  Especially this one.  She is OBSESSED with maps.  She can pretty much name any state by it's shape.
Paige's new trick - climbing in and out of her highchair.  Helpful, but a little scary.  She almost fell backwards tonight after dinner.
I may use this as my day two picture - Max looking outside at the wind blowing.  It was blowing so hard it was making the front door dance around.  Thankfully, it was locked, but it was still making LOTS of noise.
Paige and her most favorite Christmas present - a doll named Daisy.  A gift from the Marcikics. She carries that thing around all day long.

One of the best gifts ever - the Panini maker.  It's like having a Panera in my kitchen.  I have used it everyday since Christmas. Even Emily, who has not been wanting anything to do with eating a grilled cheese sandwich, had a grilled cheese panini today.  She said it was the best EVER.
This is my other option for day two - Eric and Emily on their way to train club tonight.  It's an operating night, and it's winter break, so Emily got to go.  She was SO excited.

Friday, December 26, 2008

traditions

When I think of Christmas, I don't think about presents, shopping, wrapping, food, yummy sweets, decorations or snow.  I think about my family.  I think about our Christmas Eve Alderman Family get-together.  It's what I look most forward to.  It's what I missed most while we lived in California, Colorado and Florida.  Somehow, we all find a way to be there.  AND, we always have a great time.  Sure, there's always presents, good food, yummy sweets, a beautiful tree -but it's family that brings it all home for me.

This year was even more special because of the book- put together by me - that we all received as our Family Christmas gift.  It is full of funny, sweet, and extremely sentimental photos, thoughtful writing, and warm memories.  I am going to try to find a way to post it on here so you can all see what I am talking about.....look for it in days to come.

A few more photos from the night:
















Hope you all had a wonderful holiday - made lots of memories, and took tons of photos.  Why not put them to good use and start a blog of your own in the new year.......

Thursday, December 25, 2008

merry christmas

We were on our way out the door to the Alderman Traditional Christmas Eve Family Get-Together (established in 1949) - we were running late, but made the time to snap a family photo.
and a couple of the girls....in their matching Christmas dresses that I got on clearance at Gymboree.  Yea for me.
This morning - checking to see if Santa ate the cookies, drank the milk, and gave the carrots to the reindeer.  He did, of course.
Getting the band together this morning......
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  We will be resting a lot around here for the next few weeks...or months.  These past few weeks have been a whirlwind.  But I would not have it any other way.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

cookie time

Last night, after I put Paige to bed, Emily and I decorated cookies.  Daddy was at his train club, so he didn't get to join in the fun.  Emily said that her favorite part was putting on lots and lots of sprinkles....and eating them as well.  I can definitely see a change in her decorating abilities from last year.  She is much more careful with her frosting and sprinkle placement - she made the blue and white snowflake pictured above.  My girl is growing up, and turning out to be just as anal retentive as her mother. 


Notice the gingerbread napkin holder behind me in the picture above - Emily made it for us for Christmas.  Isn't it adorable?  We so needed a napkin holder.  I am keeping it out all year.  This is not surprising though from the girl who puts out the pilgrim salt and pepper shakers all year as well.
Paige enjoying some morning Elmo.  She is feeling a lot better, and is almost finished with her cold....I hope.  Still can't believe that Christmas is just days away.  Lots to do around here - presents to wrap, more cookies to make and bake, bacon buns to make as well.  Better go and check on that dough........

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Hanukkah Latkes

Okay, so I am not exactly Jewish - but I do love me some potato latkes.  Eric saw this recipe in the paper last week, and I just had to make them.  It was my first time making them, and I have to say, they were darn good.  Even Emily - who is not a big fan of potatoes, liked them.  Paige gobbled them up, as did Eric, myself and my Mom, who was a big help with the food processor - Thanks MOM!! Eric thought they looked more like hash browns than latkes, but they didn't taste like hash browns at all.  They were SO much yummier!!
It is in the single digits here - temperature wise.  Crazy.  And tomorrow is the first official day of winter.  I am hoping that this cold we are having is not the trend for the coming months, because if it is, it's going to be a very LONG winter.  We are supposed to have MORE SNOW on Christmas Eve.  I am hoping that it's only a little bit so that we can have everyone present at our family celebration at my Aunt and Uncle's house.....big book unveiling.  More about that later.

Friday, December 19, 2008

winter storm

ADDED NEW PHOTOS!!!!!!!

As I am sitting here typing this post, I am watching my poor husband battle some pretty crazy blowing snow outside.  He's almost finished with his morning workout of snow throwing - literally.  Lucky for him, his wife bought him some much needed snow pants for Christmas, which he got a little early this year.  School is closed today, so no Holiday party for Emily.  Oh well.  We are supposed to get about six to ten inches when it is all said and done.  A white Christmas indeed.

The wreath on our front door - decorated with REAL snow.

It has finally stopped snowing - and this is pretty much what it amounted to.  Not a scientific reading - but it's pretty close.  We have had quite the adventure today - Emily left her snow boots at school, and triumphantly, Daddy went there and retrieved them.  Paige and I are the only ones inside at the moment, and with her runny nose, it's probably going to stay that way.  We will be going over to our neighbors house tonight to partake in a chocolate fountain - which was also retrieved from the school during the "Boots Expedition".  Long story.

Emily and Jenna getting pelted by Eric.  Oh what fun!!!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

guess what??

Came home from dinner last night - Red Robin  - and this is what the world looked like. It took about twice the amount of time to get home because the snow had just started to fall as we left the house, and the plow and salt trucks hadn't had a chance to get the major streets cleared. Luckily, we made it home safe and sound. So, this invariably leads to this:
Eric and his best friend this morning.  I'd say about 2 1/2 to 3 inches worth of the white stuff.  Not too bad.  No snow day!
Dinner last night - the final birthday celebration.

And since she has been left out of the last couple posts, a few pictures of Miss Paige - who has a runny nose this morning and a crabby disposition.  These pictures are from a couple days ago.


How cute is this?