Christmas is a month away...

Where the heck has this year gone? I cannot believe that Christmas is only a month away!!

We spent the weekend getting ready for the Christmas Holiday Season by decorating...especially putting up the Christmas tree. Here are some pictures of Anna helping me put up the tree. Last year we didn't have a tree of our own, we went to Florida for Christmas and the parents had already put their tree up. So, this was Anna's first experience at decorating a Christmas tree. She got the hang of it towards the end.

I also spent some time online today finishing up my Christmas shopping - after I dragged a list out of my mother. She accused Jess (sister-in-law) and I of conspiring against her, because we both took her to task this morning for not providing us Christmas list (even though ours were due in July). Funnily, Jess and I did not conspire, we both just wanted to get shopping out of the way in order to enjoy the Holiday Season with a little less stress.

Here are pictures of tree decorating:

Hi, my name is Michelle and I am...

...a shopaholic when it comes to gifts for my daughter (and other family members). What makes this worst is the fact that I lost count of the items I have for everyone. So, I am trying to figure out how many gifts under the tree is too many? And does it make it better if I start packaging items together. So, would three shirts in the same box equal one gift or three? She will only be opening one box...

You know you have a big girl when...

..she stops using the tray and starts eating at the table. See Exhibit A above.

...she can open doors with knobs along with doors with lever handles.

...she starts speaking in full sentences. Example: Mommy, I want juice. I am now trying to teacher her to ask Grandpa for money.

...she is thriving in the two year room.

...she is starting to tell you when she has pottied. Now, we need to work on moving that to an early warning system.

That is all I can think of at the moment. Feel free to add your witty comments in the comment area.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

This last week has been rather busy. On Friday I took a couple hours of administrative leave to go get my Missouri driver's license and a tax exempt form that I will need to register the car. FHWA has administrative leave (this is paid leave) for new staff members to set up bank accounts, get new drivers license, etc. Basically, all those fun things involved in a move to another state.

On Saturday, Anna and I attended a "Welcome to Jeff City" cook out at Don's house. Also invited was Felix (another FHWA newbie) and his family, which included his children, wife, and parents. Here are some pictures from Saturday:


Felix and his son checking out the kid size 4-wheeler
Don (on the tractor) giving a ride to Felix's two children and Don's granddaughter. Anna was not a fan of the noise made by the tractor, so didn't go on a ride.
Anna found this bouncy horse to be right up her alley.



On Sunday we went to library. Since I now have a Missouri library card, I could get a library card. We spent an hour checking out the place. Unfortunately, the children's area is under renovation.

Monday's weather has nice and warm, so we hit the park after work. The one thing we learned about sunsets in Jeff City is that when the sun sets, it sets. In Indiana (northern and central) sunset is about 30 minute deal. Here, because of the hilly terrain, when the sunsets it is gone. There is not a true dusk time, like in Indiana.

Here are some pictures from Monday at the park.

Yesterday, Anna was beat up by a 3 year old. Anna was on a swing, the 3 year old wanted the swing, Anna didn't give any ground (stubborn like her mother), and so Anna ends up with a scratched up cheek from an angry 3 year old (girl, hence the scratches and not a black eye). Once the scratches heal, we will get more pictures up.

Bad blogger, bad blogger...

Ok, so I have been rather lazy about blogging and haven't written/posted anything in a couple (few) weeks.

Here is a quick catch-up on the Jeff City girls (and dogs):

* Jake challenged for alpha of the pack, lost (to me, of course) and is now acting submissive not only to me, but to the child. It is kind of pitiful to watch a full growth husky show is belly to a toddler and lick her submissively on the chin. Unfortunately, the chin licking lead to XinXin thinking a fun new game would be to have the boys lick her tongue when she stuck it out. Thankfully, the dog that doesn't think he is a dog, wasn't playing the game. Which left the husky, who wants browning points for good behavior, playing the game until I firmly told him "no". Of course, the "no" only worked with the dog not the kid.

* Sunday was gorgeous weather, so we went to a local city park. We had blast, while the park really doesn't rival any of the good Indy parks (ie, Eagle Creak or Spring Mill pop into my mind), it had a nice toddler play ground and nice wide walking paths. There were a large number of families with small children or dogs. Most of those families had walked from the surrounding neighborhood, which is a cross between Butler-Tarkington and Broad Ripple, without the outrageous price tag of either neighborhoods. I have figured out that this is where I want us to live once we buy a house. And before you ask...nothing new on the Indy house. I figure if it doesn't sell by the time my listing contract is up, I will rent. I want to recoup at least some of my mortgage payment.

* XinXin is starting to mimic everything I say. The other day I let her pick out my necklace, when I told her "good choice" she looked at me and said "good choice". When I did her hair and said "gorgeous" she repeated the word exactly how I said it...making the first syllable long.

* XinXin is also eating directly from the table now. I removed the tray on the high chair, lowered the high chair and pulled it up to the table. She now climbs in herself and will pull herself up to the table while saying "dinner time".

* Oh, and on Monday XinXin is starting in the two year old room. Last week I was asked if I was willing to have her moved up. She is the second oldest in the older one year room, but more advanced in language and other skills than the other kids. So, the daycare wants to put her some where she will be challenged.

Sorry, no pictures this time. But if the weather is good this weekend, we will go back to the park and I will remember to take my camera out of the car. Also, I will try to get some shots of the neighborhood area for you to see.