Christmas in Kansas

Well, we are back from our Holiday trip to KS. We had a great time. I decided that I would take some time to post some photos and details of our trip.

We left 12/22 from Albuquerque and drove to Yukon, OK. Cami did fabulous in the car. Nana and Pop Pierce bought her a portable DVD player and she was perfectly content watching DVD's and taking naps. Matt and I took turns sitting with her in the back seat.

We arrived in Holton around 3pm on the 23rd. Cami was really excited to see her Grandma (Mana) and Papa and cousins and quickly warmed up to everyone.

We woke up to snow on the ground on the 24th. Cami still wasn't sure that she liked the white stuff.
Cami and Mana walking in the snow
Cami and her Mana

The evening of the 24th we all got dressed up and went to Christmas Eve Church service. Matt and his Family were in charge of most of the music for the service, so we went early for them to practice. The kids played and burned up some energy by running around in the Multi-purpose area in the church, which turned out to be a great time for a mini-photo shoot.
Joshy
Cami trying to help Mana play the piano

All the cousins Left to Right Parker (6), Josh (16 mos.), Paige (8), Cami (21 mos. ), Peyton (12) & Carter (10)
Grandkids with Grandma and Papa

The service was very nice. The music was great and I did get a bit of video of everyone singing and I'll try and post that....eventually!

After service the babies were exhausted and they went straight to bed. The rest of us stayed up and opened our Santa Bags (instead of stocking because they are bigger). The big kids were lobbying to open all the presents, but they were pretty tried too!
Parker and Carter
Paige and Peyton
Jill and Rick

Christmas Morning. The babies got to open their Santa bags before all the family arrived ...we might have eaten cinnamon rolls too! :)
Aunt Heidi and Cami (Heidi don't be mad at me for posting this pic....its too cute!)
Mommy and Cam working on a present
Sissy Peyton helping Joshy

Showing off the outfit that Aunt Heidi and Uncle Eric got her for Christmas.

After the present were open, everyone went to other family event except for Matt and I. So after nap Matt, Cami, Mana and Papa and I went to see Tangled in the theatre. This was the first time Cami had been to the movies since she was an infant. She loved it and did so well. The only part that she got upset was when the mean lady fell off the tower and she yelled "oh no". Matt and I really enjoyed watching her expressions and interest.

On the way home we broke up the drive a bit more than usual. We stopped and stayed with Matt's brother Eric and his family in Wichita. This was a great way for us to break up the trip and spend a little extra time with our niece and nephew who we hadn't seen in a year.

Hope everyone's Christmas was wonderful and you all took time to reflect on the meaning and took time to be thankful for the Gift God has given to us all.

Let it Snow

Wow! Well, If you read my last post I said that the weather turned ugly Wednesday evening. It started raining about 1am Thursday morning and rained all day. About 2pm Thursday afternoon it got cold enough and rain turned to snow. It snowed the rest of the day and all night and even had flurries until about 10 am this morning. At our house...we ended up with 4-5 inches or so.

View from our backyard about 10am Friday.
Cami in our front yard. Cami wasn't really sure about this stuff. She liked being outside, but didn't like walking in it.

All bundled up.
We decided to go for a walk / bike ride. We dropped some mail off at the mailbox and walked down to the park in our neighborhood. Cami wanted to play on the play equipment until she realized that it was covered in snow. I let her on the slide once...that was enough for her.
Riding her bike at the park
On our way back home.
relaxing on mommy's & daddy's bed watching a movie. In my opinion how the majority of all snowy days should be spent.

River of Lights

Every year starting around Thanksgiving, the Albuquerque botanic gardens and aquarium put on an amazing festival of lights. Set up throughout the botanical gardens are beautiful and detailed light displays. Everything you can think of from Christmas theme lights to animals found at the zoo. Matt and I went 2 years ago...when Cami was still cookin' in my belly.

We went last night with the Archuleta's. We had a great time. Some of it was lost on Lili (almost a year), but Cami really enjoyed herself. On the way to the gardens, we were telling her that we were going to see Christmas lights/Santa lights. She then started saying, "Santa, Ho Ho Ho". Where she got that...we have no idea. It was adorable.

It had been a beautiful afternoon, as we approached evening it got cold windy and a little rainy. So we bundled up.

Outside, waiting for the gate to be open.
The Archuleta's
Nairne and Liliana in front of the Sunflowers

Mommy's being silly
Sweet Gingerbread Girls
Cami riding an ant
Standing on a flat bed truck filled with musical theme lights
Cami and Mommy

We went just in time, considering it has been raining since late last night. Definitely a family tradition that we will continue for years to come.

PGA Awards Banquet

As many of you know, it has been a very busy few weeks. I'll start at the beginning of November. The First week of Nov., Matt was in Boston for the PGA Annual Meeting as well as celebrating his 32nd birthday without his 2 favorite girls. He returned home on a sunday night, his mom & dad arrived the next day and 3 days later he had hip surgery.

2 weeks later was Thanksgiving.

1 week after that, Matt had the Annual meeting for SCAGA, Annual PGA Awards Banquet & meeting and a business planning session.

Luckily we are blessed with retired parents who adore our daughter and are willing to come and hang out with her whenever we need them to! Matts Mom and dad were here 2 weeks and 1 week respectively to help out during the surgery and recovery process. My parents were here for Thanksgiving and the meetings.

Thank you to both set of grandparents for your love of us and sweet Cami girl

The following is a photo of Matt and I all dolled up at the awards banquet. It doesn't happen very often....so I thought I'd share a picture.

Cami's Luggage

Yet Another Christmas Present.

This one is from Mommy & Daddy. In hindsight upon ordering, I should have had it shipped to Matt's Mom and Dad's house (where we will be on Christmas). Instead we will be able to pack her things in it.

She was so excited and knew exactly what to do with her new luggage.

Posing
Filling it with toys
Cheese
Showing Mommy that she can use it all by herself. What a big girl!!!

Love it. It's from personalizationmall.com It is light weight and sturdy and perfectly toddler sized. We will be flying to FL in January ....I'll let you know how it travels.

Goodbye Highchair

Well....Goodbye highchair! I can't believe it. Our baby isn't even 2 yet and she has already graduated out of the highchair. Unreal.

As of lately, Cami has been insistent that she no longer wanted to sit in her highchair, but wanted to join us at the table. So off to Wal-Mart I went and invested in a booster seat. She is thrilled and hasn't missed a beat, literally it took zero time for her to get accustomed to it.

enjoying a cookie her Nana gave her
Big Girl
Talking...what a surprise! :)

Christmas Present from Aunt Karen(and family)

Christmas continues....

Yesterday when we got home from picking up Daddy at work we found a very special package on the front step. Cami was insistent that it be open right away. Really insistent! So while I was cooking dinner (and snapping a few pics) Cami and Daddy put together her new shopping cart!

Cami is posing next to the unopened box
"helping" daddy put it together
reading the instructions (which sounds something like this.... book two daddy food...) you get the idea
Let the playing begin!!!
If this doesn't say... "Thank You Aunt Karen"... I don't know what does!

We took a break in the action to have supper. Then she played with it virtually non-stop until bed time.

Thanks Karen you picked a winner!