***Warning: This got kind of long in a hurry. I guess if I blogged more often I wouldn't have so much to write about all at once. Maybe I should add that to my New Years' resolution...see below.Another year has gone by and it seems like it was just yesterday that we celebrated the last new year. Last year we had friends over, played Cranium, ate Mexican food, drank champagne...or sparkling grape juice in my case. We're not really celebrating this year. I honestly had forgotten that today was New Years' Eve until about noon today. The kids were in bed by their normal times and Matt headed that way shortly after. He let me take a nap yesterday and then I slept in today until 8:00 so I'm not at all tired. I decided to post one final blog for the year and then do some knitting. I might catch the east coast countdown if I stay up late enough.
We had a great time over Christmas. I was successful in loading the kids, dog, luggage, and presents into the car by myself so that we could pick Matt up at the airport and head straight home from there. All was well until I realized that I had forgotten Gabrielle's "Lovey"--her security blanket. Luckily I was only about 5 miles from home so it was easy enough to turn around and get it. We made it home to SD and then to IA and had fun everywhere. It's a lot of work to take the kids on trips like that, but we wouldn't miss it for anything.
I was very impressed that Gabrielle didn't bother the Christmas tree even once. I thought for sure that she would try to pull it down on herself, but she just stood at a distance, pointed, and said Christmas as best she could...it kind of comes out like kish-ish. Pretty close though.
The kids took in a load of presents on both sides of our family. Gabrielle has pretty well coveted all of Colin's toys but I guess that's okay since he can't really put up a fight yet. I help him to play with some of them though. Yesterday he enjoyed playing with/eating the flower toy that Aunt Roxie gave him. There is one toy of Colin's that Gabrielle wants nothing to do with however. Grandma Jean got him the
Fisher Price Amazing Animals Sing and Go Choo-Choo. I think it looks like great fun but it scares her to death. It's just the engine part of the train though. She doesn't want the animals to touch it, she doesn't want the other train cars to be attached to it, and she certainly doesn't want it to sing or go...it drives itself across the floor while the songs play. I think it's going to have to be put away until we figure out how to make it less scary.
My sisters were both very excited to have been named by Gabrielle. Roxie is "Rah-rah" and Whitney is "Tee-tee"--both fitting if you know my sisters. After a rocky start with Grandpa Doyle about a year ago, he has become a favorite. She still asks for "Papa?" on occasion.
Colin is the proud owner of another tooth. One of his top teeth broke through on Thursday...I think. His gums have been so swollen that I couldn't really tell if it had come through and he wasn't too eager to have me feeling for it. There are at least 3 more that will probably be in within the week. His gums are almost pure white and you can see the shape of the tooth through the skin. I think his nursing days are gone for good now. He has perfected rolling over and is getting really close to being able to sit up on his own. He's the master of the walker and I think he'd really like it if he could reach past the front tray. He tries to reach further by sort of throwing himself to one side as if he's trying to get out of the walker all together.
Matt and I are lucky to have another week off of work before we have to go back. I guess Matt goes back on the 5th but that's hardly worth it in my opinion. I'm back to work on the 8th and then it's a charge to May. I'm really looking forward to this summer and spending time with the kids.
So this year I'm going to have the same New Years' resolution as last year. That's not bad, is it? Lots of people say they are going to exercise more, or lose weight year after year so I think I can repeat this year. My goal this year is to do a better job of keeping in touch with my friends and family. I've been blogging for a little over a year now and while it seems sort of impersonal I think this counts as an effort to stay in touch. I'm also going to try to send more email and even snail mail. I always love it when I get something in the mail that isn't a bill or credit card offer. You'll know I've been successful in acheiving my goal if you hear from me at least one more time in 2007 than you did in 2006...wish me luck.
Anyway...I hope you all have a wonderful New Year!
