Our family has been elfed!

Check out our elf family! You have to refresh it a few times before it truly loads! Enjoy!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1611953769

Sneak Preview

OK, so I am a little late in getting my Christmas cards out so here is a sneak peak at what will be inside:) I know, exciting huh?

All Aboard...

Payton giving me kisses In line to get on the Polar Express

Payton acting like Santa..."Ho Ho Ho" On the train

Looking at the pretty view

Santa giving Payton "the first gift of Christmas" - a bell

Trying to get away from Santa:)

Doesn't he look like a "little man"? Payton & Jolie watching "Frosty The Snowman"

Opening presents

Jolie

This weekend was filled with holiday activities, beginning with my annual cookie extravaganza with my mom and sister. This year we made sugar, molasses, spritz, thin mints, brownie bites, lemon, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! It took pretty much the entire day on Saturday! Graham & Payton met me later in the day to go on a Polar Express train ride in South Elgin. Payton had a great time and even got a bell from Santa to ring. He loved dancing in the aisle of the train as they sang Christmas Carols. It was a cute thing to do with him but pretty cheesy!

Today we went to my Aunt's house in Indiana for our annual Christmas get together. The got about 10 inches of snow last night but we were still able to make the trek out there and have a great time. Payton got some fun new toys and pajamas!

"Noooooo Santa"

Santa's House Looking for Santa

Deciding if he likes Santa or not Not!

Christmas 2006

Payton was not excited about meeting the big guy tonight. This is two years in a row where Payton has been afraid of Santa, but at least we could get him to sit on his lap last year. This year, Graham had to be in the picture and even then he was still not so sure of the situation:) Here are some funny pictures of Payton and Santa (and Graham). I put one from last year to so you can see the trend we are creating!

The Flu Bug Bites Hard

Payton chilling, watching The Polar Express

Just hours after my last post Payton began his three day battle with the stomach flu:( He was getting sick every 15 minutes on Sunday from about 3pm to 6:30pm. Graham stayed home on Monday with him and he seemed OK, other than his lack of appetite. He made a snowman in the front yard that he is totally obsessed with looking at and even went sledding again. On Tuesday morning as Graham was pulling out of the driveway he started getting sick again! Graham had to stay home again because we are trying to save my sick days for whenever we have another baby. He went back to the babysitters today and is in much better spirits. He was asking for cream of wheat for dinner and ate a whole bowl full. Lets hope it stays down tonight:) While he was sick he watched a lot of movies, his favorite being The Polar Express! It is hard to break the laying on the couch watching movies habit now that he is better! I think we have created a movie monster:)

Drinking Eggnog that Daddy made

Sledding!

My daring child

All bundled up

As it gets closer to the holidays, it seems as if our weekends become busier and busier. On Friday, I tried to take Payton to the Crystal Concert at Neuqua. This is something Graham and I have loved going to because the music is just so beautiful and all of the music groups (chorus', bands and orchestras) participate and the music literally never stops til the end. Anyways, Payton loves music so I thought he would enjoy this. He was totally mesmerized by the first song played by the band but pretty much after that he was not wanting to sit there and listen:( Graham was at class that night so after about 15 minutes of good sitting Payton had had enough and he and I went home! I was proud of him for sitting still that long but wished I could have seen the whole concert. Oh well, what can you expect when you bring a toddler with you, right?

On Saturday, we had pictures taken with Jolie & Emmett and they turned out great. When Graham got home from class we took Payton sledding. He had a great time, giggling all the way down until he took a face plant into the snow! It was time to go home after that:)

On Sunday, we had our playgroup Christmas party at my friend Ronnette's house. We pick names beforehand and then have the kids open their gifts. We also do a book exchange where you get a chance to steal a book if you like someone else's better. It can get a bit crazy now that the kids get attached to a book so quickly! I am so bummed because I forgot my camera and was unable to take any pictures at the party! We are hoping to go out and make a snowman when Graham gets home from class today. Payton has been asking to do that all day!

Our first big snowfall!!

Payton had a blast playing in the snow today! He had a bit of trouble walking in his new boots, as you can see in the first few pictures but he quickly got the hang of it. He wanted to help me shovel the driveway and was so upset that he didn't have his own shovel, so I gave him a dustpan and he pretended it was his shovel the entire time it took me to do the driveway! Who would have known it would be that easy:)

Bad News Bears

We had a pretty relaxing weekend due to the weather, however, we did have the opportunity to go to the Bears game on Sunday with our old neighbors, Jen & Brian. We had a blast, despite being soaked from the shins down and freezing! I had never been to the new Soldier Field so it was fun to finally see it. It's too bad they lost;( On Saturday morning, Becky volunteered her time to help me get to know my new camera since it is the same one as her. Thanks to her I understand some of the settings now but getting them to work right is a whole other story! Here are some random pictures that I have taken with the new camera.

It's Here!!

Payton's shoes:)

Emma

Here I was playing with the different lighting options so it looks a bit funky!

Well, I got my new camera this week and boy am I already totally overwhelmed!! It is awesome but I have NO idea how to use it. There are way too many crazy technical terms that I need another book to just define those words before I can understand my manual:) Here are some random pics that I took as I practiced with the many settings it has. As you can see from the pictures that I am clueless with this camera. I hope the pictures I take will get better:(