Martha Stewart I am Not

For those of you who read the 'Tis the Season Blog, see some of the great dinners that happen here at our house. But you may be surprised (or not) to find out that some days just don't happen all perfect like.

First let me say, I had the cutest video that was supposed to be here for your viewing enjoyment, but I had some problems with it uploading. Yeah, I know surprise, surprise. But seriously, it is the cutest! I'm hoping that my Chris can upload it from his computer at work.

Anyway, back to the original story. The other night, I placed some Sister Schubert rolls (if you've never had Sister Schubert rolls, you have been missing out!) in the oven. Well, we didn't end up eating right away so I left the rolls in the oven to keep warm. Jump to the next morning. I decided to make some chocolate chip muffins for breakfast, so when I turned the oven on to preheat I noticed that the oven was very smelly but I figured it was just something burning on the bottom of the oven. Wow that was a terrible run-on sentence. Chris says to me, "Hey Lis, I think your chocolate brownies are a little burnt." Chocolate brownies? "I didn't make any chocola ... those are the Sister Schubert rolls we were supposed to have with dinner last night." Those poor rolls. Burnt into little chocolate brownies.

I think I'm in Trouble!

Take 963921. I'm not sure what is/was going on with the video. For this take, I uploaded it to Vimeo only to turn around and download it on the blog. Wow, I feel like I'm on a roller coaster with all this up and down stuff. I actually have some other things to blog about but I really want to get this just so before putting up something else. There is that roller coaster again. Oh boy.

The quality is terrible on this video - I have 2 tapes (60 minutes each) that need downloaded onto the computer so this video was taken on my regular camera.

At the very beginning (right after I make the not so suave video camera move) is what I'm talking about. The rest of the video, well, it is taken up with Elianna doing what she loves to do the most right now - wiggle. Sorry for the interruption of the big black dog we call Harley. Anyway, she sure is growing up fast!

Christmas 2009

Christmas time for us is always so busy and this year was no exception. The weekend before Christmas it snowed about 15 inches so on the eve of Christmas Eve we took Elianna out in the snow. Last year when I watched The Little Man, someone let us borrow a sled so we decided to use it this year and drag Elianna around the yard. And then my Chris hooked Harley up to the sled and he drug Elianna around for awhile. In the days leading up to Elianna's sled adventure, whenever my Chris talked about hooking him up to the sled, I had visions of Elianna being bounced around while Harley ran wildly around the yard. But I must say, he did a wonderful job pulling his little sister around in her little red sled.

Every Christmas Eve the teens take presents over to the residents at a local nursing home. This year we not only took them gifts of warm snugly socks and scarves but we also went around sang Christmas carols. The residents always enjoy the teens coming and this year was no exception.

Also on Christmas Eve, Chris and I went with others from church and took a Christmas dinner to a "town" where the homeless live. We also unloaded a trailer full of cut wood for them to burn this winter. Seeing how others live, makes me extremely thankful for what I have been given.

Christmas Day we opened our gifts, talked via "Oovoo" with my parents, made food to take to the Christmas dinner we were invited to and then spent the evening playing games at our friends house.

Oftentimes people asked if Elianna enjoyed her Christmas. Sadly, she had no clue that the day was any different. She took her usual naps and didn't seem too interested in her presents. Next year should be lots of fun with her though!

2 Years

This past Sunday was Toree's 2 year "birthday." Every year we eat at P.F. Changs for dinner and this year was no exception. We attempted to eat there Saturday evening but was told that the wait was 2 hours - uh no thank you. So instead we ventured back there on Sunday this time calling for a reservation in advance. But we didn't end up using the reservation. When I called to make the reservation, the girl told me that the wait was 20 minutes but if I made a reservation we would have to wait 45 minutes. I didn't understand that concept but we made the reservation anyway and when we got there and were told the wait was 5-10 minutes, I went outside and cancelled the reservation. Elianna was tired from not getting her morning nap, so she slept the entire time.

We then went and placed flowers on Toree's grave. I thought it would get "easier" (it never gets easier) once we had Elianna but I was totally wrong. For me it only is harder because I realize that all the things I see Elianna doing, we will never got to see Victoria do. It is a blessing to know that she can do all those things and more while being perfectly healthy in Heaven. For that I am thankful.

4 Month Pictures

Harley & Me - 4 Months

Happy New Year! 2010! Someday I'll look back and say to Papi and Mommy, "You were born in the 1900's?!?! Wow! You must be old!

Here is what I'm up to these days!

*I weigh 15 pounds and am 26 inches long.

*I a now wearing a size 2 diaper.

*I wear 3-6 month size clothes.

*I am finally growing a tiny bit more hair!

These are some things I like:

*Grabbing anything and everything and quick putting it in my mouth. This includes my hands, your hands, basically, anyone who comes up and oochy-goochy's me.

*Fruits and vegetables. I've had pears (2nd favorite), applesauce (can I have the cinnamon kind?), squash (which I like the most) and carrots (which are just ok). Carrots are more fun to make a mess of and get all over my clothes which apparently makes more work for Mommy because they stain ... or so she tells me.

*Talking and blowing raspberries. This is what I do most of the time now but it is most fun when Mommy is trying to feed me ... 'cept when the food goes in my eye then that goes in the "things I do NOT like" category.

*When Papi and Mommy "sing" and spell out my name. They say they have to start teaching me early since 1/2 of the letters in the alphabet are in my name. I think they need to make a video of them singing it so I can post it, but so far no luck. I'll keep trying.

These are some things I do NOT like:

*Laying on my back. Now that I can really push up on my arms and wriggle my legs, laying on my back is no fun. I mean really the ceiling is just not that exciting.

*Sleeping on my back. I love sleeping on my tummy but sometimes when I'm not happy about having to go to bed, I roll over onto my back. The bad part is I haven't quite figured out how to roll back over onto my tummy. Then it becomes this whole ordeal of Mommy coming in and rolling me back over onto my tummy and me getting mad and rolling back over onto my back. Oh the hard times I give Papi and Mommy.

Well, it's time for my bath so I better go!

Just a Note

I just wanted to clarify that Berger Bites is still up and running. Elianna is actually working on a post (Harley & Me - 4 months) and I am working on the Christmas post as promised.

My 'Tis the Season Blog has begun and will post only on the weekdays. I hope you stop by over there.

For now, have a wonderful day and be watching for Elianna's next post.