Another Memorable Christmas!

Our daycare provider, Mary, throws a holiday cookie party for the kids and families every year. And every year Santa stops by to visit the kids. We figured that Zoey would enjoy this since she has really latched on to Santa, i.e. yelling "Ho! Ho! Ho!" whenever she would pass the santa statue on our stairway or see a picture of Santa in a book. Of course we also figured that she would be too shy to sit on Santa's lap. She proved us wrong. When Santa came into the room, her face just lit up! It was priceless. Then when Santa asked who wanted to come up and talk to him, Zoey was the first volunteer. She went right up to him and sat on his lap. Thanks Mary for the fun evening!

Zoey is taking after Grandpa Livingston--doing a little yard work in December.

I know that Nana already posted a picture of Zoey on her Tricycle, but I thought this one was cute. Zoey was much more aware of gifts this year--she knew exactly how to open them and wanted to play with everything that she got right away. We wanted to thank everyone for all the wonderful gifts that they gave her this year--she truly was blessed. And now we are trying to fit it all into our house--yikes!

Auntie Tammy colors with Zoey for awhile after all the gifts had been opened.

Eric gets caught playing the piano.

On Christmas Eve we drove up to Grand Forks to spend a few days with the Nyhlens. We went to Christmas Eve service with my parents and it was fabulous! My parents have a theory (and I have to admit it has worked so far) that kids who sit up in front of the church behave better because they can see everything and when they look back they can see all the faces of people. So there we were in the very front row. The piano and organ played beautiful christmas music and everytime they stopped inbetween songs, Zoey would yell out, "More! More!" Then the service started and the special music came. The singer finished and Zoey yells out, "Yeah!" and starts clapping. During the reading of the lessons, the pastors talked about how Mary and Joseph were in the stable with baby Jesus. Zoey yells out, "Mary! Yeah!" It was so magical to watch Zoey just take in the service. Her eyes were so wide during the candlelit singing of Silent Night. She ended the service by dancing her heart out to Joy to the World--causing the pastors to start giggling--we think.

When we got home that night Zoey and Grandma decorated Christmas cookies.

Just before bedtime, Grandma read us "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Zoey went off to bed to dream of opening the gifts the next morning.

The next morning Zoey was bright eyed and ready to go. . . we just had to wait for cousin Kylie and Rob and Nicole to come,

One of Zoey's gifts was an AquaDoodle. She has been having fun drawing on the mat. What a cool idea!

Cousin Kylie was a lot of fun this year. She is so smiley! Here she is with Misty, Gracie, and Grandma.

Zoey takes care of her new baby doll on the couch.

We also all went to the park to play. We had a wonderful vacation with family! Thanks!!!

A trike for Zoey!

She can't reach the pedals yet and it's easier to go backwards, but, by spring she'll be riding around the cul-de-sac. 

A piano for the miniature musician.

Thanks Auntie Ta-Ta and Eric! Wow! That piano can do everything. It's almost alive. Zoey found all the things it could do in no time at all. We adults has no idea... 

A Baby Doll for the Real Doll

Zoey had no problems opening packages. She was willing to help everyone else, too. 

Livingston Family Christmas 2006

 

What's a Parent to Do?

When we got home from daycare one night this week this is the first and only thing Zoey wanted to do. She went straight for a book and layed down on her stomach to enjoy reading it to herself. I am truly amazed at how much Zoey comprends and the enjoyment that she gets from reading--it is a far cry from many of my students at school. Interesting. . .

Again with the reading. . . She has been looking at books and reading her leappad ever since we got home--30 minutes ago!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA NYHLEN!!!

Since she can't find the sign for grandma in any of her books (and I believe that she has been looking) Zoey would like to send this hug to Grandma Nyhlen and wish her the Happiest Birthday Ever!!! We love you and hope you had a great day!

Here is the sign for Up. She uses this one a lot lately.

Here is the sign for Daddy.

Zoey is destined to be a hat girl. She loves all the hats that Nana knits her and also enjoys modeling other hats that she finds around the house. This one belongs to daddy.

One of Zoey's favorite traditions this year is opening the doors on the advent calendar. She asks about it all day long and gets so excited about opening it each night. She especially enjoys the very small treat of chocolate that she and I split.

Papa Livingston turns 60 years young!

Here is Zoey with all the old people (some older than others). She was good as gold and very pretty in her new dress and shoes. She ate lots of spaghetti and drank with a straw while the rest stuffed themselves with delicious food and wine. Papa enjoyed his party with all the family. 

Bucca's was a fun party!

 

Holy SH*T! Grandpa's 60!

Here's wishing Grandpa Livingston a very happy birthday with many returns.

In honor of your special day, I'm doing my part to learn how to use the potty. This way, when you forget how to use the potty, you can use my diapers.

Ahhh...old person jokes.

Happy Birthday! We love you.

Let the Holiday Season Commence. . .

On Friday we decorated the house for Christmas. Zoey is quite enthralled with the ornaments on the tree. Her favorite one is the motorized one of Winnie the Pooh and friends ice skating. Every night she says good night to the tree and in the morning she greets the tree with a big hello and a wave. It will be a fun holiday season!

We went to Brooten, MN on Saturday to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family. Zoey was pretty tired from the car ride (and no nap) but she got to spend a lot of time with her Cousin Kylie and Aidan.

It was so nice out this weekend, Zoey decided to mow the yard.

Thanksgiving -- A Casual Dinner

Here Zoey enjoys her apple pie while seated exactly where she wants to be. Last Thanksgiving all she got was a taste of sweet potato. She knows this is her chair and was pleased to be able to show us all how she can get in and out of it by herself. Dada had placed it by the steps so as not to forget it for the trip to the Nyhlens. It makes no difference where you eat as long as you eat in the proper chair. 

The family after the big meal. All are still awake! 

A worn out Zoey ready to go home. She is always the life of the party. 

Gobble, gobble! We hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had a great time at Nana and Grandpa's house today. We got to visit with Aunt Tammy and Eric and all enjoy some good food and games.

Our future gymnast shows off her latest tumbling trick. She balances on the chair and falls onto the couch. Yikes!

Zoey loves to play with stickers and post-it notes. So, what better way to use up all the mailing labels we get in the mail? If you find her, please mail her back to the address stuck ALL OVER her.

Even though we haven't posted in a while, as you can see, Zoey is happy and relatively healthy. (She has had a cold for the past couple of weeks.) Daddy is on his first 3 week break from school--so Zoey has been spending a lot of time with him. She has also come to visit me a school a few times. Her newest skill is saying yes and no. She is very opinionated these days--but her manners are pretty good. She has been caught saying please and thank you without being prompted a few times.

Zoey has also been very helpful. She loves to help us clean. When we do laundry, she will take all the clothes and shake them just like me when I am folding clothes. It is funny to watch the intricate details that she imitates.

Of course, Zoey likes to put on the clothes, Here she is modeling the newest way to wear Daddy's boxer shorts.

Open House Sunday

Zoey has a routine for Open House Sundays. Playing, read a book, looking at all the photos, read, eating, read, looking at the photos, read, playing, exploring, read, walk outside, playing, look at photos, read, naptime, playing and home again. But, she knows something new everytime she comes over to Nana and Grandpa Livingstons. She says "outside". She hides behind doors and tells us that it is "Robbie" who is behind the door. She gives real kisses. She even climbed up the stairs very fast and takes off her own coat. Wow! She's growing up so fast. 

I get ready for my nap.