Washington D.C. baby!

On March 27th Bob, Etta and I will be boarding a plane to fly to Washington D.C. to visit Aunt Molly and Uncle Jim. We are already very excited to go.

Etta was ready last week. (That is even Aunt Molly's suitcase.)



Can't wait to get a group shot at THEIR house!



Am I Aunt Molly's girl or what?



Love you Aunt Molly and Uncle Jim!! Can't wait to see you on the other coast!

A couple of turkeys

...cooking the turkeys.


In the deep fryer.



All done and yuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy!

A few gift opening shots

Christmas morning was very fun. Etta had no idea what was going on. When going through her stocking she only wanted to play with whatever just came out. No going back for more.

I love that.

I will admit, it was a bit frustrating at the time, but I would rather have that than a child who tears through everything demanding, "More! More! More!" I am hoping that next year we can enjoy the same experience.

Another quirky habit she had was while opening presents. She would tear off a little piece of wrapping paper and then have to take it to Baba to put in the garbage bag. We are talking about a piece of paper about as big as a dollar bill. Wouldn't that have taken awhile? While she was making her trip to the garbage I would tear off big chunks for her to haul over. Again, this is a habit that I wouldn't mind seeing her keep.

The third super cute story involves opening gifts at Steve and Cathy's. Each time I would open a box (after she had disposed of all of the wrapping paper...) Etta would say, "Niiiiiiiiice!" A perfect mimic of what she was hearing others say all day.

A bonus of the day? She didn't wake up until 8:00. That meant that we ALL got to sleep in. I'm sure that is one thing that will definitely be changing as she grows up!!

One strip at a time. There's no hurry mommy.



Waiting to go through the stockings. Hanging with Eek-Eek.



Dude. What are you doing?



New bear from Howard and Leah (people from church). I think that she likes it!

Baba Squared

It's a great Christmas when you get to play with TWO Baba's all week!

For you Baba, I will take a bite.



But you may have to fly it in.



Am I on candid camera?



We must play with the bus *this* way Baba.

Waitin'

Just waitin'. For? Whatever. When you are little it doesn't really matter, you pretty much have to wait for everything.

Kitchen!

Etta has been wanting to help mommy in the kitchen for ages. This summer we saw a kitchen at Art in the Park at Summer Celebration. Montana Gram being Montana Gram (thanks!) got Etta the kitchen for Christmas. I supplied the food, Aunt Molly supplied the pots, pans and baking set. Three aprons and we are ready to cook!

Pants optional



Checking out the burners



Apron #1



Let's cook!



Cheese! (Can't you just read it on her lips?)



A feast. With a double shot.



Apron #2 - Thanks Aunt Molly!



Etta actually slept in until almost 8:00 on Christmas morning. Amazing since she went to bed at 7:15 on Christmas Eve! We ate breakfast, did stockings and she got to open her presents. But then she was getting tired - although she was denying it!

"No no ni-night! Mo' play!" But she did sleep for about an hour.

After more play after lunch - "No no ni-night! Coo'! Coo'!" "Waaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Insert temper tantrum here.

But I would have to admit. I would have wanted to stay up on play more too.

Family

Baba, Gama, Eek-Eek (or Boy).

Does Christmas really get much better than this?