What about Christmas Eve?

I am waiting on pictures from Christmas Eve. I am supposed to be getting pictures from my mom and Alexis from Christmas Eve, so when I do I will post them to. Sorry for the delay.

Check out the Videos

I have been a slacker on my videos lately and I have been called out on it several times so I am trying to catch up. If they just didn't take so long to download it would be easier. Anyway check out the new videos on the side bar. There should be about 6 new ones. Some are not that great but I posted them anyway. Hope you enjoy!

Tubes Today

Raylee had tubes put in her ears this morning. It was such an easy process, I could not believe it. She was only away from me for about 20 minutes and it was all over. Everyone had told me that it was very quick, so I don't know why I was so surprised when the doctor came to tell us it was over after she had only been gone for about 8 minutes. I hope and pray that this will solve our ear issues. She has had 6 ear infections just this year and 5 of the 6 have been since June. She had one on Thanksgiving and then another one Christmas too. It has been a great year but we are planning on an even greater year in 2009 without ear infections.

I did not get any pictures at the hospital, I just can't bear the thought of taking her picture when she is unhappy. Anyway, she is feeling fine now. We got back home at about 8:30 this morning and she took a 3 hour nap (been up since 5:30) and has been playing ever since. It was actually about 5 hours later when we found this. Raylee thought it was hilarious. We finally got rid of it after she has stuck it on everything in site. Thanks to everyone for your prayers.

Forgot This GIft

Forgot to tell you guys about the potty Raylee got from Mimi. Potty Training is new to me and Raylee, so it may be a while, but we are just going to start nice and easy. Our first goal is for Raylee to learn how to sit on the potty correctly. So far every try we have had, her feet end up inside the pot! We need to learn how to sit right before we get out feet wet (or dirty)! We'll keep you posted on our progress.

Christmas Evening at Nana and Daddy Bruce's

After Lunch and the afternoon with the Evans' we were on the move again. We had more food, fun and presents waiting on us at Nana and Daddy Bruce's so we were off to the Heaton's. It is a good thing they only live a mile or so from each other and we did not have a long trip. And by this time my camera's memory card was full. So Nana's camera came in handy (it's better than mine anyway). I will have more pictures to post when I get them from her. But here are a few for now.

This is the kitchen that Raylee got from Nana and Daddy Bruce, which was also a BIG hit. The thing litterally has all the "bells and wistles". Maybe Daddy Bruce will be able to teach Raylee some of his cooking technique. Seriously, I don't know what I am going to do with all of this stuff. These presents were much bigger than the ones from last year. I just hope they don't keep getting bigger each year or we will be moving!

Our yearly family photo that is always a "blast" to take. So glad to have such a wonderful family to spen Christmas with. We love all of you!

Christmas Afternoon at Mimi and Pop's

After spending some time at home Christmas morning and after Raylee's morning nap, we headed off to Mimi and Pop's house where more fun awaited us. By then Raylee had gotten the hang of this present stuff. As you can see she had a blast! Thanks to Mimi, Pop, Alexis, Chris and Meghan for all the cool stuff we got. Love you guys!

I love this picture! She was concentrating so hard on the name tag. Not that it would have mattered whose name was on it, cuz she was opening all of them anyway.

Showing off some of her clothes that she got

And here is the ball pit that Meghan ( and later, Bryan, Tracy, and Kinsley also) gave Raylee. She is in love with this thing, and I am trying to love it even though it is taking up the middle of my living room as we speak.

And the ol' Sit-n-Spin... but they now play music. We are still practicing the spin part.

The stick elephant from Mimi and Pop

The "Silly Faces" books also from Mimi and Pop

And then the fun had with the bags.

Love this one too. A total accident, I swear!

Christmas Morning at Home

Although last year was Raylee's first Christmas, this was really the first Christmas that really counted. Christmas morning Raylee woke up and after a few cues went running to the Christmas tree to see what Santa had left. I had so much fun just watching her open her presents, and I know she had fun too. I only wish that I had left more unwrapped. Once she opened the first present she wanted it out of the box immediately. So while Daddy was getting things out of boxes (you know how hard that usually is) I was trying to persuade her to focus her attention on opening another gift. This was a viscious cycle until all the gifts were unwrapped and unboxed. Then she did not know what to play with first. She was a little overwhelmed, but I don't think she was the only one. Just a few pictures of her with some of her things.

"helping" Daddy

"feeding" the new baby

"helping" Daddy put the baby stroller together

She had a little bit of trouble getting the hang of this riding thing. She kept getting on backwards at first...

but she finally got the hang of it.

Just some fun family photos from that morning.

playing in the floor with Daddy

I know it is pathetic, but this is the only picture I have of the 3 of us on Christmas morning. Well, as they say, "You live and you learn", so I will be better prepared next year.

MiMi and Nanna's Lasting Impressions

Donna helped us out again this year with Christmas presents for the Grandmoms. Afterall, what grandparent doesn't like pictures. I loved them too, they turned out great! We had a shorter photo shoot than normal because Raylee fell out of the chair (pictured last) onto her sweet little face/head, and wasn't in the best of moods afterward, but I couldn't blame her, it was a pretty bad tumble. But it worked out perfectly, because the photo of her reading her Bible was what I had in mind anyway, and it just so happened that you can't even see the blue knot on Raylee's right side of her forhead. Anyway, I could not have asked for anything better. Thanks Donna the Grandmoms loved them as usual.

Knock off the Dust

This was one of Raylee's Christmas dresses this year. It is about 26 years old. My sister Beth actually wore it one Christmas when she was about a year and a half. I of course had one almost identical that I wore the same year, but it was too big for Raylee right now (I was 3 at the time). Maybe one of the next 2 Christmas's she will be able to wear mine. Either way, I just wanted to share it.

Hanging Out with Daddy Bruce

Practicing our "Ho, Ho, Ho"

Visiting the only life size Santa we can get her to visit.

After a hard day's play.

Who or What is "BoBo"

Raylee has really started voicing her opinion lately, it's just too bad we don't what in the world she is saying. When she gets excited, everything is a "Bo-Bo". Dogs are Bobos, Snowmen are BoBos, and when she is overcome with excitement looking at Christmas lights, BoBos fly from her mouth one right after the other. Just a snip-it video to explain.

Look what I found

Over the last few weeks we have walked into the den several times and found Raylee inside her toybox and all of the toys outside of the toybox. I just happened to get some pictures and a video this time. As you can tell the smocked dress did not slow her down any either. I don't know why I am EVER surprised.