Nothing sweeter.
Cheers!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Kya meets Santa
Kya got to meet Santa this week at our local mall. She was so excited to see Santa it just melted my heart. I'm not sure what has her so excited about Santa but I know it has nothing to do with gifts (she was far too young to understand a Santa visit last year and we have not talked about the gift thing yet). Anyway, as you can see, she and Santa are good friends already.
Having a toddler around for the holidays gives me a new appreciation of the season and adds a heaping dose of wonder and love to Christmas. How did we live before Kya arrived?
Also at the mall is a new train that circles in entire interior of the mall corridor. For a couple dollars per person, you can ride on the train. This is 'way cool' if you are 20 months old or if you are someone named Grandma Don.
Kya has watched "The Polar Express" and was an old pro with the ticket stamping routine.
All Aboard!
She was a little nervous as they departed ...
But as they returned, she was all smiles.
The conductor gave Kya a DumDum for being a good passenger on the train.
So here is Kya thoroughly enjoying her first lollipop.
Thoroughly enjoying her first lollipop.
This week we also had a family caravan driving tour of the Bismarck-Mandan light displays.
The temperatures have been unusually warm so we took a walking break at this house.
Unfortunately light tours are a little past Kya's bedtime. Here she is reminding us of this.
Oh how I love my little elfkin.
. . .
Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Thanksgiving 2011
Needless to say (I guess I've already made it obvious with my lack of blogging), we've had a very busy few weeks.
Among the happenings the past month:
- my sister's wedding (woo!!!)
- thanksgiving (we hosted)
- the Pride of Dakota show (I was a vendor)
Each of those big events was wonderfully fun and would have kept me smiling all year. What fun to have three big happenings in two weeks.
So here goes some blog catch-up ...
I was preparing dinner in the kitchen and peeked into the living room to find Kya hard at work at my desk. Before seeing her like this, I had no idea that she could climb up into a chair. What a surprise it was to see her like this! She is now officially the Bison Booties office assistant.
My parents and Grandma Katy were in town for Caitlyn's wedding, so it was an extra special treat to have them around for Thanksgiving as well. Kya made many fun memories with Grandpa and Grandma Z.
Grandma Z and Kya bake pies at our house.
Corey, Kya, and I hosted Thanksgiving for Corey's family. This was the first bog cooking holiday we hosted in our new house and my first-time-ever cooking a turkey.
We also have a BEAUTIFUL day. Corey was happy to Kya out to play which gave me plenty of quiet time to cook and prepare the meal.
Kya likes to feel thebreeze wind in her face.
Kya liked watching thanksgiving football with Aunt Maria.
If you ever get the chance to sit down and chat with Maria, you will quickly learn that she is beyond intelligent - she is one of the smartest people I know. AND ... she knows lots about meat judging/butchering/grading. She is a super radical college kid. We're pretty lucky to be a frequent pit-stop on her way home.
Thanksgiving!
Kya ready to pray – and eat.
Corey's mom is the most gracious visitor, she brought part of the thanksgiving meal with her. She has a few family specialties that she cooks and it's a wonderful treat to have her cooking in the house.
By the way, my first-time turkey was delicious. Also, notice the lack of snow out the window - it was so warm!
Grandma Katy and Kya good buddies.
Grandma Katy stayed at the Seven Seas and invited us to visit and swim at the pool. Kya spent so much time in the pool she almost started growing gills.
The tree went up the weekend after thanksgiving.
The is nothing sweeter than the awe and curiosity of a toddler at Christmastime.
Helping Daddy hang her "First Christmas" ornament.
. . .
In other news:
[sigh]
Kya has been spending a bit of time in time-out lately. Time-out happens on our foyer church pew. This particular day, Kya thought it best to cuddle with the stuffed reindeer. Maybe she's starting to get the hang of this?
Bath time.
If Kya made the rules, she would have bath time for about five hours each day. I try to restrict baths to about 60 minutes a day, or until she is wrinkly as a prune – whichever comes first.
Among the happenings the past month:
- my sister's wedding (woo!!!)
- thanksgiving (we hosted)
- the Pride of Dakota show (I was a vendor)
Each of those big events was wonderfully fun and would have kept me smiling all year. What fun to have three big happenings in two weeks.
So here goes some blog catch-up ...
I was preparing dinner in the kitchen and peeked into the living room to find Kya hard at work at my desk. Before seeing her like this, I had no idea that she could climb up into a chair. What a surprise it was to see her like this! She is now officially the Bison Booties office assistant.
My parents and Grandma Katy were in town for Caitlyn's wedding, so it was an extra special treat to have them around for Thanksgiving as well. Kya made many fun memories with Grandpa and Grandma Z.
Grandma Z and Kya bake pies at our house.
Corey, Kya, and I hosted Thanksgiving for Corey's family. This was the first bog cooking holiday we hosted in our new house and my first-time-ever cooking a turkey.
We also have a BEAUTIFUL day. Corey was happy to Kya out to play which gave me plenty of quiet time to cook and prepare the meal.
Kya likes to feel the
Kya liked watching thanksgiving football with Aunt Maria.
If you ever get the chance to sit down and chat with Maria, you will quickly learn that she is beyond intelligent - she is one of the smartest people I know. AND ... she knows lots about meat judging/butchering/grading. She is a super radical college kid. We're pretty lucky to be a frequent pit-stop on her way home.
Thanksgiving!
Kya ready to pray – and eat.
Corey's mom is the most gracious visitor, she brought part of the thanksgiving meal with her. She has a few family specialties that she cooks and it's a wonderful treat to have her cooking in the house.
By the way, my first-time turkey was delicious. Also, notice the lack of snow out the window - it was so warm!
Grandma Katy and Kya good buddies.
Grandma Katy stayed at the Seven Seas and invited us to visit and swim at the pool. Kya spent so much time in the pool she almost started growing gills.
The tree went up the weekend after thanksgiving.
The is nothing sweeter than the awe and curiosity of a toddler at Christmastime.
Helping Daddy hang her "First Christmas" ornament.
. . .
In other news:
[sigh]
Kya has been spending a bit of time in time-out lately. Time-out happens on our foyer church pew. This particular day, Kya thought it best to cuddle with the stuffed reindeer. Maybe she's starting to get the hang of this?
Bath time.
If Kya made the rules, she would have bath time for about five hours each day. I try to restrict baths to about 60 minutes a day, or until she is wrinkly as a prune – whichever comes first.