Christmas 2009

Ellie had a hard time Christmas morning deciding if she wanted her presents or not. We think that she thought that Santa was actually there in the room and that disturbed her a bit.

Christmas morning take one…

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Christmas morning take two…

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Christmas morning take three!…

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She finally got into it all and was so fun to watch. It literally took all day to unwrap all her presents because she would spend time playing with each one.  Which was a good thing because she loved and appreciated each and every gift she was given.

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We also had a memorable incident involving fire and candles. We set up our Christmas pyramid I bought last March while visiting my sister in Germany.  While I was trying to capture the moment with a picture Ellie leaned in a little too close and caught her hair on fire. I heard a sizzle and looked up from the camera to see flames on the side of my wee ones head. So I jumped up quick and patted it out. Just some singed hair. Ellie wasn’t even phased by it all she looked at me like “what are you doing?”. At any rate lesson learned and a memory we can laugh about now.

On Saturday we traveled up to my parents house for a Christmas dinner with my brother’s family, Grandpa Jackson, and Aunt Laurie. As usual my Mom made a huge delicious spread and we ate our self’s silly.

After dinner and some naps we went out to the garage to play on the big wheel the my uncle Dan sent for the kids a few years back. My Dad had just put it together over the weekend and was excited for the boys to play with it. Needless to say it was a hit.

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Now we are settled in and enjoying our gifts and food. Baby brother has had plenty to say as he is actively kicking and rolling in my belly. We just had our 28 week checkup and all is well. Just the finale third trimester to get through and he will be here. Time is flying by.

Pre Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa McKenney’s

Ellie and I spent the weekend with my parents. Our main objective was to visit with Grandma and Grandpa and the Cousins. I also wanted my Mom’s back up for a Christmas project I’m working on for Ellie.

We made plans to go to the American West Heritage Center in Cache Valley where they had different events such as tea parties, train rides, pony rides, Father Christmas, and a live nativity. On Friday afternoon we had a little tea party with just us girls. It was fun and we had a little lesson about manners and learned a little bit about life at the turn of the century.

On Saturday we went back with the boys and Uncle Jon to enjoy the train and pony rides. Ellie surprised me by getting right on the pony with out any hesitation. In the past she has been extremely reluctant to do such a thing but this time in the company of her cousins she was fearless. They also had a live nativity with a donkey and a goat. Unfortunately the donkey and goat were resting when we went on day two but we still dressed up the kids and got the picture…

Ellie also really got into helping Grandma with some of her Christmas treats. She was very focused on unwrapping some chocolate kisses for her

I didn’t complete my Christmas project unfortunately but I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I did without my Mom’s help. It will just have to be a New Years Present instead…

Bada and Papa’s Pre Christmas Gifts

Yesterday we received a pre-Christmas package from Bada and Papa. Let me tell you it was met with much enthusiasm. I wasn’t sure about opening the box at first but then I found the card with instructions explaining that it was a pre-Christmas surprise. There were specific instructions for Ellie to share the shaker with her baby brother and let him hear all the fun too. It arrived just at the right time. Ellie and I were starting to get some winter blues after being “home bound” for a few days due to our latest snow storm. Now we have some fun stuff to play with until Christmas is really here. Whew, so here is a bundle of videos to show Bada and Papa just how much you made our day. Thank You!!!

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There are some more on my flickr page if you are interested too. Enjoy

Oh the Weather Outside…

It’s snowing and snowing and snowing. Started yesterday and I don’t think it’s going to stop until tomorrow. Of course Gary got the powder fever and got up early this am to make the trek to Alta for the frenzy. All I can say is that he will be coming home to a job of work because it is building up out there. Ellie and I went out for a hot minute to get some fresh air. She didn’t last long kept saying “go home”, but she did manage to get her share of freshies.

And then there are the things we find ourselves doing on these snowy home bound days. Oh the fun!

It’s Begining to Look a lot Like Christmas

We had a week full of fun Christmas activities including a train ride on the “Polar Express“, Gingerbread Houses, and getting our Christmas tree. It was a busy but very fun week.

First up the Heber Valley Railroad provides a nice little Polar Express ride during the holidays. We enjoyed Hot Chocolate and cookies, a reading of the Polar Express story, a beautiful moon light view, Christmas Carols, and Santa of course. Our neighbors joined us for the adventure. I’m really glad we did this Ellie and Zak were in awe. It was a good first interaction with Santa for Ellie. He was kind enough not to scare her too much and offered her a jingle bell. When he had to leave she kept saying “bye bye Santa”.

Next up we teamed up with our friends Jen and Zak to make Gingerbread Houses for the Midway Cottages for the Children Fundraiser. They came over Wednesday evening and we built our little gingerbread neighborhood. Zak and Ellie helped for a little while but then decided playing and running around was more interesting. So it became a Mom project. It turned out pretty good. The next morning Ellie checked it out for a while with big eyes naming all the gingerbread animals we scattered around the cottages.

Finally, on Thursday we picked up our Christmas tree. We were particularly excited because it is our first little family Christmas Tree. Getting a tree and decorating it was one of the little events I was really looking forward to this year. I did missed decorating the tree Marcoccia style late into the night with the scratchy old record player. I was worried we wouldn’t have enough ornaments or lights for it but it turned out just right thanks to what we have collected over the years from family and friends. Ellie got right into it hanging up bells and ornament, enjoying hot chocolate, and dancing to the Christmas music. It was a good night in our wee little home.

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Ode to Chip

CHIP, PICH, BOY, CHIPPER, CHIPPY, our dog, our guardian, our friend, our shadow, may you rest in peace boy…

Chip was a unique dog. His first year of life was a difficult one that left a mark on his personality. Gary was cautioned by friends not to take him that he was a mess, but there was some kind of connection there that bonded them. I think at the time they really needed each other.  He was a  nervous dog with a major separation anxiety problem but the more Gary loved and took care of him the more normal he became.

I met Chip about 3 or 4 years before Gary and I started dating. At a party one summer in Jackson Hole. I remember him pacing between rooms checking on Gary. I tried to pet him but he wouldn’t have it. Only Gary could touch him. I remember thinking “that dog is crazy”. Then a few years later I got to know Gary and his dog Chip. Chip got used to me right away and with a few years of maturity he accepted me as part of his “pack”.

Chip never got over his separation anxiety. He followed Gary everywhere right on his heals all the time. On our wedding day as we were taking our vows Chip made his statement by breaking free of the leash he was on and running down the aisle so he could stand by Gary. I will never forget that. So endearing and such a tribute to his loyalty to Gary.

My parents have been Saints for watching over him while we have gone on various trips. Dealing with his sensitive stomach and such. Over time they were the only ones that could take him as he got used to their house and the routine of staying with them.

When we brought Ellie home Chip showed mild interest in her sniffing and checking out the wiggly bundle. Both Adah and Chip accepted her right away too. Never acting out as she crawled on them, poked at them, pulled their hair. Most old dogs that have had the history of Chip’s first year don’t tolerate children but he never made me nervous around her. If he didn’t like it he would move to the next room or look to me or Gary to help him out. Even on the last good day he had he tolerated Ellie yelling in his face and chasing him around the room. He didn’t feel good and any other old sick dog would have snarled at the innocent playfulness of a child, but he just got up and looked at me for help. He loved us and we loved him.

I haven’t known Gary with out Chip. He has been with us through it all. There is definitely a missing piece now and an emptiness to our wee house. I’m glad I took the time Thanksgiving morning to brush him out before Gary took him to the vet. It was my way of thanking him for watching over Gary when I wasn’t there and keeping him company, thanking him for being such a good dog for Ellie to experience as her first relationship with a dog, and thanking him for loving me too and letting me into his insecure little world.

Many friends and family have responded to the news of Chip passing through phone calls and comments on facebook and skibumpoet. Thank you for all the love and support. I wanted to share some of the comments…

Some Wee Chronicals

Gary and Ellie often take the dogs for a walk in the morning while I put myself together for the day. I think it is really good Daddy time for her she always comes back happy and refreshed. Gary tells her they are “chasing bunnies” and they always try to find the moon if la Luna is around in those morning hours. Last week they went out to “chase the bunnies” and apparently it was exhausting because Gary brought her home passed out in the back pack. This was after the big weekend with Papa and Bada.

This week I have been working on a project for her for Christmas and she came up with these funny ways of entertaining her self.

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Yesterday Gary took her out in the morning and they ended up taking some rides in the sleigh rather then chasing bunnies. Here is a clip of that adventure.

Few other funny notes about this silly girl

Chip and Adah’s names are backwards in Ellie language Chip is “Pich” and Adah is “Dadah”.

She calls waffles “Awfuls”

She keeps having memories of our weekend with Bada and Papa and randomly says “Silly Papa”

She calls any kind of candy or cookies “trick-or-treats”

She is aware that she is going to be a big sister and is getting familiar with baby brother by patting my belly once in a while.

Fun with Grandparents and First Ultrasound

Gary’s parents Bada and Papa traveled to Utah for a visit this past week. It was so nice to have them here and to have them see all that Ellie is doing now. I think they were surprised at how much she is talking. She does repeat everything we say. They spoiled us every morning with yummy cinnamon rolls from the hotels breakfast and Ellie got a little gift from them every day as well.

Bada and Papa were able to go with us Thursday to the first ultrasound. Which ended up being perfect timing since I didn’t realize until the day before that Ellie couldn’t come in with us and I didn’t have any baby sitting options. So they waited patiently with the Wee One as we got to see our baby for the first time. What an experience the first ultrasound is. I got emotional with Ellie and I was emotional this time as well. We discovered that we are going to have a little boy added to our family. There was no doubt about it. He is all healthy with a perfect little heart, stomach, face, and such. I am bummed because we are having technical difficulties with our scanner so I can’t post any of the ultrasound pics. I feel like my belly is getting bigger everyday. I’m starting to feel a little scrunched and uncomfortable, seems too soon but that has been the theme of this pregnancy.  He has been active too in fact we saw him practice his boxing during the ultrasound moving those wee arms. I have been feeling him moving around a lot lately mostly in the evenings.

Next up…

On Saturday Ellie and I met up with Grandma McKenney, Aunt Tamara, Summer, Parker, and Coleman for Disney Princess on Ice show.  We braved the storm to see all the beautiful princesses sing and dance around. It was worth it. Just watching the kids take it all in was a show in it’s self. We had a great time and Ellie’s eyes were so big she was in awe. At the end of the show as we were walking out she said to my Mom “That was so FUN!” So cute…

While Ellie and I were away. Gary, Papa, and Bada were hard at work putting together Ellie’s new bed. We upgraded her to a new twin bed. They did such a good job rearranging the room and putting the bed together. It was a nice surprise for Ellie and Mama to come home to. I was very thankful to have it done and get her room in order way before the boy is here so she doesn’t have to adjust to everything changing so suddenly. Her crib is still in the room ready for brothers arrival and she isn’t even phased by it. I guess wasn’t as attached as I thought. Big thank you to Bada and Papa for working on our wee house that day.