Hot Tubbing With the Big Girls!

Last night mom and I went into the hot tub, and thought Kalia might enjoy it too . . . but obviously the water would be too hot for her, so we came up with a compromise - we filled her bathtub with water and put on her little swimsuit and brought her beside the pool with us! She loved it becuase when she would splash, we would splash too! I love how the straps of the swimsuit are off the shoulder. It tired her out too, because afterwards I got her to sleep in record time!

**Just so you appreciate, this post took forever! I am posting at mom and dad's and they do not have high speed. Oh well, there are worse things.

Pictures for Daddy

Here are a few pics of what Kalia has been up to in the last few days. Her and I are staying at my mom and dad's for the week while Scott is on MDS in New Orleans.

Playing happily on her knees with the piano we gave her for Christmas!

Crawling through the tunnel

Sucking on her thumb while having a lazy stroller ride around the kitchen

Hello 2007!

Kalia's latest trick! She clamps on so hard I can hardly get the spoon back!I took a bunch of pictures of the gorgeous nature around us, but the pictures never really do justice to how beautiful it was in real life.





We brought in the New Year at the lake with my family, and while we were there, we had a huge snowfall that just blanketed everything with pure white powder. It was so enchanting sitting in front of the big window and watching the snow fall, and it really made me appreciate God's handiwork! We brought up snowmobiles and fourwheelers and had lots of fun cruising around the lake and the trails. Inside, we sat by the cozy fire and read, played games and watched movies. I love going to the cabin in winter - it's such a retreat (even though there's no running water . . .)

More Christmas fun

On the 25th our church had a beautiful and touching Christmas Day service. The music, the Bible readings, the message - they made my Christmas complete. It is amazing the way I felt God's amazing love pouring down on me. When I think of a little baby precious and innocent like my own little firl with the weight of the world on his back it really hits me in a new way how much God cares for the lives of each of His children. He is Wonderful, Mighty and Everlasting and I will praise Him for that all of my days!! It felt so good to be surrounded by a body of believers and lifting up God's name in celebration. It was a goof reminder to me that the gatherings and the gifts are just a small fraction of expressing love compared to the gift that God gave to our broken world. I am so thankful for the peace and comfort God allows us to have in our hearts.

After church, we headed out to Scott's parents house for another fun day of celebrating. More games, great food, and gifts, and it was all over too soon. I think Christmas is my favorite season:)

playing with uncle Todd

not sure if we're liking this . . .

Bye-bye bunny!

Christmas Eve

Sunday, December 24th was a day full of fun traditions and suprises with my family when we celebrated Christmas. After the morning service at church, we had a yummy brunch of crepes with gourmet toppings like caramel apple, strawberry, and chocolate hazelnut sauces, topped with whipped cream - yum! In the afternoon, we relaxed and played a game, then had a delicious supper that mom had prepared. After supper, we gathered around the tree for presents and the Christmas story while sipping mocha egg nog (another yum!). Gifts take forever, but it's so fun the way my mom hands them out in the gifts in themes. Clothes, pyjamas, and this year she had a fun gift for each of us where we opened up a tiny gift, which was a hint to the real gift which was too big to fit under the tree. Scott got a little golf statue, and he had to go out of the room to find his new club, and I unwrapped a martini glass for my collection, and my big gift was a gorgeous mahogony display cabinet for my dining room! Kalia didn't last until even all of her gifts were unwrapped and ended up going to bed an hour early at 8:45 (usually I try to put her down by 9:45), which was strange becuase normally I have to work toget her to bed by a decent hour.

Kalia being mischeivous under the tree

who me?!

Kalia's first gift was from mom and dad - a little train with animals

Playing with her new train as it zooms away from her! I just love those pj's which she got from mom and dad! She looks so grown up!

We always set up the tripod and take pictures all dressed up by the tree, and snap lots of pics while opening gifts. This year, we tried not to double all of them, so we took half with mom's camera and the rest with mine, so I don't have any with myself in them. Oh well, we all know I was there.

Little Matchers!

How funny it was to arrive at the Christmas Eve Sunday School Program to see another little girl matching with Kalia! Sherri's daughter Emma (2 years old) and Kalia had the exact same outfit!! The funny thing is, that in the store, the little red cardigan wasn't even paired with the dress but we both picked it anyway. Aren't they a cute little pair!?

Our Little Christmas Celebration!

Scott, Kalia and I celebrated our Christmas on December 23rd in the morning, which is also Scott's birthday so that made it extra special. We had a yummy french toast breakfast (Well, Kalia had cereal), relaxed, and opened up gifts. Kalia loved the wrapping, but
also had a lot of fun with the gift we gave her - a Fisher Price Grand Piano! She even gave gifts of her own - a Disney movie for Daddy and a sweater for Mommy. It was funny because both Scott and I hadn't discussed that we were going to do that! My wonderful husband did an amazing job of shopping for me this Christmas. He went all by himself and gave me a bottle of perfume, a sweater, 2 pairs of pyjamas, and a gorgeous glittery poinsettia. I love that guy! Gifts are so special when they are picked out by someone you love and it's fun getting suprises too!

7 Months

I just love this little dress on her, especially with the headband!