Happy New Year!

2010 was a damn good year. Despite the chaotic ending, my family was very blessed this year--mostly blessed with boring!

**plenty of snow to play in
**finishing my masters degree
**Jared's acceptance to nursing school
**vacation to the beach with family
**riding Thomas the Tank Engine
**Jared back at Partners 'n' Pals, which I know fills his soul
**lots of trips to the park and the library with my girlie
**finding an amazing daycare
**potty training
**challenging new classes to teach, which is stretching my abilities as an educator
**arising interests in books and dress up
**meeting some personal challenges, and making what headway we can

Yep. Pretty damn good year.

Merry Christmas!

Happy holidays from our family to yours!

Visiting Santa

This is the first year that Katie has asked to go see Santa. Because one of Jared's New Year's Resolutions is always to "stay away from the mall in December" we visited the Santa at Heritage Nursery. He was an excellent Santa, chatting away, without requiring a lot of answers from nervous children. Katie had been so excited to see him, and when we got there, she gave me a death grip around the knee. I bent down, and gently asked "Do you want to go talk to Santa?" And she said "Ok" and sauntered over to climb on his knee.



She asked Santa to bring her a present, a brown present. Not too sure about that.



The green dress is one that Nana made for me when I was Katie's age. I'm so glad she can wear it. It's a perfect dress for a Christmas picture with Santa!

Christmas shopping with Katie

As we were leaving Kohl's after buying nothing but a gift card, Katie started skipping beside me. Then she planted her little feet and declared, "Best party EVARRR!"

Oh, my Kate

Three years old. I cannot tell you how amazing it is having you in our lives.

"It's a birfday party! Yay!'

We had a small family gathering for Katie's third birthday. Can't believe my baby is three!











We're so glad our family was able to be with us to celebrate this girl! Missing family that's far away!