Christmas Celebration #4

We celebrated Christmas with my family (the McGinnis') on the Saturday after Christmas.  We almost had to postpone it due to dads leg. 

Side bar:  A few days before Christmas, dad started feeling sick.  He thought it was just a bug...until this 'rash' appeared on his leg.  He showed us on Christmas day...and we all instantly knew that's why he was feeling sick.  I told him it looked like an infection.  It was all blochy, red, raised.  So I got online and researched leg infections and 'self diagnosed him' with Celluitious.  Mom took him to the hospital Christmas night...and sure enough, that's what he had!  They admitted him and gave him an IV/antibiotic.  They wanted to keep him for the weekend, but he talked them into letting him go home so he could have Christmas with us as planned.   (we were willing to postpone, he was not)  He went on Monday for an ultrasound and bloodwork, to make sure he didn't have any blood clots...and everything was fine.  He's supposed to be taking it easy and keeping it proped up...but you know him. 

Proud Granny & Poppy

Mom & Dad got him this antique Fire extinguisher!

This photo my favorite one of the Holiday season!  Josh took it :)

Christmas Celebration #3

I know you're probably thinking...how many Christmas celebrations do they need?  But we have a big family...we all agree it's more fun to spread the season out instead of packing it all into one day. 

On Christmas day (in the late afternoon) we made a last minute decision to go over to my mamaw and papaws for a visit. 

Zoe & Granny

Papaw always 'takes charge' of passing out the gifts. 

Mamaw recently got a new computer...so papaw bought her a printer!  He gets so proud of himself :)  He had Josh get it out and set it right up.  I don't even think mamaw had all the wrapping paper off of it before papaw had his knife out and was cutting the box open. 

Mom made mamaw a snapfish photobook ...she loved it!  She's been dying for photos of Zoe and Alyvia. 

Mamaw and Papaw got Josh & I, and Devon & Megan Omaha steaks!  (Chicken, potatos, steaks and some other goodies)  We made the potatos and chicken the other night and it was yummy!

Christmas Celebration #2

ETA:  Christmas morning!  We started the tradition (when we had our apartment) of staying home on Christmas.  We said people are welcome to come over, but the day of we will stay home so that our kids can play with their toys all day and not have to be rushed. 

Zoe and I woke up before Josh so we played in the living room and took some Christmas morning photos by the tree. 

Santa's sack he left her gifts in!  (No it's not FULL of gifts for her.  He filled the bottom with fluff to make it look more full) 

He brought her an outfit and a bath tub toy holder! Josh and I each got her a gift that the other didn't know about.  Josh bought her an outfit and I bought her books and then together we got her another outfit!

Daddy mocking her, sucking her thumb!

This is the outfit Josh picked out for her.

  He loves Talespin and always talks about it...they had it on my Disney Movie Club...so I had to get it for him :)

Mom and dad came over, after breakfast!  Dad wasn't feeling so well...and he showed me this NASTINESS on his leg....(more on that later)

This is the family tree I made for mom and dad for Christmas. 

Christmas Celebration #1

Christmas Eve we headed to Josh's family to have Christmas!

ETA: Josh had to work during the day, but got off work early.  As soon as he got home, we headed south to have Christmas with his family.  His grandparents joined us this year, which was a special treat!  (They do not celebrate Christmas due to their religous beliefs)  It was nice to have them there with us. 

The boys played playstation and Wii and we girls chatted, and laughed at Zoe. 

Zoe wasn't really excited about anyone holding her (imagine that)  but she did let Jessi hold her and play with her for awhile. 

She didn't really care about presents.  By the time we opened gifts it was approaching her bed time so we put her in her pjs and she played on the floor while we opened gifts.  Jake (Josh's brother) got her a glow worm and Jessi (his sister) got her a star toy.  She was interested in those two! 

Her OSU jersey for next season!

Yummy!

I'm going to make Zoe's baby food!
I've researched, asked questions, planned, made my list...and now I'm ready!
I have everything ready (I think) and I'm going shopping tomorrow.
Then I'll make it tomorrow afternoon :)
I will let you know how it goes.  Wish me luck.

I'm still here!

And I have lots of photos to share :)
We had a busy holiday...but it's all over {Sadly} now...and it's a winter wonderland outside.  I'm enjoying a relaxing night going through Christmas photos!  Will share lots soon :)

Is your name on the top of one of these?

Some little boxes I made for Gift cards :)

'Tis the Season...

I was just organizing photos, and realized that I never posted these photos of our Christmas Decorations from this year!

Help grant a wish!

If I have  your email address...then you probably got this email from me last night... if I don't, then read it now :)

The good people at the Make-A-Wish Foundation have asked if we could help a young local boy's Christmas wish come true. You may have seen his story on the news. Nate Elfrink is a 7 year old from West Jefferson, Ohio who is fighting a brain tumor. His condition has deteriorated to the point that he's now under the care of Children's Hospice with one month to live. His cancer is no longer responding to chemo nor radiation.

As the tumor rapidly grows he looses function and will soon just drift off to sleep and not wake back up. All he wants for Christmas is one million (sparkly-if possible) Christmas cards. If you can find it in your heart to send him a Christmas card, his address is:

Nate Elfrink
2415 Taylor Blair Road
West Jefferson , OH 43162

He is a real little boy whom many local friends and family know and love. Please take a minute to make one of his last days a little brighter and pass this along as well.

Please send this on and help make his last innocent little wish come true, it's only 44 cents!

Dear Scrapbooking friends....

look what I just found...
eBooks

Happy 4 Months Zoe!

This cute little thing is 4 months today! 

Are you done?

Are you finished with your shopping?
I am about 75% done!  I have some gift cards to go buy...and a few other things.  Then it will all be finished.  I've bought a few things online.  I love shopping...but with Zoe it makes it hard to go in and out of several stores...but I can sit here with my laptop and order away :)

The best part about online shopping....I can use ebates and get cash back!  ChaChing!

Some more random things...

Miss Zoe went to the doctor for her 4 month check up yesterday.... she's 11lbs 6oz.  Big girl! :)
She still won't roll over.  She will lay on her back and then roll to her side, but won't roll all the way over. 

I have about half of our Christmas shopping done!  I just haven't had time to go do the rest.  Hopefully next week or weekend...when I'm done with my classes this quarter. 

Speaking of classes, I made the Dean's List (again) for Summer Quarter.  I really hoping this accounting class doesn't ruion my streak of the Dean's list.  I have one more class left.  Three assignments, one paper, one test, one quiz and I'm done!  Done. Done!

Tonight, Zoe and I are going to a Christmas party.  Missy is having a cookie swap. I was up until 11:30 last night making 7 dozen YUMMY sugar cookies.  The icing job looks like a two year old did it...but they are yummy.  Next time, they will be circle cookies, not shapes!

IOU.

I owe you some photos of my little owl baby :)  She will be 4 months old in just a few days...can you believe it?

Diamonds & Santa

We had a big day yesterday!  We headed to the mall and got Zoe's ears pierced and visited Santa. 

She only cried for a minute!  :) Big Girl!

So they all rolled over...

Zoe is still growing like a weed.  She's become quite the little momma's girl.  She doesn't allow people to hold her for more than about 3 minutes.  Even her daddy.  That part breaks my heart.  It was flattering at first...now I'm ready for her to grow out of it because I can't get anything done. 

She still isn't rolling over :( I guess she wants to do it in her own time.  All of these babies who were born around the same time as her, are...and she's still...not.  75% of the problem is she thinks she needs to sit up all the time.  She doesn't want to lay down and play for very long. 

She goes to the Dr on the 10th so we'll get a weight update then!  She's pretty much out of all of her 0-3 clothes.  Boo.  But she doesn't have some cute 3-6's. 

We're taking her to get her ears pierced on Sunday, and to meet Santa.  Exciting day!  I'm sure I'll have photos and video (once I figure out how to do that)  to post!

Grandpa Braniff

(Josh's) Grandpa Braniff passed away on Saturday evening... he battled cancer for almost exactly a year.  Long enough to become a Great Great Grandpa.
Tomorrow is the showing. 
We love you and will miss you Granpa. 
(Zoe included.  He loved her so much even though he was only able to meet her/hold her a few times)