Cropped pics from Mia's Santa Party

Just a few of my favorites, cropped, from my previous post from Mia's First Christmas Party!

Mia's First Christmas Party!

The night before Mia gets to see Santa...making a "pallet" behind the rocking chair :)

As always.....Cleo had to join in....

Each year, I get so excited to set out my Christmas Geese that my dear teaching partner, Lisa, gave me when we were teaching together. I sure miss seeing her everyday! I always think of her when I look at these sweet geese!

On December 5th, Mia got to go to her first Christmas party, and see Santa! My sweet friend, Annitra, does this every year, and this was our first year to participate. The REAL Santa comes to visit all of the children at the party, and has a gift for each of them in his sack! They each get to come and sit in his lap and talk to him. As you'll see in the pictures, Mia was NOT a fan this year!

When we first arrived, the children were all playing in Annitra's son, Jack's, playroom. Mia wasn't quite sure what to think of it all. For the first 30 minutes she just sat and stared, in awe, of all of the children and toys.

This sweet young man is my friend Hilary's son, Oliver.

Mia, checking out what Oliver was up to.

Mia and Oliver checking out what the other children were playing.

Mia......still observing Oliver.

Oliver, trying to stick a wrench up Mia's nose. Haha!

Mia still wasn't warmed up here...

Pretty angel, taking it all in.

Sweet Annitra....friends for years!!!

Annitra's son, Jack Henry, overwhelmed by the excitement of Santa coming!

So, we tried to gather all of the children at the party together for a picture, before Santa arrived....Mia didn't like this idea.

Oliver, trying to cheer Mia up....

Mia trying to escape the group!

Mia, sad because she was caught on her escape and put back with the others! Such a sad face here. :(

Mia and Oliver, sharing a chair.

Mia, deciding that she doesn't like boys yet!

Santa's Arrival!!!

Santa, telling a story.

Mia, listening quietly to Santa's story, from the safety of Mommy's lap!

Jack Henry

Another sweet little boy, trying to play with Mia.

Jack Henry, getting his gift from Santa's bag!

Mia, not liking poor Santa.

Mia, REALLY not liking poor Santa.

After Santa, playing quietly with her new "Jam Band"!

Playing some soul music on the piano!

Oliver, sharing with Mia, again.

Mia, discovering Jack Henry's train table!

Here she is, checking out another little boy playing!

Happy Baby!

After Santa's party, at home. Mia crashed, and as usual, Cleo is looking for a place to snuggle with her. It's really so sweet to watch.

Ahhhhh, Cleo found her spot on Mia's legs.

Tired Christmas Baby!

Sweet, sleepy babies.

Night, night, my little Christmas Angel.

Here are a few pictures from Mia's 1st Christmas last year...14 days old. What a special Christmas that was, but this year is equally special, because we are getting to enjoy watching the wonder and excitement in her eyes at all of the Christmas sights and activities!

Here are some pictures that I took this morning. I accidentally posted them out of order, so they are backwards. These first few are of Mia playing with her new ornament. Every year I personalize ornaments for Kelley and I, Bailey, and Mia. I love my new tradition with my sweet family. I just never seem to get pictures of anyone else in the family, because I walk around with my camera during the day, while we play, but once Kelley and Bailey get home from school, we get so busy, no one even looks at the camera, or thinks to take pictures of each other. Usually, Bailey is in her room, doing "homework", like myspace and facebook :), and Kelley and I trade baby duty while we attempt to cook dinner, feed Mia and get her down, clean up, and usually fall asleep on the couch very early!

This ornament came with a personalized letter to Mia from Santa. It's so sweet, and I know it won't mean much to her this year, but I plan to frame it, or protect it in some way, that we can pull it out year after year, and hope that Mia doesn't catch on that it's the same letter each year! Haha!

Morning Video, caption below.

Here is a video that I took this morning when I went in to get her. She is always so excited when I come into the room! Our morning ritual goes as follows: I hear her talking and leave her to play in her crib as long as she will, she LETS ME KNOW when she's done playing, I come in, with Cleo following behind, Mia flashes her pretty grin at me, then immediately looks for Cleo (aka dog-dog). I don't know why we started refering to Cleo as "dog-dog", but it sort of stuck. Mia just started saying "dog-dog", and I happen to catch it on this video!

This next video is of Mia "talking to me" about her ornament, and playing her new favorite game of handing things to me, and waiting for me to hand them back, saying "Thank you"....over and over! :)

My Little Dancers

Here are just a few pics of one of my classes I teach at Kristina's Dance Studio. I love these little girls! We were practicing for Christmas dance recital in these pics. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is the name of this group's dance.

Mia's First Snow

Yesterday, December 2nd, we woke to a nice snow. It was Mia's first snow! We took her outside to look at it as Kelley and Bailey were leaving for school. It was still a little dark. Mia and I went back out after the sun was up, and watched the snow fall. She just stared at it in amazment. It only lasted a few hours, and nothing stuck, but it was still fun to watch. Sadly, my photos, for some reason, do not show any of the snow falling well, but the expression on Mia's face is what I was hoping to capture.

A Must Have!

All I want to say on this post, is that someday, I MUST get one of these! This is at my Aunt Kathy's house, and her toy-filled buckets keep Mia entertained for hours!

You know, I really must find another time to blog. I always seem to blog when Mia is awake, and like right now, she is sitting in my lap, trying to touch the keys, so I never get to type very much. I upload photos, and tell what is happening in as few sentences as possible, while my other blog friends write paragraphs!

New Years Resolution??? We'll see :)

Mia-Thankful for Macaroni!

Thanksgiving 2009

This Thanksgiving was a difficult one, as it was our first Thanksgiving without Papa. Its hard to believe that a year ago, he was with us, and everything was fine. Amazing how things can change in a year. It seems as though I am having a harder time right now dealing with him being gone, than before. I guess it has to do with the Holidays. I miss him so much, every day. I keep litstening to his voice in my head, so that I don't forget it. More importantly, I worry about my Meme, as she gets through the Holidays. She is an amazing and strong woman. I know, that my family will stick together this Holiday season, we will help one another during the hard moments, and enjoy the happiness that we have when we are all together. I am blessed with such an amazing and fun family.

On a more cheerful note, Mia tried macaroni and cheese for the first time on Thanksgiving. The photos need no captions!