Keely's First Christmas!

Well, unfortunately we don't have any great photos uploaded yet (sorry!). Our Christmas celebration started by going to the Lights of Christmas with Eric's family and spending the weekend on Camano Island. We had a great time and for the most part Keely did fantastic sleeping in the pack n' play. Keely enjoyed pulling bows off and chewing wrapping paper and magazines!!

Once back home, we were joined by my parents and auntie Meg...we attended Christmas Eve candlelight service at church and headed to bed, eagerly awaiting Santa. Much to Eric's dismay, we did not open presents or stockings Christmas Eve, but opted to wait until Christmas morning. We enjoyed a leisurely morning opening presents, stockings, watching Keely play with new toys, eating yummy breakfast casserole, and taking afternoon naps. Mom and I made a rib roast (a first for Christmas) which was an unexpected but wonderful departure from turkey.

While Eric had to work on Boxing Day, the rest of us enjoyed leftovers and nearly six hours of Wii!!

Playing Wii

The Lights of Christmas

We took our second annual trip to Warm Beach Camp's Lights of Christmas with Eric's family. Keely was mesmerized by all the lights and managed to stay warm (and even fall asleep!) with some major bundling.

Eric's 30!

Well, I pulled off a surprise (for once) for Eric, a 70's themed party to celebrate the old man turning 30...

Snow Day!

Check out those bright blue peepers!


Our first snow of the season, just had to take some pics and then cozy up inside...

Cheap Thrills

Keely loves playing with the tree and presents...we always introduce her to new sensations (touch, smell, etc) and she likes feeling the needles and making ornaments jingle. Of course, next year I imagine it won't be so cute as I'm trying to keep a toddler from "un"decorating the tree and eating pine needles! Boxes and ribbons are also fun "toys"...

O Tannebaum...

We took our traditional Saturday after Thanksgiving trip to a tree farm in the county, to bring home a beautiful evergreen tree to decorate for Christmas. We have always gone to Fullner's, a little farm just past Nugent's Corner. Our first Christmas, trees were only 15$ and we scored a gorgeous 8 foot Noble--what a deal! The second year, same story (ask Eric about the sideways rain). But year three they raised the prices to 4$ a foot, still a good deal and we found a great Fraser fir--great thick needles, shiny and long lasting, and come'on, nearly a name sake. Last year, it was pretty hard to find a great tree, even the first weekend after Thanksgiving...most were dougs. We did come away with another quality Fraser, but it was slim pickings.

So this year I wanted to try a new farm, realizing of course, that it would probably be a bit more expensive. But cutting down a tree right after Thanksgiving was something I had done since I was a kid, an a tradition I was happy to bring to our new family. After two failed attempts to visit Stoney Ridge Farms during the Halloween season to procure a pumpkins and enjoy the other festivities I was determined to get our tree there. Mission accomplished! Eric, Keely, Nonnie, Meg, and I braved the near freezing temps this morning to scope out a great Noble fir. It now sits on our garage, acclimating and awaiting the trimming tomorrow! I can't wait for that wonderful fresh smell!