Snow Day {339}

Dear Miss Dinah,

You seem to be an up-at-the-crack-of-dawn-on-vacation kind of girl   :)

You were playing, Mamma was exercising: 2 hours before anyone else was awake!
Daddy was showering and then kept us company too.

And I'm glad Daddy snapped these quick photos this morning, because other than that, I took nothing today!

You have started to become very chatty. You express your opinions very clearly and excitedly (though I unfortunately do not always understand them). You are also starting to express the desire NOT to do certain ordinary things like have your diaper changed. Sometimes you run away and giggle and sometimes you cry. This would be wonderful if you were expressing desires to do things like use the potty... but you are not  :) It's actually gotten a little better when we talk about the process before hand, exactly what we are going to go do. You seem to understand and come around a little quicker that way.

We'd stayed home most the day in the nice, warm house. There was a beautiful white snow falling all day long, so that was the best thing to do!

We cleaned the house and got it ready to have friends over tonight. You me and Daddy made a quick run to the gas station to get some gas for the snow blower so Corrado could clear the drive. We also stopped at Walgreens (our new favorite place to shop) to see if we could find any good after Christmas deals.

Then we came back and made dinner and waited for people to arrive. Before long there were kids and babies (and adults) running around everywhere.

You were nice and tuckered out and went down quickly for bed after reading in bed with Mamma - something we don't get to do enough of when traveling. We'll have to change that :)

I love you,

Mamma <3

No Kissing Yet {338}

Dear Miss Dinah,

Two daddies working on Tesla energy stuff...

Corrado with baby Leo:

You and Auggie (Agostino).

With both of your sweet little countenances, it's a pleasure to watch you interact.

 You gave the car to Auggie...

 Then you gave the ball to Auggie...

Then we asked you to kiss Auggie... He seemed ready but you weren't too sure ;0)
Oh well. You two really are fun. You seem to be very curious about the other.

This morning Ms. Carrissa and Mr. Corrado took us to the "Mom and Pop Place." It's an educational toy store which has a play area for children and a cafe. Next we went to WalMart to do some quick shopping and pick up ingredients for dinner tonight (Daddy and Mr. Corrado made Daddy's favorite pasta dish) and dinner for the get-together tomorrow.

More teething today.
Chewing on anything you could get your hands (and teeth) on :)

Goodnight sweet thing.

I love you,

Mamma <3

To Wisconsin {337}

Dear Miss Dinah,

Please go to sleep, sweet baby. As I typed this, we've just arrived a few hours ago at our friends' house far, far away in Wisconsin. You've been crying for a few minutes though it sounds like you are settling down. That is so good, because Mr. Auggie (23 mo.) and Mr. Leo (4 wks) are in bed also!

This morning we loaded up about 9 am and drove across the state...

 

Then across Iowa...which all looks like this:

Then across Wisconsin!

There was more and more snow on the ground the farther north we traveled.

And finally arrived at our destination 12 hours later!

Here's you and Auggie up way late:

I love you,

Mamma <3

Sons {336}

Dear Miss Dinah,

A slow and leisurely Christmas morning. We are cooking breakfast while you are building train tracks.

Our stockings that Daddy filled and hung by the fireplace!

Presents under the tree:

 But before we delve into any of that. You are content to play in the kitchen with toys of your aunts and Mamma from years past.

Especially the chair that folds and unfolds which you love to set the tiny rooster on.

What a delightful morning giving gifts to one another.

 

Daddy looking at my 'Little Big Book for Moms" from Aunt Elisa wearing his new hat, also from her.

Auntie K looking through a book from her mamma, your Sisi. And Sisi, just taking it all in!

 

The big girls - your aunties and mamma - with our very personalized, grown-up presents.  :)

 

 

After a well needed afternoon rest, we went to Aunt Debbie's and Uncle Mikes for a steak dinner. Also got to spend more time with sleepy little baby Cal.

Father and son... Sweet Cal with his Daddy, Scott (my cousin):

Aunt Debbie always loves to get out the old photos, and so we got to see many. Grandpa pulled out even more when we got home, and we were treated to learning just a few more tiny layers of family history - such an honor. He even came across an old poem transcribed by his mother, Dolores, written at age 5:

My Daddy by Tommy

Daddy's name is Fred. I call him Daddy. He works for GMAC. He works with that stuff - papers. 
When he's at home he gets undressed and reads the paper. He watches T.V. too.
He doesn't wear glasses. He has black hair. He's skinny. 
I like him.

And, here is a gem from Christmas past.

Your Grandpa Tom and Great Aunt Deb:

Daughters are GREAT but today we celebrate sons. 

Especially the special son.

I love you, 

Mamma <3

Christmas Eve {335}

Dear Miss Dinah,

This morning you helped Daddy finish up his pumpkin logs.

Oh and you also got some new mittens -- cream cheese box mittens.

 

 

Today we mostly spent cleaning, cooking, relaxing, and getting ready for the party tonight. 

Finally it was time to put on your party dress:

 

Meanwhile Grandpa is cooking in the kitchen.   

 

Here's his master list and time schedule for all the food. There were lots of things going in and out of the oven all day long. Every single thing turned out GREAT!

Good thing you kept a close eye on the preparations...

 

 

By the way you were not so sure about tights at first. You eventually forgot about them and got used to them, but until then, you were pinching them a lot :)

 

 

Action shots with cousins. You all liked to play a little too close to the fire.

Here is one of the twins (Bailey, 7 yrs), you, and Chloe.

Chloe (3 yrs) was very good about keep her new friend (you) away from the fire.

 Oh! We also got to meet cousin Cal (1 month old). Cousins Scott and Erin stopped by to say hello early in the night. He sat there so still and tiny, you just observed very sweetly and quietly. 

You ate lots of yummy foods. Cousin Rory even went and grabbed you a cookie. It was her sneaky way of keeping you away from hers :)

I love you, 

Mamma <3

A Decorated Day {334}

Dear Miss Dinah,

This morning we went to the City Life Church. We haven't visited this church since you were a tiny little baby. The pastors of the church have been Daddy's friends for a long time, since before they moved here to pastor this church. In fact, Mr. Dave married us five years ago. Today he encouraged the church to renew our faith/hope/trust like a child. Whatever it is we are lacking.

When we walked in, the children were all sitting around a table eating their goldfish snacks. You just trotted right over and took your seat among the others. It was so sweet seeing you all sitting there together just quietly enjoying your treats. When I came back to pick you up, you were in the same spot (although you played around the room a lot in between that time apparently) finishing up an art project with glittery Christmas stickers. And now it hangs proudly on Grandpa's fridge :)

Grandpa has a friend who is an artist and loves to bake. She volunteered to come over today and make and decorate cookies with us.

Ms. Rhoada rolled out cookies and you helped cut them and put them on the pan.

 

Your handiwork: One gingerbread man lost a leg. You then tried to eat it, but we managed to save that from happening. The other gingerbread man got a cookie cutter to the leg (not yet in the picture though). It was funny though, because you got the right idea with the cookie cutters, just the wrong dough. And I'm not sure what happened to that candy cane...

 

Then the fun part began...

 

 

Ms. Rhoada made 'Royal' icing in a variety of colors...  

And we took your little shirt off, because we learned our lesson decorating cookies the last time!

 

Shaking the jars of sprinkles up were a favorite part of the decorating experience.

Aunt Elisa joins the party. She takes it upon herself to decorate the broken-legged gingerbread man and give him 'stiches.' :)

After decorating you were due for a nice long nap. When you awoke we had ham and beans ready for dinner, then a warm bath.

We like making facing at each other after bath time. Not sure why, it's just one of our habits ;)

I love you,

Mamma <3