Come Back

I intend to make a come back with Blog Posting. Up until now, I have been finishing my administrative internship requirements, completing some classroom planning for 2nd semester, getting ready for family Christmases and utilizing my new IPAD to do any and all web browsing. Thus, this laptop seems a bit antiquated, but important to my blog posting, nonetheless. I am excited to announce that I am now a proud owner of a Canon Rebel camera and thus, my photographing capacity has increased immensely. Brett surprised me Christmas morning with the new camera. I really thought I was opening a gift from Tyler. Low and behold, it was my camera!

Prior to Christmas, we celebrated the holidays by doing several family friendly outings in the area. One of our favorites was the Polar Express event at the Wildlife Prairie State Park. We took a chilly train ride through the Christmas lit park, enjoyed cookies and cocoa, created several Christmas crafts. Lydia loved the whole experience. We also supported the Crittenton Crisis Nursery by attending a Julie K concert at the Festival of Trees. Among the professionally decorated Christmas trees were Santa Claus, singing, dancing, and delicious cookies. Finally, we took a drive through the East Peoria Festival of Lights. Lydia was ecstatic to sit in the front seat as we crept through the Winter Wonderland of lights and Christmas Decorations. She enthusiastically pointed to each display with the wonder one would expect from an eager toddler.
We received a Christmas Card from a friend that stated, "Blessed are those that see Christmas through the Eyes of a Child." This card resonated with me. Each Christmas carol brings new found joy and excitement to our lives. Lydia is passionate about "Baby Jesus" and can share with you each of the characters in her Little People Nativity. It is precious to hear her say "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" At two years old, I couldn't imagine how perceptive and intuitive she would be. Her intensity for life and joy is contagious.

We received a visit from a new North Pole Elf this season. Mya, our Elf on the Shelf, came to life on December 1st in our home. Mya, named appropriately by Lydia, reported to Santa each night regarding Lydia's behavior. Remarkably, Mya would find trouble throughout the house. That included a marshmallow bubble bath in the bathroom sink, drawing mustaches with dry erase marker on our Christmas Family portrait, or lifting weights with marshmallows and toothpicks. We are eager to see when Mya will make her return trip next winter.

We were able to celebrate Christmas with my family on December 17th at Grandpa's House. The highlight of the evening was Grandpa opening his new flat screen TV. It was exciting to see him read the owner's manual and report on the progress of its functioning. Lydia opened an American Girl Bitty Baby. She received a changing table, baby swing, jammies, and accessories from my parents for the bitty baby. Lydia enjoyed each of her presents, but equally enjoyed playing with the stickers that Aunt Linda brought her to play with. As evidenced by the Picture of Aunt Linda below, Lydia was not shy to stick her new stickers on anyone and everyone (or everything) that was within her reach.