Christmas Overview

You can only be so classy for so long...As Addison
proved at the end of Christmas Eve
Our Christmas marathon is over. Last year we spent Christmas in the car, this year we made it last an entire week. By the end of Christmas morning Addie had very little interest in unwrapping presents and simply wanted to play. Who could blame her?

Our celebration started with Johnson Christmas in Chicago on the 20th, and continued with: Neyer Christmas on the 23rd, Christmas Eve at GG's and Christmas Day at our abode. Addison made out like a bandit. I am pretty sure that she has more clothes and toys than most children in the civilized world. Some highlights were:

Nemo; Her LU sweatshirt that matches her Daddy; A new baby doll, complete with bottles, carrier and stroller; A variety of fake food products and her own grocery cart; A ton of girly clothes; An Elmo tub toy that propels itself through water; Dress up Minnie Mouse; Her own tool set (a la Handy Manny); A learn to dress monkey; A new wooden puzzle of bugs; Little People About Town set; and (finally) a lion rug.

Needless to say, this list is nowhere near exhaustive. My house looks like a cross between a toy store and children's clothing boutique. To be clear, however, she also thoroughly has enjoyed tissue paper, empty boxes and all of Rylan's toys.

Christmas Day was spent at our house with Gramma Kathy, Grandma Patty, GG, Aunt Nikki, Aunt Kimmie and Rylan. We played games, ate A LOT and watched The Little Mermaid. It was exhausting, but wonderful. While Addison was spoiled by so many gifts, I think she was just as blessed to be able see all of her immediate family within the Christmas week....

In case you were wondering, Andy & I were spoiled quite a bit too, we got some wonderful things: A LU Rambler dart board; Additions to our Christmas china; A fireplace tool set; Tons of pool accessories (that's Andy's); A spa gift certificate (that's mine) and loads more....

You are welcome economy. I think our family has done our part!

On Friday afternoon, after Northwest Indiana and Chicago started digging out from the pummeling that mother nature delivered on Thursday, we headed hit the road and headed to the Windy City for a little Johnson family Christmas.

The trip was relatively uneventful and rather cold. I feel I now must go on the record for judging all those people I used to see traveling with tvs and dvd players in the their cars. You people were not wrong....I was. Who ever first thought of mobile entertainment is a genius.

Chicago was beyond freezing, but it was toasty at Gram and Gramps' house. Uncle Rory, Aunt Kelly & Emmett, along with Uncle Quinn and Uncle Jeafen, were all around to watch the babies get spoiled rotten.

Addison got all sorts of pretty new outfits, books, dolls and toys...but I think hands down, this was her favorite:

Sleepy head...Loving Nemo.

Sunday morning we were greeted with what can only be described as arctic temperatures. Addie & I promptly suckered Keelin into bringing us bagels, instead of going out for them. After some warm bagels and great conversation with Keelin & Hilary, we shoved Addison in the car and headed home. The trip was freezing (the inside of our Tucson windows iced over) and blustery (down 65 there were often white out conditions) but we made it home. Addison slept soundly in her crib until 8:45 this morning and I got enjoy a cup of coffee in total peace and quiet. A Christmas gift comes early...

Ouchy

Dear Ear Infection,

I have thoroughly enjoyed not knowing you. When you introduced yourself today I became very sad.
I know you are just doing your job, but please, leave my baby alone. You are making her achy, boogery, sleepy and irritable. She does not like you so very much, but she does enjoy the fact that you have introduced her to amoxicillin, YUM. I expect that you'll move on to other prospects soon and let us be.

Respectfully,
Addison Mommy

Keeping Gramma Happy

It is a busy time of year. Trips planned, gifts to wrap, cookies to be baked, company to prepare for. I also am blessed to be accompanied by a lively, teething 17 month old, who makes planning, wrapping, baking, and company preparing a bit more time consuming than normal.

With that being said my mother has demanded an updated blog...So here goes:

• Addison has taken to waking up before the birds. Today she woke up just after 4 a.m. Um, what? Not cool.
• We have a new addition to the family....Andy's pool table. It is pretty and manly and the balls make the nicest clinkity-clink noises.
• I caught Addie hanging over the couch yesterday and spitting. Nasty. She thought it was funny, I did not.
• We hosted the first half of the neighborhood Christmas party on Friday. It was tame, nice and our house was in better shape after 30 neighbors left than a night of me, Christie and Karen drinking martinis.
• Addison has added "Whoooo" to her repertoire of animal noises. She now can tell you what a kitty cat, a cow, a doggie, a monkey and an owl say. She loves her animals.

So that's the quick update....and to keep Gramma happy, here are some pics I never got around to posting:

Enjoying the end of the nice fall weather...and supporting the Ramblers

Helping Uncle Kevin put up the tree

Naughty or Nice?? Your decide......

Chatter

I thought the scariest thing in the world was when Addison learned and mastered walking. She now is able to run away from me, get up and down stairs, climb up on furniture and generally keep me on the move. I am slowly realizing, however, that mobility may not be the scariest things...the ability to talk may be instead.

It's no secret that Andy and I don't have the most pristine mouths. We both had to suck on our share of soap back in the day. Andy and I talked, when Addie was about 9 months old, about starting a swear jar and we quickly realized that we would be broke. However, overall I feel like we have done a decent job of cleaning up our language although once and a while we do fall off the cussing wagon (I can't help the fact that my grandma had the mouth of a longshoreman...I think it might be genetic).

We noticed a few weeks ago that Addie was making a noise that sounded an awful lot like "shit". Not only did it sound like she was cussing, but she seemed to be cussing in appropriate situations. One afternoon she slipped and fell on her bottom in the kitchen and then, I swear I am not exaggerating, she slapped her hand on the floor and said "Shit!". I about died.

So, needless to say, we have made a concerted effort to clean up our horrid language and I haven't heard my sweet cherub say anything too offensive lately (although my cousin's boyfriend did offer to teach her the word "truck" to see where she'd take it from there. I offered to kill him).

The point being we have been working on more age appropriate words for my babe...

Translation: 1. Mommy 2. Daddy 3. G G (great grandma) 4. Moo 5. Arf Arf 6. Meow 7. Oo Oo Aah Aah

Today I had to have a ten minute long conversation with myself to get motivated enough to get off the couch and on the road to Strollerfit. I was oddly tired, Addison was extremely cranky, and the thought of going to an hour of self inflicted pain was not enticing. My good inner-me defeated my bad inner-me and I made it to class, and left nice and sweaty.





To illustrate how exhausted I have been feeling I thought I'd share with you Addison's exhaustion after her whirlwind Chicago trip....turn up your volume:)


**It was cute then, and I swear, it's still cute now.

"The Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day"

I have often lamented that I married a man who is a Grinch, who, sadly, has a heart ten times too small. His mother has even agreed with me.

Where I have, over the years, become more and more enamored with Christmas, my sweet groom has continued to huff and puff about my desire to hang garland, decorate a tree and listen to sappy, although sometimes peppy, holiday music.

Well, my-oh-my, have times changed. I mean, don't think for a minute that Andy is asking me to pop in Harry Connick Jr.'s Christmas album, nor is he suggesting that we get a trio of lit deer for the front yard. But he did get in the car and drive to Brookville, Indiana to get a tree yesterday.

He rode the hay ride to the tree grove and walked up and down the rows looking with me and Addie for the perfect tree. He got on his knees in the snow and sawed it down. He suggested we get a cup of hot chocolate.

I know you are in shock. Well settle in, because there is more to this story.

After cutting down our tree, he helped scout his mom's tree. THEN, he and Brian not only put Grandma's tree up, but Andy put the lights on it. THEN, he suggested trimming it. THEN, the came home and put our tree up AND put on the lights. After all that, I let him enjoy a nice glass of red wine. (I'm nice like that. Put that on your list Santa.)

THEN, tonight he, Addison and I (with the assistance of Aunt Nikki) trimmed our tree. WHO IS THIS MAN? I don't care, I'll keep him. Perhaps the joyous noises of Whoville have finally touched my Grinch's heart.
****************************************************************

As we trimmed the tree tonight, Aunt Nikki would hand Addison an ornament. Addison would then look at the ornament until Nikki said "Go bring that to Daddy" or "Go bring that to Mommy"...without Aunt Nik's instructions I don't think the ornaments would have ever made to the tree. But the tree got trimmed, and it is sparkling in the living room...and we are all happy.

Well, all of us except Santa's newest reindeer. She might be a little Grinchy.

Thankful...

So, quite obviously, I have been on a little blogging hiatus. Most of you know that life has been crazy hectic. Shortly before Thanksgiving I found out that my dad was sick and undergoing surgery. I traveled to Chicago to be with him while he met with the surgeon and then traveled back last week to be close by during surgery. Happily, the surgery went well with no complications. Unhappily, we still don't know what the road ahead holds, as the pathology report has not yet been received.

This latest event has forced me to declare that 2008 is dead to me. I am officially breaking up with this crapass year and looking forward to a warm and supportive relationship with 2009.

With that being said there are many things that I am thankful for during this holiday season. While I may be late on my Thanksgiving thanks, there is still thanks to give.

I am thankful for:

1. The health of my daughter. Her laughter, spunky spirit, independence and curiosity.
2. The love of my husband. 2008 has been no picnic for him, but he still laughs and holds my hand and occasionally even puts the toilet seat down.
3. My house that is slowly becoming a home. It keeps me dry and warm and makes me feel settled and peaceful. I won't even go into how thankful I am for my attached garage.
4. My family, near and far, who love me and show me great kindness on a daily basis.
5. GG's gravy soaked carrots. So.freaking.good.
6. Patience. I have never had patience before and I am so thankful it has slowly entered my life (see item #1).
7. Loyal and amazing friends. I can never express how thankful I am for those people who have become like family to me...like it or not.
8. Our fireplace. I love our mantle. I love our hearth. Most of all I love when the fire is roaring, a glass of wine is poured and the house is quiet. I would say I love our fireplace tools, but sadly we don't have any of those.
9. Risotto. Silly I know, but I am so thankful that I have "mastered" making risotto. Shrimp risotto, asparagus risotto, edamame risotto...makes me and my tummy so happy.
10. I am thankful that I am remembering that there are things to be thankful for. It is so easy for me to wallow in self-pity, or look only at the glass as half full, that I am thankful that I am remembering that even through this awful year, there have been good things, even wonderful things occuring my life.
For those things, I truly am thankful.

The rest of it though.....enough already!