Andy and Andie

Mike's very good friend, Andy and his fiance Andrea ( Andie) are deployed ( separately) to Iraq but that didn't stop them from spoiling their honorary niece at Christmas! Check out these super cool gifts:

Mike and Andy grew up together and went through Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts together. Mike fondly remembers them eating freeze dried "space food" . This is the food that astronauts take with them on space missions. ( Perhaps this made those MREs more palatable for Andy when he joined the military?) It was very fitting that the box sent included space ice cream. Mack was very confused by this and couldn't understand why the ice cream wasn't cold to the touch:
Two cool cups! These will be our new travel buddies since they are 100% sealed unless you push the button on the side. Mack's already mastered the button and we all know that buttons and toddlers go hand in hand! Score!
This book cracks me up ( It should be noted that Mike attended Space Camp when he was growing up so he really loves this book) You can click on the link if you want to read excerpts from the book:
Ice cream for breakfast, courtesy of Aunt Andie and Uncle Andy:
The whole lot ( minus one, already eaten, freeze dried ice cream bar) . The Nerdy Baby flash cards are science based alphabet cards! I am sure your knew that "O" is for octopus. Did you know that it's also for oscillating current?
What a thoughtful, educational and fun Christmas present! ( Mike really loves that Metric Wonder measuring cup!) Thank you so much!

Merry Christmas, Aunt Meg!

We had a chance to celebrate with Aunt Meg before she headed off to California to be with Leif, Marie and Chloe for Christmas. Although our original plans were to meet for breakfast, we ended up gathering over Thai food at our favorite restaurant. The food was delicious and we basically had the restaurant to ourselves.

On the way home, Grammy took us on a Christmas light tour. Mackenzie was thrilled by all the different lights. She ooh'ed and squealed through out the ride.

After scoping out the lights, we headed back to our house for dessert and presents!

This Camelback water bottle is from Leif, Marie and Chloe and we just love it. Mack carries it around with her and every time I fill it up, I think of them. Thanks guys!
Aunt Meg made Mack a pillow case with the characters of one of her ( Mackenzie's) favorite books ( Eric Carle) . Since getting this , we have read two Eric Carle books at bedtime and hunted for characters on the pillow case as we read.
Aunt Meg also got Mack her first set of high heels and matching princess crown! I knew she would love them but am surprised by how much she wears them. She's worn them to ride her bike, with footed pajamas and with nothing at all!
Mack helping Aunt Meg open all her presents. She wanted to try out Aunt Megs new back washer for the shower ( not for outdoors as the instructions clearly state) :
Cheese!

odds and ends

Who says you have to leave your tricycle out side for the winter? With a little cleaning off, the trike was ready for some indoor fun ( and Fluffy Puppy, too)
Mack has been a big helper with wrapping presents. She's loved it so much, she started wrapping her own toys and putting them under the tree:
Here's what happens when you let your almost three year old apply her own lip gloss:
Mack asked to help make a PB&J sandwich ( or peanut butter and sandwich in Mackenzien) . When I asked her what kind of jam she wanted, she said " Alll of them! and bananas!) So she ended up with a PB, blackberry, strawberry and banana sandwich. She used a butter knife to slice her own bananas and smoothed on the peanut butter.
She finally coaxed Sydney underneath her blankets:

M-O-M

Mack and I were working next to each other, she practicing with her scissors and I getting ready to make a hand print wreath. I heard Mack say " I'm gonna write your name." She loves to write with pens and I figured she'd just scribble on one of the hand prints she had. I heard her sounding out the M then the O and the last M and was shocked to look and see that she had, in fact, written my name! I am so proud of her. She has really shown an immense desire to be able to read. She feels left out not knowing what things mean. It was really, really amazing to be able to see her put the desire to read together with writing. She knows how to write her name but here is her first non-name , written word:

Christmas pictures

Somewhere in my piles of " When I have time" dreams, I would love to be a photographer just for my friends and family. I'd never wanna photograph other people, just MY people because there is something truly beautiful about a picture taken by someone who really knows the subject being photographed. Those pictures really speak to the viewer.

I am a long ( and I mean looooong) way from that but I really do love to take pictures of Mackenzie and Mike. So here are a few that I took with my measly little point and shoot camera:

Nicole doesn't know it, but one her gifts was opened early for the cause ( thanks, Auntie Nikki!)
Mack has been dreaming of snow angels for weeks now. She finally got her wish!
Tasty!
And it must be said that there are those who are just great photographers like my friend Meg who can make magic out of any thing! If you want to be amazed by great natural light photography, take a peek. She's never taken a single class. All her work is just God's talent dusted upon her!

Long/Wilson Christmas extravaganza

As is our tradition, we got together with our dear friends Will, Erin, Olivia and Griffin for a special dinner. This year's dinner was at the Wilson's house and was so much fun!

Will and Mike have been best friend for over 25 years and Erin is one of my closest friends so we see each other very frequently but not very often do we all get together all at once. When we do, it sure is fun!

Erin made a wonderful pot roast and had a cookie buffet for dessert. The girls couldn't wait another minute so wrapping paper went flying as gifts were opened. The girls watched a movie while the adults shared Christmas themed cocktails over Trivial Pursuit- a game that I am not good at even before cocktails! The girls won the game and I am still doing the " We won" victory dance. It truly was so much fun.

Here's a quick shot of Mack and Olivia waiting for the movie ( A Muppet Christmas Carol) to start:

Santa letter

Mackenzie received a letter from Santa!

I think Santa had a special elf in Arizona who knew how much the letter would excite Mack. Thanks, short stuff! ; )
Here's a quick peek at one of our many Christmas centered art projects ( I'm thankful that I posted this on the blog last year so I could remember it this year!) In contrast to last year, Mack did all but the cutting on her own- from rolling the tissue paper to placing the star on the top ( and the extra "trunk" floating mysteriously about)