Christmas Eve 2011

Rachel - 2.5 years old, Joseph - 9 months old.

Christmas Eve with the Goodwin Family.
 










Time for presents!

Rachel's Birthday Festivities (Part 2)

Part 2 of Rachel's birthday festivities took place at Grandma and Grandpa Goodwin's house.  I've been on a monkey kick lately so I was thrilled when Rachel chose monkey party plates.  It was a theme I could work with.  Thank you to my friends, the Montoyas, for lending me their barrel of monkeys.


Rachel was soooo excited about her cake.  Here, right in front of her, lay 3 of her favorite things: monkeys, cake, and bananas.  By the way, banana chips are really good smothered in chocolate frosting.


Rachel loves playing her cousins.


I wonder what these two are plotting.


Rachel liked the cake.  But she was mostly interested in the frosting.


The cake and ice cream was quickly devoured and everyone went back to playing.  These two were the last ones left in the kitchen.
 

Next came the presents.



Rachel was engrossed in her new toys.  There was no time to worry about her shoe. 


She loved her Little People doll house.



Rachel shared her baby brother with her aunts.



After most everyone had gone home Rachel found this remote and asked, "spicle me?"


We are so grateful that Rachel is part of our family.  Here's to 2 years of fun and many more to come!

Christmas Day

This was the most fun I've had on Christmas morning in more than a decade.  Having kids at Christmas revitalizes the whole experience.  Our morning started with Doug, Rachel, me, Aunt Melinda, and Grandmother and Granddad South.

Santa was very generous.

The instant Rachel saw her present she stopped in her tracks and began signing doll.

It took Santa's elves a long time to find the perfect doll.

I think she was perfect.  Rachel didn't even want to put her down to open other presents.

Santa brought her one of her favorite treats.  Fruit snacks.  Everything halted again while she indulged.

Rachel received many wonderful gifts.  Doug and I tried to keep our gifts to her to a minimum.  But, her aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents (on both sides if the family) spoiled her.

 

 

Notice the beautiful doll cabinet in the background.  Rachel LOVES it!  I played with it as a little girl.  I can hardly believe that we got to take it home.

At 8:00am we went to Mike and Tessa's house for delicious Christmas breakfast with our family and neighborhood friends.  Then most of the family came back to Grandmother and Granddad's house for more presents.  Sydney brought her American Girls doll to show everybody.  Her face registers their early morning and not the absolute love she had for the doll.

Nanette made scarves and hats for both Doug and me.  Yahoo!

 

Even Arial (my parent's dog) got a new toy for Christmas.

Rachel loved her loot.  She played with it, with Sydney, and anything else she could find for hours and hours and hours.

Merry Christmas everyone!  Check out this fun video of our Christmas 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0rlaCHAiDE