Baby Belle

Stopped

Doug and I have been playing "hot potato" with a virus.  We wake up each morning and see who feels better.  The sickest potato stays in bed while the other cares for Rachel.  Luckily, Rachel has come through with only a small runny nose and some congestion.

Everything has come to a grinding halt in our home. The blogging, the cleaning, the basement building, the organizing, and the general movement has stopped.  We are hoping 2010 brings a quick recovery.  I have enough "catch up" blog entries and household chores to last me until February.

WANTED

WANTED

YELLOW RATTLE

Last seen in Italy, TX

Reward is putting a smile on this face

Family Shot Day

Nothing brings a family closer together than family shot day.  Doug and I each got H1N1 and regular seasonal flu shots.  Rachel got her second H1N1.  These are the moments money can't buy at Christmas.

12 on December 12

There are more than 12 pictures.  But, the idea is still the same.

Doug begins making candy.

 

Doug takes care of Rachel so that I can sleep in.

Rachel wakes from her nap.

She gets her diaper changed.  Then, takes time to munch on her toes.

Zoe digs on her bed hoping to find a bone.

Doug takes the candy sprite to Orson Gigi to buy chocolate.  She diligently guards it at home.

 

I attempt to make up some new cookie recipes: Almond Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies and Candy Cane Chocolate Cookies.

Rachel drinks her bottle, eats sweet peas, applesauce with blueberries and rice cereal.

And she plays with her toys.

Zoe begs for treats.

 I blog, Facebook, organize photos and play on the computer.

Rachel gets a bath.

Then the computer sprite works on her typing skills.

I shop for baby food and other Saturday night necessities.

  Doug hangs up the laundry.

We sit and watch "Dirty Jobs" after Rachel goes to bed.

Christmas Ornaments

Our tree is a tribute to our lives, our family and our loves.  How wonderful that we get to revisit it each year.  And each year we add something more.  This year's new ornaments are cookies representing everybody in the family.  It was so fun to buy an ornament honoring Kaleb, my nephew who is living with us, as well.  It is amazing how many memories a Christmas tree can hold.  Here are a bunch of ours.

Doug

 Jessica

Kaleb

 Rachel

Elizabeth

Zoe

Bells used at our wedding reception

Ornaments representing our first year as a married couple

Ornaments for Rachel  and Ornaments for Elizabeth

Rachel's 1st Christmas.

The year we were expecting Elizabeth.

Our little angel, Elizabeth.

Our trip to Disneyland

Grandmother Bates made these ornaments.

  

I bought some of these reindeer for Rebecca (South) a couple of years ago.

I bought a series of "A Christmas Carol" ornaments with Jenny.

Nanette and I bought tree toppers that matched these little stars.

I bought these snowmen for Bethany and then kept them for myself.

This little guy always reminds me of Melinda.

These icicles remind me of Hannah.  She begged me to let her take one home because she was sure it would trick her mother.

This little nutcracker reminds me of some of my nieces.  We dressed up and went on a magical Christmas adventure.  We went to Benihana.  We attended the Nutcracker at Capitol Theater.  We froze as we enjoyed a carriage ride around Temple Square.  We finished the evening with dessert at the Olive Garden.

The doll from the Island of Misfit Toys reminds me of watching Christmas cartoons with my brothers and sisters.

Some of the ornaments remind us of the love Mom and Dad Goodwin have given us.

These crazy Simpsons characters remind me of my darling Doug.

This ornament is a reminder of Doug's family's outing to see Mannheim Steamroller.

Ornaments that remind us of friends and neighbors.