Visit to the Fire Station

Audrey has been asking to go back to the fire station to visit Dada for a while now, so we finally made the time to go. She just loved seeing the fire trucks. She kept saying "Audrey drive!"

Christmas 2012

We had a great Christmas this year. It's hard to believe that it was Audrey's third Christmas. This was the first year that she really understood what was happening, so it was really special to see her get excited about everything.

Scott had to work Christmas Eve, but he was home in time Christmas morning for us to spend it with Audrey opening presents. We got her a tricycle, and Minnie Mouse shopping cart and cash register and few other books and small things. She loved everything! Santa didn't have time to assemble the tricycle before Christmas, so Audrey helped Dada do it. She's a good little helper!

Later that day, we went to my parents' house to celebrate. Audrey slept most of the day. But we didn't do much celebrating that day because my grandma passed out right before dinner, so my mom and uncle went with her to the hospital. The very good news is that she is okay, but it gave us all quite a scare! Unfortunately, we didn't get to open presents or celebrate, so we went back a couple days later.

Audrey with cousin Gwendolyn

Playing with Mama's old Mickey Mouse hat

Opening stockings with G and Meredith

A few days later, we went to celebrate at Scott's parents' house. Audrey also slept most of the day, but woke up in time to open presents with everyone. As you can see from the photos, she and Billy stole the show and had a great time opening presents.

All the grandkids with Babka

First Visit to Santa Claus

This was the first year we took Audrey to see Santa because up until this year, she was just too young to understand and we thought she would hate it. But this year, we've been reading a book about Santa all year, so she understands who Santa is and has been talking about him a lot! So on my last day of work before the holidays, Scott brought Audrey up so we could go to Crown Center to visit Santa. She loved it! There was a little playground before we got in line to see him and she had the best time. When it was her turn to see Santa, we told her to go sit on his lap and she ran right up to him and let him pick her up and put her in his lap! I was floored! I couldn't believe she wasn't scared. We may have to teach her not to talk to strangers...she's quite the little social butterfly! So she sat on Santa's lap, but she didn't tell him what she wanted (don't think she quite understands that part yet). But then Santa told her that there were four more days until he would come to her house and they counted together. Later that day, she kept talking about how she counted with Santa. Then we went over to Hallmark so Audrey could meet some of my coworkers. She had the best time!

Snow boots!

Audrey got a pair of hand-me-down snow boots from cousin Gwendolyn and she loves them! She insists on wearing them every where we go and doesn't want to take them off. She does look pretty darn cute in them, so how can I refuse?

Annual Christmas Tree

We took advantage of the nice weather (65 degrees in December? I'll take it!) and went to pick out our Christmas tree. We went a lot earlier than we usually do because Scott is always afraid that the tree will dry out if we have it too long, so this will be a good experiment to see if it lasts. We tried to go to a Christmas tree farm that was near our house, but they didn't have a very good selection of trees, so we went back to the place we went last year, Longbranch Christmas tree farm and we found a great tree! Scott even cut it down for us!

When we got home, it was time for a nap, so Audrey went to bed while we put all of the decorations up to surprise her when she got up. When she saw the tree, she said "Cute! Like it!" Success! She also was very intrigued with our nativity scene. She wanted to play with baby Jesus. She even played pat-a-cake with him and then gave him a kiss and put him down to sleep - so cute!