Christmas Day

We hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and will have a wonderful New Year. We had a great Christmas, and it wasn't just because we got really great gifts. Sharing our holiday with others and being with family is a really great thing. This year we taught Hailey that getting presents is not the only reason behind Christmas, Christmas is about faith, family and giving back to others. In an attempt to teach Hailey about giving we bought some books and donated them back to our local libraries in her name. We cleaned our our clothes and toys and donated them to charities that can pass them on to others who could use them. We adopted two soldiers overseas and sent them goodies for the holidays. And Hailey got to make gifts to wrap and give to friends and family. We hope that these things can be something we do every year, possibly turn into traditions, and just become second nature to not only receive gifts but to give back to those who are both less fortunate and those who make it possible for us to live in this country and have the luxuries that we do. She's only two, so hopefully it will be something she always remembers doing.

Christmas morning, what a good day!

Waiting on mom and dad's bed so she can go out and see what Santa brought her

Can I go out yet???

WOW!!!

I'm so excited!

Hailey with all of her presents

waiting for all of the camera's to be ready for present opening

A camera, it's just what I just always wanted!

sitting with Papa while daddio video tapes

Backgammon--Trevor really wanted this and I surprised him

helping Nana open her presents

black jeans for Papa, pretty much a standard gift for him. We don't have a fireplace, so we bought a fireplace DVD last year to open presents in front of. Unfortunately, you can't burn all of your torn wrapping paper in a fake fireplace... *shrugs* oh well, we'll make it work anyway.

Mommy and Hailey--Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve morning

Nana & Papa got Hailey a cradle for Christmas, she really liked it.

Hailey got this really cool Little People Castle from our wonderful friends Chris and Traci. I really like this!

I see you!

Playing the castle with daddio. I think this was Hailey's favorite gift. She literally played with it all day Christmas Eve, Christmas, and only stopped playing with it today (the day after Christmas) so she could eat lunch and take a nap. Great gift!

Daddio picked out his own special gift for Hailey. A radio controlled car for Hailey, it's pink, of course.

She loves to run it into the walls and table. So fun!

Winning a Giant Dog

Waiting with daddio for the big prize

Meeting the big doggie for the first time

Sooooooo happy!

"Can I take this home with me???"

It's ALL mine! YAY!!!

Hailey's Big Doggie

My mom and dad entered Hailey's name into a raffle at our local Beall's to win this giant $300.00 stuffed dog. Only a month before hand my had purchased a little dog for Hailey at Beall's. Hailey named her Lady. This giant dog is the same as Lady, only 10 times bigger and dressed in teal instead of lavender. Hailey won the raffle and won this giant Lady. "Now I have two Yady's!" (L's are still too hard for her to say) I'll upload the pictures from my phone of her actually winning the dog later on.

The Santa Train

December 12th we were so excited to ride the Santa Train out in Elgin, Oregon. The cost was one canned food item per person. Hailey really likes trains, so she was excited about riding on the train, and with Santa on top of that. What a day! We got a really great seat and the view was just gorgeous. The river was all frozen over and snow covered everything. Hailey wasn't scared of Santa at all. She talked with him and laughed with him. Such a good girl.

I'm very excited to get on the train...... have you seen my other mitten???

No, but seriously, my left hand is getting cold

Our train car all decorated for the Santa ride

Hailey and Santa

Look mama!

So pretty!

Sitting with Nana & Papa

Santa, Hailey & Papa

Sitting with Daddio

So.... Santa isn't my Papa?? Alright, I think I understand...

The frozen river

Pretty!

Hailey and I sporting our turtlenecks

Victorian Santa

La Grande had a Victorian Santa here in town today. I have never seen a live Victorian Santa before. We made sure to get out and see this Santa, as he cannot be the same old boring mall Santa everyone gets to see. And I was right, this Santa was beautiful. A beautiful set up for him to sit in and all. A better set up then the one I used to work at Fashion Plaza in Newport Beach, California. And absolutely no line. And get this, you bring your own camera and take pictures, or you can pay the professional for the pictures, but only if you want to. I LOVE La Grande!

We got Hailey all excited to see Santa, and when she got there she stared at him in awe. That same, stars in her eyes when daddy gets home from work look. It was so cute. He called her over, and she gladly marched right up to him, sat on his lap and began to tell him what she wanted for Christmas.

I couldn't have been more happy with that Santa then if I had gone to a large city and stood in line for hours. In fact, I was more pleased than I have ever been with a Santa. Besides, those lines bring out all the ugliness in parents, and that's just not what Christmas is about.

All dressed up to see Santa

So excited

Literally jumping for joy

Mesmerized by Santa

Telling him what she wants for Christmas

Listening for Santa

Smiling for daddy

Look at this set up, a real decorated tree, presents, a fire place, pretend fire with lights, pretty candles, decorations and stockings. Beautifully done.