Christmas Fun- Sunday 12/21

Our Christmas celebrations started early on Sunday with a fantastic breakfast at Mimmie's. We had fried chicken breasts (when I told Jarom fried chicken was on the menu he was shocked... for breakfast?! I had to remind him it was the south and haven't you ever had a chicken biscuit for breakfast? Chickfila wouldn't be here if it weren't so yummy!), biscuits, gravy, cheesy hashbrown casserole, bacon, sausage, eggs, fresh sliced tomatoes, and more. Gosh it was amazing food. Mimmie really outdid herself. Aunt Pam sent us all fun gifts and Addie is in love with ours.

The 2009 Keepers of the Cane!

We have a tradition in the Roper family that involves the gigantic candy cane pictured above. Everyone in the room has to guess a number, color, etc. and whoever wins gets to be the Keeper of the Cane for the next year. The cane undoubtedly brings good luck to its keeper. Uncle Dan's family had it this past year and has been blessed with two beautiful healthy baby girls! The cane has had its rough years...attack of the ants would be one of those years, but it is still bringing luck.
The little men had to keep order to all in attendance.I thought I had gotten pictures of everyone, but for some reason my camera was acting up and most pictures turned out blurry. Everyone came to Mimmie's except for the ones that live out of town. We sure did miss Aunt Pam, Ron, Michele, John, & Mandy. We had lots of fun!

After church that day, we headed over to Alisha's for a lasagna dinner. Oh it was so good. Jaroms family all got into town safely, and the cousins are having a blast playing together!

All of the little ones were playing so well together! Notice Addie is standing all by herself in this picture! She never lets me get a picture of her doing it, but I was sneaky this time!After Kena and Avery had all the fun they could muster with the boys and headed off to find other things, Addie still hung in there playing cars with the boys.

Well I've got to get ready for church, so I'll post more of our Christmas later!

emmmo

Ever since Addie watched an Elmo movie with Maclane yesterday, she calls everything Elmo. She barely pronounces the "el" part so it sounds more like "emmmo". Seriously, the ornaments are Elmo, balloons are elmo, Daddy is elmo, anything she wants is elmo. She points and says emmmo. Good thing we already asked Santa for an elmo stuffed doll.

Addie's first steps!

Addie took her first wobbly steps today! We were visiting Ashley and Maclane, and Addie stood up, took two steps, stabalized herself of my arm (I was sitting on the floor by the couch), then took two more steps and landed at the couch. She's been a lot better at standing lately, and is up to about 30 seconds, so maybe soon we'll have a little toddler!

Addie's favorite new thing to do is dip her food in stuff. Kristi gave her a cup of ketchup to go with her fries today at lunch, and Addie loved it and quadruple dipped each fry... Tonight I made Jarom some chicken noodle and saltines for dinner (he's had the pukes) and Addie quickly grabbed a cracker off his plate, dipped it in the soup, then started chowing down after she saw Jarom do it.

She is so much fun! I can't wait for Miss Avery to come to play with Addie & Kena along with everyone else for Christmas!

The Christmas Parade

I have attended every Christmas parade for as long as I can remember, but Addie was so little last year I didn't go. This year we braved the frigid temperatures and with hot (warm) chocolate in Addie's sippy cup, off we went.

Addie was too busy watching the parade to pose for pictures... Alisha and the kids joined the Woody gang this year, and Kena and Addie really enjoyed watching all of the floats. Addie waved to everyone. Once the hot chocolate got cold, we got in mom's car to warm up and Addie danced to the music. We had a great time!

And what would a Christmas parade in AL be without decorated tractors?!

Happenings...

Addie started to stand on her own this week, but can only do so for about 10 seconds. If she catches you watching her, she will immediately drop back down or cry. Addie rediscovered her push walker and has had a blast walking around. She's getting better at following commands. She will fold her arms to pray, sit, stop when I say no (most of the time), retrieve toys, come to us, and give hugs and kisses. I'm working on her repeating what I say (Addie, can you say Doggy? etc) and she was doing really well the other night (7 in a row) until I made the mistake of asking her to say cookie...

Addie asks me for cookies all day long and if Jarom leaves the package anywhere she can reach, they are as good as gone. Yesterday Jarom left the oreos on the coffee table but sealed the package and went into the other room. Wouldn't you know it, while I was in the kitchen, I heard her messing with the package, so I came in and she had them open and was chowing down as fast as she could. Her technique is to eat all of the icing, then the cookie. I introduced her to my all time favorite fruit...clementines. She ate 2 by herself the first night after dinner... I guess she loves them too! She eats them as fast as you can hand them to her.

Here is a picture of my Christmas tree! I put some unbreakable ornaments near the bottom and Addie thinks it is so much fun to pull them off and bring them to me. She is really into putting stuff into other things and I am constantly finding cheerios in my purse, craft boxes, and other slightly odd places. She puts my jewelry in all different parts of the jewelry box, and stuff (food, coins, whatever she can find) in her ball popper toy. Jarom bought her a duck bank that quacks when you put coins in it and so now she loves for you to hand her change. She works so hard to get the coin positioned right so that it will go in the tiny slot and laughs when it rewards her with a quack. She loves to take every bit of food off of her plate or out of her bowl and put it back in. I'm trying to work with her on cleaning up after herself, but for some reason she just isn't getting it... Jarom seems to suffer from the same problem... hehehe. Her bracelet fetish has turned into a ring fetish as well. Now she beelines for my jewelry box when I am getting ready and first puts on the bracelets, then puts the rings on her fingers and thumbs. Such a little diva!

Addie has been hugging my neck really tightly the last week or so, I love getting her hugs! She also started scribbling...err...drawing. I tried to get her to draw at the beginning of November and she just looked at me like I was stupid, then I accidentally left a pen on the table this week. Addie was on the table in her bebepod while I was cooking and I look over and she has scribbled all over my tithing settlement paper and the table. So I flipped the paper over and she went to town. I let her have the crayons at Phil Sandovals when I had lunch with Kristi and she held a crayon in each hand and colored with both hands at the same time. Now she draws on whatever she can find whenever she can find something that will make a mark. I am seriously going to have to invest in some of those markers that only work on paper.

The other morning at 5:30 AM my cell rings so I quickly answer, seeing it was Uncle Bob, before Addie woke up. Bob always said he'd call us if the weather got bad because 1. we don't have a weather radio and he does (and he lives next door) 2. we sleep through the tornado sirens every time, so I assumed it was the weather. Nope, he woke up because his cat threw up, so we went out to his laundry room (off of his carport) and my dogs were running around outside loose. He was able to coerce them into his yard thankfully. So once Jarom got up he went and checked our entire fence and there was not a single place where they could have gotten out. The gates were both shut and latched, and its over a six foot fence so there is no way my fat dog Ana would have made it over. They must have been out for some time though, because my flower bed out front was dug up. Isn't that weird? I'm so glad for our sake that Bob's cat woke him up!

And lastly, Addie sat in Santa's lap at our ward Christmas party and didn't cry! I did bribe her with a candy cane, which resulted in a huge sticky mess, but it worked.

25 Christmas Questions

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper... its more fun to open, and I really don't mind wrapping gifts when I can keep Addie off of the paper!
2. Real tree or artificial?
Real!!! They are so much prettier and smell so good. However, the mess does stink after the fact.
3. When do you put up the tree?
First Sunday after Thanksgiving. We have to do it Sunday because if we waited for a day when Jarom, Dad, Scott, and Katie could be off work, we wouldn't get our tree up until Christmas Eve!
4. When do you take the tree down?
Between Christmas and the day after New Years. If the tree is really dead, it goes down day after Christmas. My house always seems enormous after its down.
5. Do you like eggnog?
I totally agree with my mother in law... LOVE IT!! I would be a fat cow if I drank as much of it as I wanted. (Unfortunately, I've already drank almost a gallon by myself this year.... ike!)
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Gosh... all of them? It seems like every year we had some awesome gift that we'd been dying for. Pretty dolls were my favorite. Mom...errr Santa bought me this one gorgeous doll from this special boutique and paid ookoos of money for it because it had won all of the prizes at doll shows and first thing I did was strip it down, give her new clothes, fix her hair... in other words, completely destroy it... I still have the doll in my chest (back in her original attire, but worn).
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Acually no, not yet. I haven't had room for much since we have a small house but that is one of the things on my "buy" list. Maybe I'll find a good after Christmas deal somewhere. I love the Willow one.
8. Hardest person to buy for?
My DAD!
9. Easiest person to buy for?
My Mom
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
In first grade we drew names and were supposed to buy that person a book. Well Sarah D. got me a dinasaur book... I HATED IT!!!! I wanted a girly book like every other girl got. No wonder she and I aren't friends anymore.... LOL.
12. Favorite Christmas Movies?
The Polar Express. I LOVED this book as a child so when it came out as a movie I made Jarom buy it for me, he got me a set that had the book, movie, cd, and a little bell! I have no clue where it is...
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Black Friday
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
....yes...
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
HAM and mom's jello pretzel salad
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Colored hands down! Jarom bought us a prelit white lights tree and I was so bummed. We only used it one year. I love the colors at Christmas!
17.Favorite Christmas song?
O Holy Night... one year Amanda Glouner sang this song in sacrament and it made me tear up... it was SOOOO beautiful. I wish she'd sing it again this year, but she's on bed rest...boo. How about you record it for me? :)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Home. I can't imagine not being in my own home for Christmas, I've never been away from home for Christmas. I'm really excited that all of the Haynie's are coming here instead of staying at home!
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph...?
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star
21. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
The crazy people out shopping. They will run you over to turn in at the mall and will all but smash their car into you for a parking spot.... Gosh Mom, its just Christmas shopping!... j/k, Jarom and I had a very bad experience at Bridge street with a crazy woman shopper.
22. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I love green and red...
23. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
The whole spill... ham, deviled eggs, casseroles, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, greens, rolls, jpsalad, desserts, mmm... I'm starving!
24. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Stuff thats too expensive... guess it will have to wait until Jarom makes the millions.... hah.
25. A favorite Christmas Tradition?
Finding and cutting the tree. Christmas Eve gift exchange with the "protectors of the gifts" at the Woody's, pjs from Nuna, Christmas Day at Moms, Mimmies, the Haynie's.

I LOVE this time of year!

Holiday Festivities

On the 21st we went to Bridge street to see the tree be lit. We got there late, but there were still carolers and other fun stuff. It was frigid that night!
I forgot to take pictures during our actual Thanksgiving dinner, but I did get pictures of Jarom saving Addie's balloon from the tree. She loves balloons. Sometimes loves them until they pop. Luckily none have yet exploded in her face, only slow leakers.


Addie ate a ridiculous amount of food, a little of everything. We had such a huge feast. Mom and I split up the meal and Jarom cooked the turkey. The turkey was SO good this time. Jarom cooked it perfectly and had injected it with cajun butter seasoning and covered the outside with cajun seasoning. Yum. He also made some incredible cranberry dessert bars. I am not a huge cranberry fan, but whew, these were YUMMY! We had tested them at Williams Sonoma so Jarom HAD to buy the stupid $11 jar of cranberry orange relish, but it was tasty! Jarom is really quite the chef.



Black Friday we went shopping at 10 AM. We had planned on getting out earlier but stayed up too late the night before, but we shopped until 5:30. I got almost all of my Christmas shopping done, woohoo!

All of us at the tree farm after finding two perfect trees!

Searching for the right tree, its serious business!

Us with our tree that is obviously better than Mom and Dads... hehehe We also went on our 2nd annual Haynie/Woody Christmas tree search at Valley Christmas Tree farm. We have an artificial tree but Jarom liked the idea of a real tree so last year he drug me all over that farm as I waddled behind, a few days before I had Addie, so this year was much more fun! We used to go as kids every year and it was such a blast, so I'm glad Addie will get to have the same tradition. We were in competition with Mom and Dad for the best tree ever and in my opinion, we won! I love our tree. It is beautiful! A 7 foot White Pine. It barely fits in our house, but its gorgeous! The hunt for the tree is really the best part of the whole tree process and we've missed out the rest of the years with our fake tree, so this year it remains in the attic.


Jarom cutting down our treeThis coming Saturday is the Christmas Parade, next weekend the luminaries and church festival, then all of the Haynie's will be here! I'm getting more and more like Mom each year. I LOVE Christmas!

Oh and in case anyone feels generous this is my outrageous Christmas list.... HAH! (I'm hoping one of you that read this is secretly insanely rich and kind). :)

-bluetooth installed in my car so it comes through the radio

-Nikon D90

-car charger and case for my new Samsung Behold. (this phone is stinking awesome)

-itunes

-shirts/skirts/dresses

-black tommy purse at marshalls like my brown one

-another pair of those brown shoes I got from Target that I love!

-one of those wallets that hold a checkbook too

-at least a one carot flawless diamond ring and earrings to match would be nice...

-refinish the hardwood in the guest bedroom

-dog run in the backyard

A girl can dream right?!

Addie is One!

One Year Old!

I can't believe Addie is one. This has been the fastest year I've ever had. She has grown and developed so much, it is incredible how much she has learned in such a short time. Addie is the greatest blessing we've ever had. She is our little sunshine and makes everything so much more fun. She keeps us laughing and never ceases to amaze me.

Just born

Addie was the most beautiful little baby I had ever seen. She was so teeny, weighing only 6 lbs 2 oz. The first week was such a shock to our systems. I remember freaking out when Jarom had to go back to work and it was just me and Addie. How would I go to the bathroom?! Jarom would come home and see that I hadn't even left the house (or the living room) and would take us out, even if only to drive around and look at Christmas lights.

First Week2nd WeekBy the 3rd week I was starting to adjust. Addie only wanted to sleep in our bed, and I was so worried I'd roll over on her, I barely slept. Her little personality was already starting to show, and we started to venture out more. I was so afraid we'd get out and need something that I'd almost pack up her entire room. When the doctor told us she wouldn't see us again until 8 weeks I again freaked... How would I know she was growing and getting enough to eat?!

3rd Week4th WeekFirst Christmas

Somehow we survived the first month and Christmas was fun. We were so exhausted by the end of the day Jarom and I both fell asleep at Mom's. Mom held Addie until after midnight while Jarom and I slept on the couches.

Christmas Eve5 Weeks & Blessing7 weeks2 MonthsBy 2 months we really started having fun. We got Addie to sleep in her bed and she was grinning and loved to be talked to.

2 1/2 Months3 MonthsSomewhere between 3 and 4 months Addie turned into a big girl. She became very opinionated and wanted to do things herself and was frustrated when her body wouldn't cooperate. She started standing and really loved cereal!

4 Months5 MonthsBy 6 months, we were always on the go. Addie enjoyed getting out of the house and seeing everything, so we went out all the time, even if just to window shop. She started sitting up which completely changed our world. She would sit and watch tv, play with her toys, or play with her toes for longer periods of time and I finally felt like I could leave her in a room for longer than a few seconds without disaster!

6 MonthsFirst Vacation- 6 1/2 Months7 MonthsBy 7 months Addie wanted to eat everything. Baby food was the yummiest stuff ever...

7 Months7 1/2 Months8 MonthsAddie started crawling which really changed things at 9 months. She started to follow me around the house and started to get into everything!

9 Months10 months was a blast. Addie had mastered crawling and loved to dance, play, eat, and finally started sleeping better again. She was all grins and fun, and loved being around people.

10 Months11 Months 11 1/2 Months Addie is so much fun. She "sings" along at church now, "talks" nonstop and expects you to respond. If you don't respond she gets up in your face and tells you again. She is getting really good at following directions and will bring me toys, follow me, etc. when I tell her to. She only eats our food now and is pretty much sleeping through the night. She cruises along the furniture and is trying to stand on her own, but isn't there yet. She prefers to feed herself, loves baths but hates to get out, loves stuffed animals, loves to go shopping and to see other people. Whenever Addie and I go to a store and she sees a stuffed animal, she says bear over and over until I finally hand it to her. She loves on it through the entire store and then I either have to sneak it away from her or buy it. All too often I buy it, and when I do, she acts like I am the best person in the world, other than the stuffed animal of course. She will kiss all over the stuffed animal and say "ooohhhh" over and over. Addie loves to play with Maclane, they laugh nonstop when they are together. Addie loves to call people on the phone. She loves jewelry and if she goes missing I always find her in our bedroom digging jewelry out of my jewelry box, arms covered in bracelets. 12 Months We celebrated Addie's birthday Saturday night with a party and then had a special Sunday dinner. Addie was so excited to get her presents and loved looking in gift bags. Jarom and I bought Addie 200 balls. Seriously. We took a play yard and filled it with the air-filled balls to make her a ball pit and Addie was SO appreciative. She played and squealed and laughed in the balls for a good 30 minutes. Now her thing is to throw all of the balls out and then once she gets out, she likes to throw them in. Unfortunately her throwing out is much faster than her collecting, so I end up doing most of it.

Addie loved everyone singing to her and acted sheepish. She wasn't too sure about the cake, and it took some help from Dad and her own fork before she started to dig in.

Enjoying her cake Time for another bathLoving her bear from Uncle Bob post bathAddie with her ball pit, she LOVED it if you can't tell... SO excited over the balls

Addie was so exhausted after her party she fell asleep on Jarom while watching tv

Addie turning one is so bittersweet. I love to watch her grow, but at the same time it makes me so sad that her time being little is so short. I try to savor each moment, but it still goes so fast. I love my beautiful baby girl and I love being a Mom.