Christmas 2011

This year for Christmas (well last year...considering I'm like 3 months behind on blogging) was busy of course but very nice. Christmas with my mom was at my house and Christmas with Chris' mom was in Benson, both were the weekend before Christmas. Chris had to work Christmas Eve night and Christmas Night so we had our own little Christmas on Christmas morning. Then Aubrey and I went to Clara City to my dad's while Chris was working. We are going to try to make our own little tradition in our house so there isn't so much running....we will always stay home Christmas Eve night and Christmas morning. We need our own traditions as a family and this is what we decided on....we'll see if we're able to stick to it ;-)

 Mama and Aubrey before Christmas at Gramma Julie's

...and a meltdown before we even leave the house

 Our little family

 Aubrey missed opening presents....too tired

 My nephew Damian & Aubrey at our house for Christmas

 My nephew Ethan & Aubrey

 This is all I could get Mason to cooperate for =)

 Uncle Nic is so good with babies....Aubrey was sleeping with 5 minutes of him taking her

 Damian playing in our backyard with his new toy....outside in December...crazy!

 Aubrey on her 1st Christmas morning....Daddy got her dressed and put her dress on backwards!

Opening presents!



Stacy's Nursery

This year we decided to start a tradition and get a real Christmas tree.  We went to Stacy's Nursery here in Willmar and picked out a Balsam Fir...it was beautiful...but do you think I got any pictures of it?  Um, no.  While we were there Santa was there so we had some pictures taken.  Next year I will fork out the money and visit Santa at the mall.  This Santa really wasn't into it.  Oh well. 

 Oh Santa...you just don't get it....

 Aubrey and my friend Heather...."Auntie Bana" 

First Christmas as a Family =)

Mama and Aubrey

Fall pictures

Here are some pictures of Aubrey from this fall....

4 months old!

Aubrey turned 4 months old on November 26....

Check out the blanket....it was started by my Gramma Gort before she passed away and wasn't even half done.  A gramma of one of Chris' friends finished it for us.  I'm so grateful...I remember sitting on my grampa and gramma's couch (or davenport as Gramma would call it) and she tried to teach me to crochet but I never caught on. 

Here are some things she loves:

Telling stories

Her nukie

Mommy

Daddy

Grabbing things

Laughs

Mornings...I love waking up and going to her crib and seeing her smile at me.  Doesn't get much better than that =)

Can't keep up....

I am sooo behind on this stupid blog!  What was I thinking??  I just can't stay caught up at home either.  There is always something that needs to be washed, dried, folded, put away, cooked, fed, bathed, changed, or entertained.  And I don't just mean the baby =)  I'm not really sure when the dog got fed last but she still seems to love me so she can't be starving.  Chris gets annoyed with me when I clean house after Aubrey goes to sleep.  Um, and when exactly am I supposed to do it?  At 4 a.m. before she wakes up for the day and before I go to work?  Ugh.  This working mom crap is for the birds.  My job pays the health insurance and you gotta have insurance these days so I have no choice but to work.  Financially we would be better off if I didn't work full time and just worked a part-time job when Chris is home to watch Aubrey.  Not fair.  I bust my butt all these years to get a great job and now when we need it the most my paycheck brings home next to nothing.  And I'm not kidding.  Grrr. 

Enough of the venting....time to get something done!

Thanksgiving 2011

On Thanksgiving we went to Clara City to the coffee shop to get together with my dad's side of the family.  It was a good time and great to see everyone. 

Aubrey took a nap right when it was time for mom & dad to eat....perfect timing!

All smiles after her nap =)

My nephews Ethan (5), Damian (10) and Mason (8) with Aubrey...look at Mason's little hand on Aubrey's head...so stinkin' cute!

Grampa Andy & Aubrey

Our happy little family ~ lots to be thankful for!

My Aunt Marilyne & me with Aubrey and my cousin Nicole, who was born in October.  Just to clarify, this is not Marilyne's daughter =)  Nicole is my uncle Mark's baby.  She's just a peanut and is so cute!