Santa was here... Santa was here ... Round #1

Santa was here...

Being the good Elf that I am... I personally saw him. ;o)

Christmas morning Tamara woke up pretty easily although it was almost 9:00 am.

Yes... I know... such an easy child. ;o)

Anyway... Mommy got her up, washed and brushed and brought her down in her PJ's.

First gift she opened was her new red robe with matching slippers.

OK... now she was warm and cozy and picture perfect.

The look of disbelief on her face she proceeded to open her gifts.

Tamara trying to open her Mega block princess castle.

A Tea set from Santa

As you can see she's perfected her gift opening skills.

Elmo Live

For the past few months Tamara would reach for this Elmo at the stores.

Mommy kept saying... "Be a good girl and maybe Santa will bring you one"

A 3 tier cake stand for her kitchen


By far my favorite gift ever.
Tamara made this in Preschool for us.
An angel made out of her hand prints. Meant to be an ornament for the tree.
Mommy had it framed by lunch. ;o)
She was very excited to be able to give us a gift... concerned if we would like it and then very happy when she saw how much we loved it.
Yes... it brought tears to our eyes.
Another first for us... our first gift from our daughter and I'm sure the most precious.



The first time since Gotcha Day 08 that Tamara seemed overwhelmed.
Here she takes a break from opening gifts. Curls up in Mommy's lap so we can read a new book together.

OK... back to the gifts.

She and Daddy check out her 911 book

Hold it Daddy

The Grand Finally.... Drum roll please...

Tamara opens her play kitchen.



As you can see she loves it... Yay!

Opening gifts took about 3 hours in total.

Stopping for book break and breakfast.

Then it was time to get dressed and get ready for Dido and Grandma's

That... we will call Round #2.

Stay tuned... it's coming

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Cookies and Milk

Cookies and Milk... Yum

Christmas Eve getting cookies and milk ready for Santa.

He didn't seem to mind that Tamara helped herself to his midnight snack.

But I want to...

OK... ok.. I'll leave Santa some.

Gingerbread cookies... my favorite.

Mommy.. I think I need a refill for Santa

Yummy snack

After our little princess fell a sleep... Santa and his elf got to work.
It took her over an hour of tossing and turning before she actually fell a sleep.
I guess I over stressed the "YOU have to go to sleep so Santa comes."
She was too excited to sleep. lol. Too cute.
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This is what it looked like Christmas Eve before we let her loose Christmas Morning.

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More coming.... stay tuned.

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Gingerbread spin

Gingerbread spin.

Well we're back... breath... breath.

Bruce informed me yesterday that today is in fact New Years Eve?

Eeek... where did that come from? Seriously time is just sneaking up on me these days.... very strange!

So... there will be no New Years Eve Party this year. Not that I didn't think about it... I did. It wouldn't have been that bazaar for me to whip up such an event with 24 hrs notice... usually. But this year we have Tamara. Get me to bed by 8 or else.... Tamara. And well I didn't think she would be willing to go to bed with a New Years party in full swing down stairs. I also thought about inviting people over after she's sleeping but then again she'd probably wake up hearing a party horn / noise maker. Gotta have those for New Years. ;o)

So here we are December 31st 2008

For the first time in my adult life... party-less on New Years Eve?

WoW... lol.

OK... so to all you parents out there... I need creative suggestions.

How did or do you celebrate New Years with a young child?

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Below Tamara decorates her Gingerbread house.

Yummy... candy

Lets take it for a spin.

OK... we're going to try and update this today with a spurt of shorter posts... in between running errands, playing Mommy and celebrating 2008. Yeah... 2008. I can't imagine another year that can compare. ;o)

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Mommy needs Coffee... Later!

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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

Just waiting for Tamara to wake up ...

she was too excited to sleep last night.. so we're letting her sleep in.

This may be the last Christmas for Mommy and Daddy to sleep in as well...

you know past 6:00 am ..lol

OK... Mommy needs a double shot of coffee this morning so we'll catch ya later.

We'd like to wish you ALL a very Merry Christmas and the Happy and Healthiest of New Years!

Oh.. Yeah.. Today is also 200 days home in the USA with Tamara.

200 days ago she steps off the plane at Kennedy Airport and became an instant US citizen. Time sure does fly when you're having fun ;o) .

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Holiday Sing

Holiday Sing

Tamara's first public performance was her Holiday Sing at Preschool. Mommy and Daddy seated in the first row camera and video camera in tow were very proud of our little girl. While some other children froze, cried and tried to run off stage. Our little girl bopped to the music, shook her jiggle bells, tried to sing, smiled, waved and blew Mommy and Daddy kisses. No stage freight here. ;o) Sooo Cute!

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Tamara models her Christmas Dressy coat set.

"I'm Ready"

Holiday Sing

Big Kids.. 4-5 year olds in the back

2-3 year olds up front.

"Hum... is that Mommy behind that camera?"



Looking at her teacher who was coaching the little ones.

There's that little girl smile. ;o)

Watching her teacher who was holding the other little girls hand through out the performance.

Are they cute or what?

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OK... Elf update.

Your cards are still here... almost finished.

Tamara's gifts are wrapped and hiding until Santa comes.

Gingerbread house is finished.

Cookies... cookies? Oh snap I forgot the cookies again. Do you think Santa would mind a protein bar instead? ;o)

Having down load issues this morning .

More later.... gotta get back to it!

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Santa Baby

Santa Baby...

Santa or Father Frost as he is known in the former Soviet gets a visit from Tamara.

She wouldn't sit in his lap so Mommy had to get in the act? Oh well maybe next year.

Tamara helps Daddy wrap a gift for Mommy.

Yes... of course I know what it is ;o).

Daddy and Tamara wrapping.

Tamara showing Daddy how to make corners.

Sticky stuff... that tape.

Need more Daddy?

OK.. you hold it and I'll tape.

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We're getting there.. although I must say arranging to have Santa stop by on a fire engine last Thursday night. Sirens blazing and then totally forgetting about it and putting our daughter to bed an hour before was not one of my brightest moments as a Mother? Yup I did that! Poor thing I popped her out of bed wearing her footie PJ's.. threw on her ski jacket and took her outside to see the jolly fat guy. She was in a daze through most of it. But amazingly she remembered the whole thing the next morning as she ran to the tree and opened the package Santa gave her the night before.

Santa giving her a gift.

Tamara watching Santa walk back to the fire truck and zoom up her buddy Zach's driveway.

She was very happy to see Santa give him a gift as well. Too cute!

OK... back to bed. She went straight to sleep.

Yes... there is a God! ;o)

Happy Mommy!

OK.. still catching up... more to come!

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Congrats Cousin Katie

Congratulations Cousin Katie

Just a quick update on Katie's Cute kid contest.

I got this email this morning from her Mom

"Well Katie won 1st prize for the contest. She wants to email everyone later after school but I wanted to thank you guys for your help."

Oh... the power of the Internet. ;o)

I know many of you have voted for Katie and she left the competition in the dust winning with about a 20% lead.

So Thanks everyone.. it was fun and I know Katie really appreciated knowing her family from around the world voted for her.

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