Christmas 2011

Izzy is so kind to us sometimes.  She TOTALLY slept in on Christmas morning...I'm sure it won't last forever, but WOOOHOOOO!!!

Here's a short video of Izzy seeing her presents for the first time.

And the presents......

And the funny faces...

And the dogs (I feel bad that I didn't get them anything this year, but they can't really have any treats, and they've already got a gazillion half-destroyed toys...so I opted out this year.  I still think they had fun being in the middle of everything)

And the doll that she asked Santa for

Even Lemmy hung around

This is a Smurf book she got that's in Swedish

And she loves helping others

A book from farfar...

SHOES!!!!!

And my big surprise gift for Joacim...3 laps around the track in an Indy Car!!!!  I think he was surprised :)

Here's Snow White (she dressed herself, mind you) eating her fair maiden breakfast on Christmas morning.

After breakfast, we headed up to Lafayette for Christmas with my family.  I was so excited to give my Grandma her gift...a Kindle!!!!  She was surprised and happy.  All in all, I think I did pretty damn good this year ;)

And Izzy made out like a bandit in the gift department.  I really didn't think I did that bad shopping for her...I thought I kept everything in check, but when I looked at the pile, I realized that I was completely delusional and shopped too much.  And then it got worse with my parents :)  ALL of the presents you see in this picture are for her (except the toaster oven behind her :)  It was obscene, but Izzy had a fantastic time and loved it all!!!

And, for your viewing pleasure...a few videos of our dear little one dancing.  The The second video is AFTER her wardrobe change :)  Enjoy and I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!!

Pre-Christmas 2011

(Since it's New Year's Eve, I figure I better catch up while it's still 2011!)


We had a few things left to finish up the week before Christmas.  I was smart this year in getting a bit of a head start, and really focusing on the whole gift-giving.  It made it MUCH easier.  One of the most important things Izzy had to finish was her Pappa's gift!   While he was away in Sweden, she made him a cast of her hand print, and she had to finish painting it.

I don't even remember when I took this photo, but it's probably going to be one of my favorites.  These two were SO tired.  Joacim worked most of the week before Christmas, and when he finally rested, he REALLY rested.  And my little princess fell asleep with her crown and family jewels on :)

A little time was spent combing Barbie's hair.  I got this for her at the Children's Museum the day we went there because she had so much fun playing with Barbie's hair there.  I had one of these when I was a kid, so it only made sense that she should too, right?

And THIS is what we had for Christmas Eve dinner.  I usually make it in the shape of a wreath, but since it was just the 3 of us (and Izzy hardly counts when it comes to eating) I made it this shape instead.  I'd link the recipe, but I CAN NOT find it online, so eventually I'll get around to digitizing it.  Needless to say, it's got chicken, mayo, dijon mustard, and cranberries (and some other mixers) and it's baked in this croissant shell. So.  Good.

And, we mustn't forget all of the Christmas Carols that Izzy learned this year.  There's no real video to go along with these since I took them in the car at night, but just listen.  ADORABLE I tell ya!

Visit to the Children's Museum

Ok...12 days since my last post....12 days since my last day of work....CONNECTION? Maybe. Let's just say that I've been enjoying being disconnected for awhile, but as my Grandma noted the other day, I NEED to update this, so here goes. I had taken Izzy to the Children's Museum when Joacim was in Sweden. I REALLY wanted to get a picture with Santa this year, and I figured this was the best bet for us BOTH getting what we wanted.

I took her on a Friday, and it was remarkably calm for the time of the year.  I took a day off of work to go because I hate going there on a weekend...it's impossible to do anything due to the lines, but on a Friday it was easy-peasy. I started off at the carousel on the 4th floor.  Who doesn't LOVE a carousel???  And then we went to a kid-sized little village, complete with a tree house, house and ice cream shoppe.  Here she is making me a sundae.

Here's the center atrium at the museum, for those of you that haven't ever had a chance to go.  It really is an incredible children's museum!

And then it was off to the Barbie exhibit.  I was a bit gun-shy here, because I didn't know if I wanted her to know what a Barbie was!  But she seemed to learn pretty quick.

Her favorite part was playing with and styling the Barbie's hair.

And of course a little dressing-up (not easy to find a dress that would go over here already poofy skirt!

And a mouth full of grapes at lunch.

Then it was up to the winter wonderland exhibit.

And Izzy's MOST FAVORITE activity of the day....the "ice skating" area....

This would've been on the front of our Christmas card had I time to make them this year....

And (drumroll please).......photo with Santa!!!!!!!!

And, awesomely enough, she wanted to go back again the next day to talk to him, so I'm thinking that the Santa-fear is now history!!!  Whoooop whooop!