Christmas and Winter Fun

Julia and I had to find a variety of things to do this weekend while Mike worked. The end of the year is extremely busy for Mike and they have a deadline of December 31st to get all the auditing done for Best Buy, Corporate. So, I had to think of some fun things to do with Julia. On Friday and Saturday we did some errands and then went to the local libraries (two different ones on different days). Julia loves going to the library and walking through the aisles and reading books. For some reason she is very comfortable there and will wander everywhere without being scared of being away from me. Of course I have to follow her, but I am glad to see she is happy. On Saturday, Julia and I baked Christmas cookies. Of course, I didn't have any intention of making a lot, but just a few cut-out sugar cookies to give Julia some experience with the baking fun. She helped with cut-outs, but started eating the dough eventually and I had to end it there because there is raw egg in the dough. She didn't mind stopping because I think she was getting bored. Today Julia had her first snow experience. It took about 15 minutes to get her bundled up in her snow pants and other winter attire only to have her cry and scream once we started playing in the snow. She didn't enjoy it at all. We made a snow angel and that is about as far as we got. She did like watching daddy shovel the driveway as long as mommy was holding her.

I know I said I would never dress Julia in pink or a dress or put a bow in her hair, but those notions are completely gone. She is just to darn cute in the fashionable, girly clothes!
Ready for church in my cute dress, new pink shoes and pretty bow.

Snow fun? Maybe not!

Our few minutes of playing in the snow

Rolling out the dough for Christmas cookies

Cutting an angel and a stocking

Our cookie-making mess

This was from a few nights ago. Julia is fascinated with the dishwasher and loves to pull things out and now climb in the door when it is open.

St. Lucia

Mike and I took a long trip to St. Lucia, W.I. (West Indies-not Wisconsin) from December 9 to December 13th. Though I missed Julia terribly while she stay with my parents at our house, we had a great time enjoying the warm, 85 degree, sunny weather. Of course, the best part was watching Mike's brother, James, get married on December 11th to Julia's now aunt, Beth! Here are some photos. I don't want to depress anyone with the photos especially if you are dealing with cold and snow right now.

Tropical flowers

Beautiful ocean and white sandy beaches, palm trees (we thought maybe the yacht in the distance was Tiger Woods...probably not though)

Sunny swim up bar

Crashing waves...

A view from our room balcony

Playtime....or not.

On Friday Julia and I joined a few of the mom's and kiddos from our MOPs church group for a playdate at a local community center's open gym for parents and tots. They had lots to do with balls, hula hoops and other gym toys. I thought Julia would love this outing since she is walking all over the place now and trying to run without falling. Well, Julia's shy side came right out as soon as we walked in the doors. I put her on her feet and she wanted nothing to do with running in the gym or playing with the toys. She sat by mommy the whole time watching all the other kids run around chasing balls and hoops. After a while she warmed up a little and was rolling a ball back and forth to one of the little girls in our group. Julia was probably one of the youngest kiddos there amongst a sea of toddlers and preschoolers, so I could understand the intimidation and hesitation to run and play.

Some of our group's kiddos running on their hula hoop "path"

Julia's idea of open gym...sitting in mommy's lap people watching
Big smiles at home