What a Christmas our little one had this year and like everyone said, this is going to be a fun year for us watching HER open all of her gifts and seriously, it was so much fun. The whole family agrees that Christmas is officially all about Isabelle :)Santa pic at Pet Smart but Isabelle wouldn't do it on her own! 
We started Christmas with Tia Tara, Isabelle and I meeting Grandmama and Poppy at church on Christmas Eve; Michael stayed home to read the annual "Twas the Night Before Christmas" story over the phone to the rest of the family in Michigan. Isabelle was very well behaved at church and we were armed and dangerous with things for her to do. This was the "children's service" with a live nativity play (minus the animals, of course). The highlight of the service was when the narrator of the play, who happened to have white hair and a big ol' white beard, came walking/talking down the aisle and our little one blurts out, "SANTA! HO HO!". We have tell you, it was really funny to everyone in earshot. The service was nice and I didn't cry-unlike the midnight candlelight service where I can hardly contain myself-but instead Tara, Mom and I took turns holding Isabelle as she named things in the church (including "JOE!" when she saw Pastor Joe), telling us whatever she was doing or wanting to do and best of all, tilting her head from side to side when the congregation sang Silent Night...just like the kids do on the Wiggles movie "A Very Wiggly Christmas".
We started Christmas with Tia Tara, Isabelle and I meeting Grandmama and Poppy at church on Christmas Eve; Michael stayed home to read the annual "Twas the Night Before Christmas" story over the phone to the rest of the family in Michigan. Isabelle was very well behaved at church and we were armed and dangerous with things for her to do. This was the "children's service" with a live nativity play (minus the animals, of course). The highlight of the service was when the narrator of the play, who happened to have white hair and a big ol' white beard, came walking/talking down the aisle and our little one blurts out, "SANTA! HO HO!". We have tell you, it was really funny to everyone in earshot. The service was nice and I didn't cry-unlike the midnight candlelight service where I can hardly contain myself-but instead Tara, Mom and I took turns holding Isabelle as she named things in the church (including "JOE!" when she saw Pastor Joe), telling us whatever she was doing or wanting to do and best of all, tilting her head from side to side when the congregation sang Silent Night...just like the kids do on the Wiggles movie "A Very Wiggly Christmas".Xmas Eve dinner at Spumoni...mmmmm pasta!
Since we attended the early service we all went to dinner afterwards, picking up Papa on the way, and came home where Tia Tara, Michael and I stayed up talking, placing all of the gifts that we had out of Isabelle's reach, under the tree and debating on opening just a few gifts...we decided to wait.Xmas morning at our house.
Christmas morning came and Isabelle decided to sleep in until 9:00 so Tara and I (remember I was only 2 weeks into my foot surgery healing process so I had to have someone drive me everywhere) had time to go and find a store that was open to get some breakfast munchies for all-thank goodness for Ralphs! Grandmama and Poppy arrived at our house around 10:30 just as Isabelle, bedhead and all, was tearing into her first Christmas present from Grandma and Grandpa O; one of the ones that were pouring out from beneath our little "slim tree". She then proceeded to pretty much rip open any gift that was or was not hers, even Papa's "Hulk Hands" which were a gift to him from her that she didn't want anything (and still doesn't) to do with :( I had visions of the two of them playing with those for hours on end...maybe next Christmas?
Sniffing her doll's bottom, making sure she doesn't have poop-LOL!
Christmas morning came and Isabelle decided to sleep in until 9:00 so Tara and I (remember I was only 2 weeks into my foot surgery healing process so I had to have someone drive me everywhere) had time to go and find a store that was open to get some breakfast munchies for all-thank goodness for Ralphs! Grandmama and Poppy arrived at our house around 10:30 just as Isabelle, bedhead and all, was tearing into her first Christmas present from Grandma and Grandpa O; one of the ones that were pouring out from beneath our little "slim tree". She then proceeded to pretty much rip open any gift that was or was not hers, even Papa's "Hulk Hands" which were a gift to him from her that she didn't want anything (and still doesn't) to do with :( I had visions of the two of them playing with those for hours on end...maybe next Christmas?Sniffing her doll's bottom, making sure she doesn't have poop-LOL!
She tore threw the rest of the gifts like a madwoman! We will have to tell you though, her favorite gift from that part of the day was the baby crib from Grandma and Grandpa O. After I assembled it, Isabelle immediately went and got her baby doll, a blanket and her old Detroit Red Wings baby bottle and put her baby into the crib to go "nah night". Her second favorite was a toss up between a new puzzle and her first Barbie doll from her Aunt Ashley. Boy was she (us too) spoiled rotten! Thank you guys again!Opening Malibu Barbie from Aunt Ashley
Tia Tara and I Christmas morning at our house. 
Tia Tara and I Christmas morning at our house. Michael and a Special Edition Sports Illustrated Red Wings edition
Once Christmas morning at our house was over, the three of us got ready and headed over to Mom and Dad's to spend the rest of Christmas day at their house...with Grandma (Nana) too. As soon as we got there, out to the garage went Poppy and Papa to turn on the deep fryer (more "deep fried goodness" just like Turkey Day), out came the eggnog and under the Christmas tree Isabelle went! Between opening gifts, dancing around and entertaining us, this little one was just about done.
Finding just the right gift for herself
Frosty? 
It was around 1:30 when we started opening gifts so at about 2:00, since there had been no afternoon nap yet, Isabelle was grabbing a spot on the blanket next to her dog ready to head off to "la-la land". While she napped, we sat down to dig into our Christmas dinner....deep fried pork loin, cheesy grits, green bean casserole, sauerkraut and dumplings and the finishing touch...Michael's Grandma's "refrigerator rolls"-MMMMM! Nah Night little one
After stuffing our faces and finishing off dinner with some date nut pudding and cool whip (everything is better with cooohl whhhhip), Isabelle woke up and was ready to go and finish opening her gifts...it was like we had 3 Christmases! She loved the piano that Nana gave her (which is staying at Grandmama's house) and the little table and chair set she got from Grandmama and Poppy. To end the evening we hopped into the car and drove around for one last look at one of Isabelle's favorite things about Christmas...the Christmas lights.
A house in Northbridge...one of the winners for the Signal's (our local paper) contest.
Isabelle serenading her Papa
She says over 80 words now (some clearer than others) and knows what those words mean. She still at times correlates animals to 
One day while I was at work and Isabelle was at daycare, Michael unloaded not only the Christmas lights we had at home but also the ones from the theatre and like Spider man, he was hanging from our roof all day creating the best decorated house in our complex! Our neighbors across the way are known for their blow up Santa which can been seen from the main street (Arroyo Park Drive) so Michael decided that we should have a snowman (Frosty) up on our garage roof and a Santa on our patio roof above Frosty, waving hi to Santa across the way and to other passerbyers on the main street. Well little did we know that when this was completed, a light war had begun. Our next door neighbor actually overheard our neighbor's son from across the way say that "Michael has more lights than we do and their house looks better than ours". That night, 2 more blowup snowmen were on their roof along with some light up reindeer by thier garage. Unfortunately, Michael and his 1,000+ lights still had them beat and is telling them to just wait for next year. All I have to say is they had better be afraid...be very afraid. 
When we got there, it was packed! They had a train ride, arts and crafts, groups singing and dancing (that brought back memories from when I was in show choir) and best of all, Santa! With Isabelle's new found infatuation with lights, we have also found out that she loves Santa. When we pass by Santa's House at the mall, regardless if there is a child sitting on his lap, she stops at the railing and says, "Hi Santa, Hi!" and usually gets a wave back so when I found out Santa would be at this ceremony, I thought this would be a great photo opportunity and best of all...it was free! Well when the time came to go and see Santa at the hospital shindig, here is what we got; she saw him, said hi and then the minute I sat her in his lap and backed up to get a picture, she lost it! The tears came flowing!
After that and when she calmed down, she said goodbye to Santa and we headed through the crowd and over to the tree to wait for the ceremony to start. We stopped by a booth to get Isabelle a cookie, admired kids projects that were being made at other booths...I think she will have more fun next year when she can participate in those, stopped and saw the firemen and firetruck (Santa's ride that day/night) and listened to some high school choirs sing holiday songs. We had a few comments like, "you guys are going to have your hands full" and "three debutantes?" to JP and I when we kindly told them that Isabelle was mine and the twins were his and our spouses were working. After waiting for about 15 minutes and no one speaking, when the Christmas tree lights were abruptly turned on without warning, we do have to say...it was very anti climatic but definitely beautiful.
We started off the night before with a sleepover at our house...for the kids :) It was Mama and Papa's turn for a night out and with 
But let me tell you, 8am rolled around really quick and we were up and at 'em with scrambled eggs, bacon and donuts to start Thanksgiving off right! Out came the deep fryer, crock pot and industrial mixer for the 
Friday we hung around at home so Tia Tara and Isabelle could play together while we got the house back together. And for the rest of the weekend, we did a little Christmas shopping and hung out with friends and ended it with a welcome home dinner with my folks on Sunday, yet another thing to be thankful for...safe travels home :) 
Speaking of "pooped", we are still working on potty training but we have to admit, not consistently. She does however let us know when she has a poopie diaper and lately, she says "poo poo" before she goes. So we are able to share with you that we have had one success story with going #2 on the potty! YAY! She loves being in the bathroom, sitting on her Elmo seat and reading all of the "bathroom literature" we have in a basket for her; "Got to Go", "Once Upon a Potty", "Everybody Poops" and a few other books that we hope will inspire her to "go. We will be sure to let you know!
Slides, swings and sand...what more could she possibly want? 
Looks like they had a great time with one another but I know they are both looking forward to next week's play date :)
Michael is an awesome Dad when we are all home and even more so when I am gone. Not only does he do a great job holding down the fort when I am away (not that I am Captain of the house or anything...wait, who are we kidding here? I am the Queen! LOL!) but part of Isabelle's and his morning routine, whether I am at home or away and whether I can answer my cell or not, includes calling me to say "good morning", "I love you" (which is actually "wuv woo") and "bye bye". Needless to say, this perks up my morning instantaneously. And at night, I always get a phone call right before bedtime so Isabelle can say "nah night" to me. Here is a message that was left on my cell phone this past Monday morning while I was at a meeting in Delaware, which I shared with my Dad and our client at lunch and it brought a smile to their faces too:
Michael started a play date with a friend from the theatre and his little girl, Jenna. On Wednesday mornings at 10, they meet at the Summit Park to let the girls run around crazy...OK, so it may not be totally crazy just yet but they are having a blast! 
Michael,
We decided to keep Isabelle home from daycare both Thursday and Friday last week, since she had a low grade fever on Thursday and we wanted to make sure she was all better for trick or treating let alone the annual Halloween “photo shoot” with her and all of her friends on Friday. To add to the low grade fever on Thursday, right before bedtime Isabelle slipped off her stool and knocked her chin on the corner of the coffee table leaving a nice cut and bruise for Halloween pics! What a day Thursday was…no sleep, no appetite, still feeling a bit under the weather and then ending the day with a bonk. Maybe we should have had her be a boxer or a hockey player for Halloween instead of a ladybug :)
Like we mentioned, we kept Isabelle home from daycare on Thursday and she was all fired up when Friday's Halloween shenanigans came along. After trick or treating at Nana’s house, the 2007-2008 babies all met at the theatre for our photo shoot. This year we knew we were in for it! With only 2 non walkers, there was a lot of chasing and running around going on. We did manage to get one group shot, minus Mia, before escapees or meltdowns occurred. I think the video footage of all of the parents may be even funnier than looking at the photos we shot of the kids! Look out school recitals! 
Check out the escapee sequence below which literally happened all within 2 minutes...
That night after chatting with our neighbors in our complex, we headed over to the 
We took Mackenzie and Isabelle out trick or treating the easy way...in push-able cars J The “bonnet” served as the candy collection place while the girls were seat belted in, cruising around being a bunch of 
