Paige's Birthday Party

We can't believe Paige is already ONE!  Time flies!

After a big soup and bread buffet, Paige tried out cake for the first time!

Maris helped her blow out the candle.

This was as messy as she got.  I had high hopes for the smash cake!

After cake, we opened presents.  Our family and friends were so generous.  Paige now has a full wardrobe of adorable 100% cotton clothes for summer, and some fun toys to play with too!

Showing off a cute shirt.

Say "Ahhhhh!"

Making a break for it.

We are so grateful to everyone who cooked for us, helped us set up, made sure the cake arrived in one piece, and then helped us clean up!

Super Family

8 Mile

Our gift for Paige is on back order and we have no idea when or if it will arrive.  Good thing she doesn't know any better!  I obviously can't share pictures of that yet, so here's one of her enjoying a ride-on toy from G'ma and G'pa C.  

(If we put a hood up on her, she insists on wearing it that way until the shirt comes off.)

If you are interested, you can read more about the details of Paige's party on my other blog.

The Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday Paige!!

Paige is such a goofy, sweet, happy little girl.  At one year old, she loves dogs, playing with her big sister, trying new toys and new foods!  We also found recently, that she loves swimming.  Her favorite foods are peas, cheese, black beans, and cantaloupe.  She takes two naps a day and sleeps like a champ all night too.  Paige is not quite walking yet, but that doesn't stop her from chasing her sister all over the place and getting into things she shouldn't!  She knows two signs (more and all done) and about five words.  We love you, Paige, and are excited to see how you will learn and grow this year!

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

1 year old!

Princesses on Ice

Every week we try to make sure that Maris and I get to have some Mommy and Me time for just the two of us.  Sometimes it is just running errands, but sometimes, it's something really exciting like Princesses on Ice!

We didn't tell her where we were going, only that she needed to dress like a princess.  We got her a new Tangled dress-up dress.  (I wish we'd video taped her finding that in her closet! Priceless.)  Then Maris and I headed to Quicken Loans arena to see the princesses.

I still didn't tell her what was happening until the first skaters came out on the ice.  She was more amazed than squealing with excitement, but it was a fun reaction nonetheless.

I'm always impressed that anyone can skate in these costumes!  The show had three sections, plus Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald who came out to introduce each part.

The Princess and the Frog

 Cinderella

Tangled

We didn't realize it at the time, but Maris was pretty sick.  The very next day she was at the doctor for a double ear infection and pink eye.  I think she still managed to have a good time!

Hippopotamus for Christmas

I have had a few requests to see this video again.  Enjoy!  

I've watched this a thousand times and she still makes me laugh!

Christmas, Part 4

Sometimes, I think I'm still a kid.  What, you didn't know?  My favorite activities and traditions are the ones that involve me being a (grown up) child to my parents.  This year was the first year that we didn't do Christmas morning at their house.  It was very strange, and I am not sure I liked it.  I loved every second of Christmas morning with Johnny and our girls, but I didn't like what I was missing!  Luckily it worked out that we could postpone Christmas morning at their house just one day.  It won't always work like that, but I figure at some point, my kids will get up early enough that we can still head over to my parents house for what I like to call:

Grandma's in Pajamas!

It is totally not catching on.  I don't know why.  

We were excited to Skype with my brother and Vicki.  They gave us a great Christmas present in telling us they will be coming home for Paige's first birthday this month!

I wasn't kidding about the pajamas.

Paige does not look happy about being confined while there is presents wrapping paper around.

When mailing gifts cross-country through the Westlake post office, drastic measures must be taken.

After gift opening, we had Christmas French Toast (greatest food EVER!) and Sausage Egg Casserole.  Then we went home and played with new toys.  Everyone went to bed early.  The end.

PS - Do you have a gorillapod for your camera?  You should!

 

Christmas, Part 3

Day 3 - Christmas Morning and Christmas dinner with the Jordans

I'm so glad my kids haven't hit the phase where they get up early for Santa!  Ugh.  I remember my brother and I used to get up at 3:30, 4:00, 4:30.  The only reason my dad put up with that, was because he was just as excited!  :)

Santa's been!

It actually worked out really nicely.  Maris got up at a decent hour and we were able to watch her open all her presents before Paige got up.  Then when Paige woke up we got to have 1 on 1 opening time with her... or with Maris again since Paige had zero interest in opening gifts!

I read somewhere this year that you should stand next to your tree to get the best shot of your kids.  Obviously!  But for some reason I never thought of this before.

Wooo!!!

Santa always leaves Erie a gift to open.  She's 6 so she's a pro at opening.

A Barbie was the only thing Maris asked for from Santa.  And a Barbie, she received.

But she got a fun chair too!

Sometimes the best gifts are accidents or afterthoughts.  "Santa" got this for 75% after Halloween at Target and she LOVES it.

Supergirl!

Hey, look who decided to get up!

"Toothbrushes..."

"and potatoes?  I shoulda stayed in bed!"

Santa could have saved his money and just gotten wrapping paper for this one.

We should nickname Maris, The Vault.  This girl keeps a secret like it's her job!  She picked this book out for Johnny in early November.  She was very intent on keeping it a secret too!

The Vault presents her secret.

All done!  They kind of look like the need to go back to bed!

After gifts we had cinnamon rolls for breakfast and relaxed in the afternoon.  For dinner we headed down to the farm to see the Jordans.  Unfortunately, Christmas was starting to catch up with the girls and we weren't able to stay as long as we wanted.  We did have time to pop in and visit the horses though.  (Pics coming after I download from G'pa's camera.)

Merry Christmas!

Christmas, Part 2

Day 2 - Campana Christmas Eve

My family members are big fans of traditional themed holiday meals.  We eat corn beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day, pork and sauerkraut on New Years Day, and so on.  Our Italian tradition on Christmas Eve is to eat Spaghetti (with your choice of regular marinara or tuna marinara!), Shrimp, Smelt, and Salad.  I know you are wondering what smelt is.  Go ahead, click on it.  Christmas Eve dinner is probably my favorite meal of the year; definitely during the holidays.

After dinner, we open gifts.  The cousins exchange names, so everyone just buys for one other person.  Another of my favorite traditions!

Refreshment break.  Cute baby alert.

My cousins tried to teach Maris the pouty lip.  It came out more like Zoolander.

Maris fits right in with the blondies.  15 of 19 cousins have blonde hair!  That's got to be some weird statistical anomaly, right?

After the cousins did some gift exchanging, it was Grandma Great's turn.  She had a busy year.  She visited grandkids in Colorado, California, and Oklahoma.  G'ma Great doesn't fly.  She made all those visits as part of road trips!  Road trips in your 80s.  That's fantastic.  While she was in Denver, she climbed a few mountains. 

"Getting this high is illegal in most states."

Luckily we got home much closer to bedtime.  My kids don't quite understand getting up early for Santa yet, so we got a nice long night of sleep!  Merry Christmas Eve!