Jingle Bells

Marianne is still singing "Jingle Bells", so I can post a few Christmas pictures, right?

Here's a picture of Marianne enjoying her aunts and uncles at the Yoder Family Christmas. Her very own cozy coupe!

Future Lady Blue Devil? (At this point, the basketball goal hasn't gotten any action except from Daddy...but you never know)

Yay! We got to see Brandy and Colin (one of three boys on the "pre-approved" list) at the Christmas Eve service. What a cutie!

Marianne cheezin' for the camera with Daddy.

We had such a fun time this holiday season, with gifts and yummy food galore. The best part, of course, was spending time with our families and watching Marianne enjoy the festivities, the food, the folks, and of course all the Christmas music.

Christmas 2008 wouldn't be complete without a mention of "The Christmas Toy", aka "Tiger". This made-for-TV Jim Hensen production was first aired in the mid-80s, and I grew up watching it every year. This is the first year it came out on DVD (retire the old VHS copy filled with 1980s Christmas commercials!) and PaPa got us a copy. In true toddler fashion, it immediately became Marianne's favorite show and she begged us to watch it all day long. Begged, pleaded, cried, and stomped her feet. Trying to keep our TV time to a minimum, I decided that we'd watch it once a day, in the evening after supper. She quickly learned that she could watch "Tiger" anytime at PaPa and GaGa's house, and even started calling PaPa "Tiger".

We went cold turkey on "The Christmas Toy" on January 6, and Marianne still asks to watch it but seems to understand when I tell her that Tiger is with Santa. I can't wait to break it out the day after Thanksgiving and see if she remembers it!

Now go ahead and google "The Christmas Toy"...you know you want to!

Let it Snow!

On Tuesday, the meteorologists were accurate in their predictions and we enjoyed quite a large snowfall here in Pinehurst. The snow began at about 1:00 a.m. and lasted for about 12 hours, giving us five inches of fluffy snow to play in! This is the most snow I've ever seen here in Pinehurst (we did get about a foot in 2000 but I was away at college and missed out on the fun), and certainly the most snow Marianne has seen.

With five whole inches, everything in town is shut down, giving us lots of time to stay home and play in the show (and watch the inauguration during Marianne's nap time!). Marianne loves to make snow angels (actually, she'll make them outside or inside, no actual snow required) and watch the dogs act like fools. Minnie loves the snow, and I love to have an excuse for her to wear her hot pink fleece jacket, and Whoopsie has been running through the yard at break-neck speed for the last two days in utter bliss, not wanting to come indoors.

Here are some pics:

Daddy came home early to play with us!
A girl and her dogs: Marianne, Minnie, and Whoopsie

Even snow won't stop Marianne from requesting a wagon ride!

Minnie

Marianne curiously wiping off the table -- "Where did all this stuff come from?"

Now this is a bit embarassing...

November 19. Ouch. So it's been two months since I've posted on what's happenin' in Marianne's world. There's no excuse, except that we've been busy! We took a trip to Disney World the week before Thanksgiving, and after that I just never caught up (I know, hard to feel sorry for me, right?) Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, starting a new job teaching preschool, President Obama's inauguration, five inches of snow in Pinehurst, and now it's almost February. So I'll just say "I'm sorry!" one last time and jump in!

I'm sorry!