Christmas 2008 part 2

On Friday morning I got up super early and went shopping with my friend Jeni. We went to Younkers, Target, Walmart, Kohl's, Old Navy and then out to lunch. Shortly after we were done eating Sophie joined us. Sophie is Jeni's baby. She is getting so big and is super cute! She was good while we went to K-Mart and then home to nap. Jeni and I found tons of great bargains! There were not very many shoppers, I am guessing most people had to work since it was a Friday. It was great to hang out with Jeni and get some shopping time without Libby.

While Jeni and I were shopping, Libby stayed back at Mimi and Papa's with Daddy. She got a bath, played with her toys a little and watched cartoons. Daddy took her over to Uncle Nick's to play with Jordyn and so the boys could play PS3. Mimi took Libby back to her house since it was nap time and left Daddy to play with Uncle Nick. I also took a nap the same time as Libby since I had gotten up so early. That night Nick, JJ, Jordyn, me, Mike, Libby, Mimi and Papa all went out to dinner and then back to Nick and JJ's to hang out until bedtime.

Saturday morning we all went to Perkin's for breakfast. Libby was kind of cranky until she ate, then she was crazy. We hung out until she started getting tired. She slept the entire way back to Omaha. All the go, go, go was catching up with her. When we got home Mike and I unloaded all of our presents, luggage, and new purchases. We then put together Libby's new kitchen and doll set. About the time we finished up-it was time to go again.

We went over to Jacque's to watch Austin open his Christmas presents from all of us. He was at his dad's this year so he didn't get to come to Sioux City. He got a bunch of really neat presents. We ate and played Scene It until Libby got tired.

Sunday the 3 of us got up early. We got ready and went out to spend all of the gift cards we had received for Christmas. We went to Bed, Bath and Beyond so I could get a new bathroom rug and a few other things. Next was Best Buy. Mike didn't find anything special that he thought he needed to have (but has since gotten Guitar Hero-which I am addicted to but that is a different post). We then went to Pier One. I have had a gift card since May and decided it was time to find something to purchase. I found some AWESOME curtains for the living room. They look so nice and are just what I have been looking for. After our big shopping spree we went out to lunch at Olive Garden and then home for naps. We lounged around for the rest of the day trying to rest up from the week before and to get ready for the week to come.

Christmas 2008

So my laptop is still in the shop. Hopefully I will have it back tomorrow. I have decided I had better start writing a post a day and add the pictures later so I don't forget anything.

On Christmas Eve we left for Sioux City around 12:30. Libby napped most of the way so our ride was pretty peaceful. We mostly just hung around at Mike's parent's waiting for everyone to show up. We ate our traditional salad, toasted ravioli, and lasagna dinner. Libby went to bed shortly after that since we ate dinner so late.

We didn't get up too early on Christmas morning. We drank coffee, ate breakfast and waited for Nick, JJ and Jordyn to arrive. We opened presents for about 2 hours. Libby opened all of hers within the first 20 minutes. She wanted us to open every box so she could play with each present. We tried to divert her attention since we didn't want to open everything before we got home. Libby got lots of stuff! She got a new kitchen, some food to go along with it, a Cabbage Patch Kid, a Care Bear, a princess CD player, a Fisher Price doll set with a crib, stroller and swing, a couple of puzzles, a bye bye Choo Choo baby, a sleeping bag, a memory game, tons of stocking stuffers-I am sure I am forgetting something. Before Christmas she got a Sit and Spin from Aunt Joyce. My dad also bought her a Dora bike/big wheel that I put together a little early for her. Mike and I also faired very well with the gifts. We can't complain-Christmas was good this year.

After Libby's nap that afternoon, Libby and I went to my sister's house. We opened presents with Taylor and Caleb. Libby got a Little Einstein's bath set and a play tool box full of tools and screws. Kim made us dinner, the kids played with their new toys and Kim, Matt and I played their new Wii.

Libby played with her new toys a little bit after we got back to Mimi and Papa's. She was over tired from all the excitement from the day and she didn't want to go to bed that night. She cried in bed for quite a while-which is not like her. Nick, JJ and Jordyn were over (everyone else had to leave that day) so while the kids slept, we all played Nick's new game for PS3-"Buzz". It is super fun. If we didn't already have a couple quiz games for Wii I would probably want it.

SO SORRY!

I sincerely apologize to all of my loyal readers for not updating about our Christmas celebration. We got home from Sioux City on Saturday afternoon. That night I went to turn on my laptop and I couldn't get on the Internet. I had already downloaded all the pictures to my computer. As soon as I get my laptop back from the shop I will post about Christmas, New Years and everything in between.

Happy New Year to all!!

Weekend update

Just an update to let you all know that it snowed here finally..I still don't think snow plows exist because I haven't seen any! I have seen trucks with blades plowing out parking lots and such but none on the roads. I am pretty sure the street in front of my house hasn't been plowed either. Luckily we have only gotten a few inches of snow and some freezing rain.

Tuesday was the first of the snow. Libby went to Aunt Joyce's for a couple of hours so I could get a little shopping done and go to the post office. It worked to my advantage to go on a snowy day because there were no lines.

Thursday night we got a storm of freezing rain and snow. I spent over an hour Friday afternoon scooping/chipping ice on the driveway and didn't even get 1/3 of it done. Now it has been too cold to finish. Maybe tomorrow...

Saturday late morning Mike's parents came into town. They wanted to make it before the wind and snow picked up in Sioux City. Austin and Jacque came over and we all just hung around and played games. It was too cold and windy to go anywhere.

Sunday we had the Andersen family (Mike's mom's side) Christmas. Libby had a great time playing with all her cousins and the "new" toys at Rod and Callie's house. She didn't get her usual nap in so she has been super tired. I am hoping she gets rested up by Wednesday when 3 more days of festivities begin!

As I am typing this it has started to snow...again...I'm dreaming of a White Christmas....

Oh Christmas Tree.....

Here are a few photos of our trees and house. I know the outside picture is pretty light. I need to sneak out when it is a little darker. I also did not turn the flash off my camera when taking pictures of the trees so the lights did not show up. I apologize I am not an expert like my husband.

In the picture of our house is also the picture of ALL the snow we have gotten this year. It might not ever snow in Omaha but it sure is COLD! Today it was 25 below with wind chill. Libby and I stayed in all day and baked cookies for Mike to take to work. These are the days when I enjoy not having a job.

One more day....

Friday is my last day of work until January 2nd. I am so VERY excited-I never get days off at Christmas time. I feel like I have been running in circle for the past two months. HOPEFULLY this will be the end of my busy phase so I can rest in January. I had big plans to get a bunch of stuff done around the house but then my sitter decided to take the week of Christmas off too. I guess Libby and I will have some quality days together next week. I am hoping to cut down on the number of bottles she has per day before I cut her off entirely. Right now she is sick so I don't know how well I am going to fair with that plan either.

I bought myself a new memory card for my camera so I can take tons of pictures at Libby's first Christmas. Hopefully she will be feeling better by then otherwise I will have a bunch of pictures of Libby sitting on every one's laps opening presents. Check back after Christmas for the report and pictures!

Oh Christmas Tree.....

Since the weather was crappy outside today Mike stayed home and put up our Christmas tree. Libby decided that she wanted to help. We bought a "new" Christmas tree this summer from our friend Brooke because she was moving and didn't need it anymore. Let me tell you, this tree is HUGE! It is like half the width of our living room and the star more than touches the ceiling. It looks pretty cool and it is only for a month out of the year so I guess we will survive.