Merry Christmas!!

We hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas. I know for some of our friends the past few days have been tough due to many different circumstances, but please know that you have been in our thoughts and prayers.

The past few days have felt like a whirlwind at times and it is nice to be able to relax a little now. I was so thankful to have the entire week off last week in order to get things done and prepare for Christmas. December has been such a busy month, with concerts, parties, and school that we really haven't had a chance to relax. Becca, Joe, and I went shopping last Monday and she did really well. She thought it was hilarious when Joe pushed her in the stroller around the stores...not really sure why, but at least she was laughing, not crying. She also found it humorous to drop her cup and toys out of her stroller!

We spent Christmas Eve at Grammy and Papa Tiefel's house. It has been a tradition that we always have breakfast before we open our gifts. This is one of my favorite traditions with our family. I love eating the Christmas breakfast of eggs, mush, fruit, and other goodies. One of my favorite memories of Christmas is waking up, gathering around the kitchen table and listening to dad read the Bible and tell us about Jesus's birth. It helped keep the focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Now the tradition has been passed down to Christor who reads the story before we open presents.

Becca opened her first Christmas present here. I don't really think she understood she was supposed to keep unwrapping the gift because the good stuff was inside the package! She was more interested in playing with the tags or wrapping paper than finding out what the surprise was. I think we could have gotten her a box or paper for Christmas this year and she would have been content. We had a lot of fun watching Tyler get into the paper, Ava open her gifts, and Becca enjoy her books. As soon as she saw the books she would want to open them and point to the pictures. I love the fact that she will sit and turn the pages in the books and talk to herself. We say that she is telling us the story. I hope she continues her love of books! She loves the stuffed Tiger that she got from Uncle Hooney and the musical cow Grammy and Papa got her as well.

It was also fun to watch Becca, Ava, and Tyler interact. Here are some fun pictures. Becca was trying to poke Tyler, as well as grab his ears, and give him a kiss. So cute!

After Christmas with the Tiefel family, we went to Christmas Eve service at our church. Joe had his high school brass quintet playing so he went early. Becca as usual enjoyed the music, but Joe eventually took her outside of the sanctuary because she was getting a little loud! :) She was wanting her voice to be heard as well. He said he was outside with all of the other dads and grandparents with little ones. This is Becca in her Christmas dress before we left.

Christmas morning was fun. Joe and I have been talking about what traditions we want to start with our family. We haven't completely decided and it is hard because Becca is still so young, but we tried this year. I'm sure we will keep adding new traditions as she gets older. We woke up, fixed breakfast and gathered around (Becca in her high chair) and took turns reading from Luke 2. Then we all ate breakfast together as a family. After breakfast we opened gifts. Becca did a little better opening gifts. She was still more interested in the bows and paper. I also kept switching out the gifts so that she would keep opening them. She received some fun gifts! Here are some fun pictures.

After we had our family time, we spent the rest of Christmas day at Mamaw and Papaw Allen's house. We enjoy spending time with all of our family. We had a lot of fun and it was a blessed time. We laughed a lot, due to a fun board game which I'll tell you about in another post, and ate a lot of great food! We were all stuffed! Becca received her first laptop as well as a panda bear that she loved to give kisses. After all of the festivities the past day, she finally decided a nap was in order. It was a truly blessed two days and we continue to thank the Lord for all He has done for us this year and how he has blessed our family. I am so thankful that He gives us strength to get through each day! Merry Christmas! :)

Footprints

My friend and art teacher at Hoover had a surprise for me last week. I guess last April, when I brought Becca into school one day, Ann and Marci put her little feet in clay and made footprints for me. Even though I said to keep her away from the art supplies, they thought it would be fun to get her feet dirty! :) She fired it and glazed it and brought it in for me last week. It is so precious. You can see each little toe print and the date is on the back as well. Joe and I love it! It is amazing how much she has grown since then. Sometimes I don't realize it since I see her everyday. This is something we will treasure always!!

Laundry baskets....

Who needs expensive toys when you have a laundry basket???? Joe and I were folding laundry and putting it away last night. Since Becca doesn't sit still now, I decided to set her on the bed. She thought it would be fun to throw all of the clothes out of the laundry basket so I decided just to sit her in the basket. She found an empty wipes package and thought it was great fun to sit in the laundry basket and play with the package. Why do we buy all of the expensive electronic toys when kids seem content with boxes, cups, laundry baskets?? :) I had to watch her very carefully however because she learned that she could throw the package over the basket and then lean over making the basket fall on the side and get the package. She would then push herself back up again.

Becca is also starting early with wanting an iphone. She loves Joe's phone and whenever he has it reaches for it and almost whines until she gets to hold it. She loves "The Wheels on the Bus" app as well as "Baa Baa Black Sheep." She will sit still for at least 5 minutes and push the animations on "The Wheels on the Bus." When the fish goes "pop, pop" she says "pop, pop." Great fun!

Becca also has started figuring out how to put the shapes in one of her toys. Before she would just shake it, but now she is understanding that the shapes go in certain places. Of course with much help, the other day she was excited when she put one in and it fell through!

Christmas decorations

Over Thanksgiving weekend we put up our Christmas tree and other decorations. Thankfully so far Becca hasn't really seemed too interested in the Christmas tree (of course this could be due to the fact that I have it blocked off for the most part). She does however, love the decorations in which she can push the button and they snowmen move and the reindeer sings. Joe taught her how to push the button and she shakes her little bootie to the music and claps along. We hear the same Christmas carols many times!

We've hung up our stockings that were knitted by a friend of Judy Bolinger's. Joe and I have had our stockings since we were first married and then Judy gave us Becca's when she was born. What fun it is to see three stockings up this year.

Becca has also been hard at work painting and making dinner for us the past two weeks! :) Cheryl, her daycare provider, graciously makes dinner for all of the families of the children every Tuesday in December. It is such a blessing not to have to come home and make dinner. I love how she gets all of the kids involved. They make centerpieces by painting and glueing as well as help prepare the meal. Both meals have been delicious and I love the creativity. Obviously Becca just watches for the most part, but Cheryl has gotten her involved with painting. Here is an example of Becca's artwork.

Squealing with Joy

One of the band parents took this picture of Becca at our Marching Band Banquet. It is one of my favorites. She would hear the high school students yelling for each other and cheering when they received an award so Becca thought she would join in on the fun. I had a hard time keeping a straight face when they would cheer and then little Becca would squeal with delight and clap her hands. So cute! :)