Christmas re-cap

It was another grand holiday for us! we have so much to be grateful for at this time! Some highlights of our Christmas include...

-The Taylor Family party at our home on the 19th. We had games, did crafts, frosted cookies, and had wonderful food in true Taylor form.
-Sledding with the Johnsons and enjoying home made Tepanyaki for Gary's birthday.
-"Annie didn't know Joe" a story inspired by a special visit from Santa.
-The best gift ever from Ryan and Jes. Thanks for such a meaningful gift!
-Christmas Eve at Grandma Mae's House. Mom did an amazing job pulling this one off... A long standing tradition that is always wonderful. Once again, great food and company. Lydia loved her gift from Grandma.
-Christmas morning and omelets and Grandma Taylor's house. Ryan and Nellie did a great job taking over the omelet station. Dad was terribly missed, of course.
-Tons of down time with Gary and Lydia. Movies watched include: In Her Shoes (one of my all time favorites), and Kit Kitteredge, American Girl (sp?) LOVED this one, thanks for the recommendation, mom. (Gary even watched and enjoyed both of these)

Take note of the common them here: FOOD, and way too much of it. But please do see my recipe blog in the days to come for some great new recipes I had a chance to try this year.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

The Newest Cannon

Paula and Troy welcomed Lilyana Malee to their family on Christmas Eve this year! What a great gift! She makes three Christmas babies for the Cannons; Gary 12/23, Jeremy (Lily's older brother) 12/23, and now Lilyana 12/24.

We are so happy for the Walkers and can't wait to meet this beauty!

Lydi has Bed Head

Gary and Lydi up and left me for a road trip to Mesquite this weekend. It has been nice to have some time to get caught up and ready for Christmas, but I miss them already. Here is the picture they sent me this morning, titled "Hers has bedhead". I think she's having a great time getting to know her cousins better and they are taking great care of her.

Finally...

Well, it only took 14 months, but we finally had some professional pictures taken of Lydia. Here are a few of my favorites...

Toddler-hood approaches...

Dearest Lydia,

You are the light of my life, the apple of my eye, my little piece of heaven. However, as wonderful as you are, there is something we need to talk about...how do I say this gently...

BEDTIME for you is NOT 11pm, that is actually bedtime for mommy and daddy. Your bedtime however, is scheduled for 8pm which works out fabulously, giving your mommy and daddy time to do things like clean the floors-so you can crawl without getting all black and yucky, wash your clothes - so you look and smell nice and clean, and sometimes even go to the grocery store to buy you the things you need! Mommy and daddy also like to have a little R&R during this time. I'm sorry...I hope you are not offended.

Love,

Mom

Lydi's getting a new little....

COUSIN! Actually she already did. Last night at 6:30 Jackson was born to Steph and Jeremiah in Reno. CONGRATS to the new parents. We can't wait to meet the beautiful babe!

Weekend re-cap...

What a great weekend we had as we celebrated thanksgiving with family and friends. Some highlights...Dinner at Grandmas with the WHOLE family and a few friends...JEN staying with us...SHOPPING with Jen, Amy, Ava and MOM...avoiding ridiculous crowds, but still finding some good deals...EATING at Archibald's (one of my favorites) with some of my favorite people...RUNNING with my BFF on Thanksgiving night and feeling less guilty about the days menu...EATING at another favorite, Z-Tejas and enjoying the company of good friends...LAUGHING hysterically at "Four Christmases"...LOVING being on a first date with Gary since our little Lydi joined us...MISSING our love bug while we were on our date...have here wide eyed and happy as can be when we picked her up form Grandma's house at 11:00PM...pictures to follow...