Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all!

We've been busy around here! Went to Jason & Sarah Koegler's for a NYE party - met some great people there. When I woke up yesterday morning, I had no voice. Reid's not complaining, but I swear it was the weirdest thing. Go to bed with a voice, wake up with none.

I finally got around to taking a picture of our 9-foot Christmas tree. Sorry for being so tardy in posting this pic!

Yesterday we had a flow of folks through the house for the bowl games. I started cooking my seafood gumbo at 9 AM, it was ready by 2 PM. Reid had me double the recipe so there would be leftovers. There are TONS of leftovers! (When I cook something for 5 hours, I have little/no interest in eating it, so that doesn't help matters!) So, if you're hungry for gumbo, and are in our neck of the woods, please stop by and take some off our hands!

E is having a grand time playing with her Christmas loot! The living room coffee table has been taken over with the Play-Doh center (she got the craft caddy (excellent choice Grandma!) and the octopus - the latter is ridiculously difficult to get the Play-Doh out of, so if you're considering it, you may want to go in another direction.) She does have fun getting the Play-Doh through the sea creatures, though. (Reminds me of the Barber Shop Play-Doh I had as I kid where you could grow and cut the hair...) She has been a cycling fool on the Smart Cycle. She was a little slow the first couple of days with it, peddling backwards - or just being too interested on the images on the TV, but no more. Now she is peddling and grabbing up the letters and shaped like a pro! (She's waiting for Nana to come so she can "show you her moves!") The kitchen is great - and she has created us several delicious and nutritious meals! However, the mixer Aunt Anne & Uncle Sean got her is in time out. She came to learn that the beaters on the mixer can really tangle up a little girl's hair - not that we didn't tell her that...fortunately the scissors weren't involved in freeing up the tangly mess!

We're looking forwarding to hosting the Lady Toppers basketball team for a fajita party dinner on Monday evening. Elizabeth has been concerned about two things - 1.) that Topper Bear wouldn't be coming (she's scared), and 2.) and I quote, "Well what are we gonna fix, Mommy?"

Today I attempted a photo shoot with Elizabeth for the picture for her birthday party invitations. I ask you - is this the face of a child wanting to cooperate with the camera? I don't think so! Regardless, I think I may have something that will suffice. I have grand plans for these...will likely involve a trip to Cracker Barrel tomorrow - you'll have to wait to see the finished product.

Elizabeth is getting excited about her birthday. So, I must get cracking on those invitations. She will tell you that her birthday is in January or, like she told Aunt Rikki earlier tonight, "My birthday's coming up!"

Have a Happy & Healthy 2009!