Happy Holidays!

We are having the best December! Allison just loves all the lights and everything that has to do with Christmas and it makes it so much more fun for us. The Saturday after Thanksgiving we got our tree and got it all decorated. This was my year for the decorations the way I like them (white lights and everything else red and gold - Chris is all about the colorful lights). It was really fun to put up decorations in the new house.
We also put up a TON of lights on the outside of our house - all multi-colored for Chris! I still want to do our one tree in front, but it needs to be pruned first. We have gotten a lot of compliments from our neighbors - and not just Heather! Allison loves coming home and turning on the lights - then we have to walk up the street to see the lights on those houses and then Allison will let us go inside our house. It's so funny. This picture doesn't do the brightness justice, but you can see the design of the lights...

I took this one so you could see how bright our house actually was - although it's really blurry.

Last Saturday, Heather and I went to Shelton's Christmas Parade. We walked downtown and Allison did so good in her luxury stroller (it's nice living so close to town that you can actually walk).

It was a little difficult with the stroller when we got there because it was wall-to-wall people. Oh well, it was a lot of fun and we finally found a spot to watch the parade.

Heather & her new dog Samantha:

We hope that you are all having as great of a holiday season as we are. We are loving life right now and trying to enjoy every minute! Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving & BLACK FRIDAY!

No pictures for this one either (I really need to just put the camera in my purse ALL of the time).

This year for Thanksgiving we were at Chris' dad's house. The night before Chris' brother Tim and his wife Julie stayed the night so that Tim and Chris could play football in the morning. So, while they were out playing Julie and I hung out and I prepared a bunch of stuff to take over to the Nadeau's. Anyway, it was a really good day and we enjoyed spending it with family. It is so great to have so many people around that you love spending time with.

After our Thanksgiving party we stopped home to get some stuff and then went and spent the night at my parents. Since we were getting up at 4am to go shopping, we thought it best to spend the night there so I didn't have to get up any earlier. Chris had to work that Friday (darn Federal Employees) so Allison and I went shopping with pretty much my entire family (minus Kevin & Brian whose families were not in town and of course Chris). It was a REALLY LONG day, but we had a great time and I got a ton of good deals. I spent way too much, of course, but I enjoyed every minute. Allison was such a trooper and made it until like 11:30 before she passed out and Dad took her home. What made it even better is that Mom, Sara and I went and saw Twilight again! I love BLACK FRIDAY!

Scrapbooking

I don't have any pictures for this post, but wanted to write this down so I wouldn't forget.

Every month the women on my Mom's side of the family gets together for scrapbooking. Here's the thing - only one or two people actually scrapbook, but there's so much talking and laughing going on that no one ever gets bored.

This month we couldn't go to the normal location at Squeaky Page Scrapbook, so we went to my Aunt Lucy's house in stead. It was just such a fun night. My cousin Sam was there and he and Allison became best buds. He's 13 (I think) and has Downs Syndrome and he is just the awesomest little boy ever. He and Allison played games and just hung out the entire time. She still talks about him and wants to go see him - good thing we're going back again next week so she can play again. My favorite part of the evening was when I went to check on her in the living room and Sam had put her to bed on their couch with pillows all around her. It was awesome!

Twilight!

At long last, Twilight came out on November 21st. I was so excited, but I had a few friends who saw it before me and warned me not to expect too much. So, I went with really low expectations and enjoyed every minute. It was just fun and I went with really good company, too. We had quite a large group - my Cousin Laura and a bunch of her friends, my Aunt Mary Jane, Sara, my Grandma Nielsen and Heather. It was a great night out except for when I spilled a LARGE popcorn all over my Grandma's feet. Whoops! Good thing there's free refills.

Head Injury!

On Saturday night, November 15th, Allison decided to prove that she is my clumsy child and run right into the corner of the wall and gash open her head. It really wasn't too bad, but it looked deep and bled a lot, so we decided it would be best to take her to the emergency room to have them look at it. I was so nervous that they would have to shave part of her head to do the stitches, but in the end, they just put in one staple so it didn't pull apart and sent us home. The funniest part was the bandage...you would have thought it was MUCH worse than it really was. She was such a trooper.

Family Fun

Lots of family came in to town for my Grandpa's funeral. It was so nice to have everyone here and spend some time together.

This is mommy and Allison before heading up to the funeral (Allison DID NOT do too well at the funeral - she must have felt the vibes!)
I love this little dress that she wore. It's way too big on her and will fit for a long time to come.

Oooh, stylin':

The kids love their uncle Kevin and loved climbing all over him.

Gotta get Crystal in there, too.

I don't know why I decided to post the following picks, but they just crack me up.

Allison:

Mark:

Taylor:

Kendall:

Anyway, it was awesome to have everyone home. We can't wait until Kevin & Chanel move back - PARTY ALL NIGHT, right Chanel?

Halloween

I'm back!

We had a great Halloween this year. The night before we had a youth combined activity that was a Halloween Party. I was a disco diva this year and Heather was Dorothy (obviously). The activity turned out really good and I think the kids had a lot of fun. By the way, I had no idea how itchy wigs are!
Allison was my little clown. This outfit actually did have pants that matched, but they were a little too big and my kid never stays dressed too long. My sister Robin actually made this outfit for her daughter out of old quilt squares. It was sooo cute and will probably fit Allison again next year - maybe she'll actually keep it on next time.

Even though my grandpa passed away on Halloween, we still decided to go ahead with our party. Our house was really noisy and really crowded, but I think everyone had a good time. Just wanted to share a few pictures..

Jeremiah:

Mom, Robin, and Sidse:

Kendall, Hannah, Chris & Jeremiah:

We're finding that holidays are so much fun with a two-year-old around. Allison loved Halloween and we had a great time, too.

Grandpa...

Robert (Bob) Nielsen

Grandpa and Allison shorty after she was born

My Grandpa passed away Friday morning. He had Alzheimer's and hadn't known who I was for at least 5 years, but he was still my grandpa and I miss him dearly. It's a very interesting situation - this whole Alzheimer's thing - because I feel like I lost him a long time ago, but now it's totally real.

My Grandpa was a wonderful man who loved his family and we loved him - and still do love him. I will definitely miss him...

Trying something new...

So, instead of posting one LONG post, I've decided to divide it up this time. Be sure to scroll all the way down to her birthday post so that you read it all.

Random Cuteness!

There's just so many cute pictures of Allison, I have to post some of them.

Allison loves "her" chair at the bar. She's always up there eating something.

Allison loves to drive her mother crazy. This time she decided to get into the drawer of bibs and put them ALL on. And, of course, she naked - her favorite!

This was so funny. All of a sudden I look down the hall and Allison has Chris' shorts up around her shoulders. It was hilarious! Thank goodness she kept them on long enough for me to snap a picture.

Trying on Melissa's boots...naked again.

Playing in the neighbor's (Heather & Daniel's) sprinkler.

(Chanel, do you recognize those shoes? You left them here last time you visited and Allison has become attached to them. They are HUGE on her, but she doesn't seem to mind)

So cool with her Uncle Jeremy.

Apparently she's getting to go out with her sunglasses and purse (not sure who got her dressed - YIKES!)

So pretty in her long hair...

She got this little outfit from her Papa Nadeau & Brenda. She looked adorable in it.
She got this guitar from Kevin & Chanel - she loves it - especially since it's her favorite color, pink!
This one's for you, Heather - I guess this teaches you not to take pictures on MY camera! Ha!

Pumpkin Patch - Trip #2

The second time Allison & I went to the pumpkin patch we went with my parents, my brother Brian, his wife Becky and my nieces Kendall, Taylor, and Crystal. I wasn't planning on going, but it kept me from unpacking - definitely worth it.

Allison got to go down the slide last time, but this time she wanted to do it over and over again. We had to drag her away. This is her climbing up the hay to get to the slide.

She was obsessed....

Brian, Becky & Crystal - aren't they so cute?

Becky wanted to try the slide, too. She decided to go down head first - crazy girl.

Looks like fun.

Allison, Kendall, Becky & Taylor.

The girls really enjoyed seeing the animals..

Once again, we got to go on a hay ride - Allison really loved it this time. She wanted to sit all by herself - she's so independent.One again, she had a good time looking at all of the pumpkins. Once again, we didn't take one home - aren't I a horrible mother?Kendall - she's turning into such a beautiful little girl (she actually DID take this pumpkin home).
Taylor, Allison, and Kendall on the tractor (they had to take turns driving).

This time we got to go to the corn maze. It was a lot of fun and all the dried up corn was really pretty.

Grandpa found some corn for Allison to eat - I couldn't get it away from her.

Grandpa then had to find corn for the other girls!

I think everyone really enjoyed themselves. Especially after we all got ice cream (I especially love the one hand in her pocket - so grown up).

The trips to the pumpkin patch were a lot of fun, but I think we're done for the year. Maybe next year we'll actually buy a pumpkin.

Pumpkin Patch - Trip #1

Allison & I have taken two trips to the pumpkin patch this year. The first trip was with our good friend and neighbor Heather.

We got to go on a hay ride and through a hay maze and then look at all of the pumpkins.
Allison really enjoyed herself.

She had a lot of fun picking out a pumpkin - and then we ended up not even buying one - just ICE CREAM!

And for some reason I love to make Allison kiss things. I know, I'm a weird mom, but she just gives the BEST kisses!