Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's

Another Christmas has come and gone! For the first time in memory, I am not totally sick of Christmas music by December 25th. And really, I already miss all my favorite Christmas songs right about now. I'm not usually so nostalgic. Must be something about finally being content with where we are. For the first time in ten years, we've not had to travel long distances to reach family at Christmas. We hardly went anywhere, actually, aside from Rio Rancho for a few days post-Christmas. And the kids were able to do all the traditional Christmas-y things: making gingerbread cookies, decorating the tree, attending Christmas Eve services at two different churches, and unwrapping a bunch of presents Christmas morning.



For New Year's Day, we were at Grandma Pat's for brunch. I got several funny shots of all four cousins and their great-grandma. Miss Kate is figuring out how to ham it up for the camera!

Like father, like daughter

I was semi-complaining last night to my father-in-law, Rick, how I've seen my friends' kids who are around Kate's age, how they can just sit there in a stroller, or whatever, so contently. My kid, on the other hand, has to be constantly on the move. Not easy at all for a mama! Rick reminded me of the story of when they were living on the Owyhee reservation when Brian was around two years old. Brian attended daycare at a Methodist church, where he was the only white kid, taken care of by two Native American ladies. One day, Brian's dad and mom got a phone call from one of the ladies, saying that there was something wrong with Brian. The problem? All the other kids would just sit there quietly and play, used to being strapped to their moms. Brian, on the other hand, would run around all day. Sounds just like Kate! It's hard not to feel a twinge of jealousy when I see those other toddlers so placid. But, as I told Rick, I wanted feisty kids, so I really can't complain. I got exactly what I wished for! Especially when it comes to my little girl.

Christmas card photos

Took the kiddos a couple miles down Shalem Colony Road to the Rio Grande the other day, let them get out on a dirt road and run a little bit so I could get some good pictures for our Christmas cards. (That's always my best advice for taking pictures of kids: take them to a new place so their faces light up with wonder.) It was a little tricky getting both of them to cooperate, the little imps, but we came out with at least a couple that still make me grin.

A year-and-a-half

My sweet baby girl is 18 months today! Kate continues to amaze me. Every day she learns new words. She's still temperamental, extremely active, and loves her blankets and stuffed animals. When we read books, she waves at the characters inside. She also waves at the dog, or at her socks when I take them off her feet. When she meets new people, she snuggles deep into the crook of my neck. And, of course, she wants to do everything that her big brother does.


Since I use this blog as partially a reminder for all the scrapbooking I'll do someday (and, believe me, there is a LOT to catch up on!), I have compiled a list of words Kate is saying. I just compared it to the list I wrote for Jack when he was 21 months old--three whole months older than Kate is now--and her list trumps his by far. I've got a talker on my hands!

bowl * cup * mama * dada * Jack * Grandma * Grandpa * hi * bye-bye * all done * more * hot * ruf-ruf * meow * quack * moo * ooh ooh ahh * bok-bok * caw-caw * vrooom * banana * cracker * cheese * ball * uh-oh * go * garbage * socks * potty* hello * Bubba * bottle * Bible * bubbles * up (she says "bup") * down * book * bath * chair * hands * no * off/on (sounds the same, and I doubt she knows the difference)

Sweet November

Hmmph. Life has been running at rocket-speed the past month or so. Thus my lack of posts. But the kids and I successfully made a three-day trip across Texas to New Orleans for Val's wedding. (Brian flew into town a few days later.) We put on a birthday party for Jack there, and I also planned a bachelorette party for Val. Between those two events, Jack and I both managed to catch a bug, and we both spent a good part of 24 hours being sick. Luckily, it was ONLY 24 hours, and although I missed the bachelorette party, we were both well by the rehearsal. My dad was not so lucky. He did walk Val down the aisle, but couldn't muster strength to do much else that day. We had a lot of other kinds of drama leading up to the wedding, but the wedding itself? Absolutely perfect. Val's dress--the one that I helped pick out in Dallas last July--was stunning, my homemade sash worked, and she was a beaming, happy, blushing bride. RJ looked pretty handsome, too. And the reception was tons of fun, even with a clingy, whiny, 17-month-old girl attached to my hip. I even gave a semi-successful toast, which Val loved, but I think she was a little drunk, because afterward she kept kissing me on the forehead. Brian drove back with us, and we briefly visited the Alamo on our way, but plan to go back to both places--New Orleans and San Antonio--when our kids are a little older (and hopefully more appreciative).

Some of my favorite pictures from the wedding day:

NMSU football

I love, love, loooove college football. Not that I really know that much about the actual game. The atmosphere is why I go. The roar of a crowd, the band playing the fight song and other fun standards, nachos and hot dogs and soda. Last Saturday night was a special night for me and my little man. Jack and I were able to attend the NMSU game against Boise State! I wore my UI shirt. I knew none of the locals would get it, but I did have several BSU fans look at me and one man even say, "Oh, that's just wrong!" Boise State won it pretty easily--as was expected--but we had fun anyway. Jack even scored a cowbell from the nice men sitting behind us. THANK YOU to my wonderful husband for not only letting me and Jack have the two tickets, but also staying home with Kate.

State fair

Now that we're finally living in New Mexico, I am quite excited to be able to do all the local things. Unfortunately, with little kids, and being on a budget, we haven't been able to do everything, but we did make a trip to the Southern New Mexico State Fair! Both kids liked seeing the animals; Brian and I reminisced about entering our artwork at the fair when we were kids; and Jack took his first carnival ride. (Just one. How can anybody afford to go to the carnival nowadays?)

Lisa Bonita creations

After sending some little-girl barrettes to my sister Val's co-worker as a thank-you gift, she and another co-worker became interested enough in my work to request more. Thus, a new business venture for me was born. "Lisa Bonita" is currently just a blog, but if there's enough interest, I'll eventually start an Etsy store, or try to sell at a craft show, or... the possibilities are limitless! Here is Kate modeling one of my creations, and speed-walking at the same time. Talk about talent! (Also, as soon as I put anything in her hair, she yanks it out, so looks like I'm gonna have to wait a bit before she wears anything regularly.)

http://lisabonitacreations.blogspot.com/

From the sidelines

About twenty years ago, Brian was New Mexico's Youth Soccer Referee of the Year. This year, with our move back to the Land of Enchantment, he's taken up the side job again. Jack, Kate, and I have had the pleasure of sitting on the sidelines through several games. It's a little unnerving to hear coaches and parents berating my husband, but if anyone can take it, it's him.

I know next to nothing about soccer, but I do like to stretch out in the sun. The kids and I take a blanket and a bucket full of digging toys, and make sure to sit near a little plot of dirt. That way, all of us are happy.

Spaghetti and signing

Kate is fifteen months old today! Her grasp of new words and signs grows every day. She is definitely talking and signing earlier than Jack did. Today, at lunch, in between dumping out her spaghetti and then using the bowl as a hat, I started adding up all the words and signs she knows.

Hat:

More:

Eat:

Drink:


Head, or hair (pretty much the same as "hat"):

Not sure if this was anything other than a cute photo op:

Up:

Clap/Yay (while looking at Jack, doing the same thing):

Not a sign, just a cute overhead shot of the spaghetti mess:

Signs I didn't get pictures of? Mouth, teeth, ears, hands, feet, yes, no, hi, bye-bye, nummies, all done, phone, pat, sleep.

And the words she's actually saying? Mama, Dada, Jack, Grandma, doggy, ruff-ruff (what a doggy says, of course!), more, bye-bye, vrooom, bottle, cracker, ball, blanket.