Goodbye 2011

Andy and I got each other an elliptical as a Christmas present so my blogging time has taken a bit of a hit as I now spend my evenings ellipting (what is the appropriate verb?).  My waistline has also taken a hit in the last several months so it's a necessary evil.  (Can I just mention, however, that my weight gain is a good thing?  That's because I believe the primary reason I've put on a few pounds is because this is the longest time in years that I've gone without a major UC flare!  So, even though it's probably a good idea for me to lose a few pounds by upping my exercise, I'll happily be a bit pudgier and have a vastly improved quality of life.)  Enough talking about why I haven't blogged, here is a review of our last week.

Donna stayed for a few days after Christmas and the girls soaked up every walk, book read to them and snuggle.  I did as well because besides having great joy in seeing them be loved and taught by their Nonna, it gave me free time for errands, chores and relaxing.

 

The girls were pretty bummed when Donna left but are counting down the days until her next visit.  We had a couple low key days before New Year's Eve when we were having some family over.  In the past few years we've celebrated Santa Lucia Day with my Swedish family.  This year everyone was just too busy in mid-December to make the party feasible so I decided to move it to New Year's Eve.  I ended up making a variety of Mexican dishes and margaritas and my Aunt Karen made Sangria and my mom made creme brulee so it wasn't our most Swedish of celebrations, but I did have various Swedish decorations.  Maybe next year I'll have glogg and lutefisk.  I took barely any pictures, but here are the few I snapped plus some that Jessie took.

When I brought out Kirsten in her Santa Lucia garb Madeleine was so excited.  She didn't have any recollection of seeing her before and thought Kirsten and her accessories were pretty much the cat's meow.  The trunk that Kirsten's stuff was in was painted by my MorMor, Kirsten was given to me by my MorMor and Papa and the clothes and accessories were all given to me by my parents and other family members or bought by me with birthday money in my childhood.  Given all of that "history" (and the fact that Kirsten is now retired and neither the doll or her accessories can be purchased) make her that much more special.  I haven't given Maddie free reign over all the things, but I am allowing her to play with it all as long as I'm there.  I'm sure some day she'll want her own American Doll, but I'm so enjoying seeing her thrill over every detail of Kirsten's trunk of treasures!

 

Beth was looking through a bag of Berenstein Bear books that were hers from childhood to pick one out to read to the kids.

Sometimes I wonder where Maddie's cowlicks come from and then I see a picture of my hair pulled back and I remember.  I don't know if they're cowlicks per se, but my hair certainly doesn't not all grow in one direction! (By the way, I'm torching the creme brulees.)

Having a finished basement is everything I dreamed of and more.  Andy and I were insistent that any house we bought had to have a basement that was finished or capable of being finished and our realtor thought we were overrating basements, but she didn't know us!  The kids play in it, I use it for a crafting space, we exercise in it, it houses a guest room and guest bath, Charlie has it as his lair, we have a workspace where I have various furniture refinishing projects going on, and much more!

Jessie was taking some bump shots for Beth and the girls jumped in to say hi to the baby.

Our cozy den, another thing I love in our new house.  Actually, I love everything about our new house, especially when it's filled with family and friends!