Holiday Parties

Yesterday was Lucy's 2nd Annual Christmas Party with her playgroup. The adults traded cookies and the kids exchanged their Secret Santa gifts. By 10:30 AM Lucy and I were both in a sugar coma from all of the tasty treats. Oh, so much good food and not enough room in the ole' tank. Still, being the trooper that I am, I managed to cram as many cookies as I could in the small space that was once my cavernous stomach. I can proudly say that I successfully finished the entire plate of goodies by 9 o' clock this morning (if you don't count the one sugar cookie Charles took to work, and the crumbs that I was too lazy to lick off the plate). Nothing like starting the day with a surge of insulin in the blood!

Lucy's hair is getting so long. Charles and I like to comb her pretty little rat tail after a bath. Anyway, here she is with her first official pigtails. I tried to get a better picture, but the camera is to Lucy what kryptonite is to Superman, as later demonstrated in the post.


See, staring in fear at the mass of flashes pointed in her direction. This is the best group picture I had of all of the kiddos. I can't believe how much they've all changed in one short year. We have a new addition in the bumbo, little Luke. By next year's party there will be at least two more babies in attendance, mine and Megan's (due in June). I can't wait. The more the merrier!


I'm no baby doctor nor do I claim to be a baby whisperer, but I think this was Lucy's way of communicating she's done with the photo session...


Mommies and babies, err toddlers. (L-R) Jen and Preston, Emily and Mallory, Nanthida and Lucy, Lacy and Ethan, Melana with Zack and Luke, Megan and Oliver


Lucy and Mommy in front of the pretty tree. Lucy has found that her sister makes a nice seat and/or pillow. One thing she has yet to comprehend is that there is a baby in there. Although, sometimes I think she understands; she just chooses not to acknowledge the impending arrival of competition.


Opening up her gift from her Secret Santa, Preston. I don't think at this point she realized that the ribbon wasn't the present.


A baby doll! It's the perfect size for her little frame. She's already carrying it around everywhere. Yesterday after we left to run errands, she HAD to have her baby with her at all times.


A puzzle! Lucy loves, loves, loves puzzles. Mommy, not so much. It's probably because her favorite things to do is take all of the pieces out and hand them to me to put in (over and over again) or hide the piece and laugh while I struggle to find them.


And a book! She couldn't wait to read it. She loved all of her gifts. What a spoiled little girl. Thank you Preston and Jen.


A particularly special treat for all of you loyal blog readers, Charles and I cleaned up at his work holiday bash. Last Friday, we joined about fifty of this co-workers and their spouses at the Uptown Theatre for drinks, dinner, and dancing (not to mention Guitar Hero, karaoke, and an Elephant Gift exchange). Lucy stayed overnight with her Grandma so Charles and I made it home by 10:30 where we promptly and quite literally fell into bed. At least he made it into his pajamas. I woke up at 3 AM, still in my dress and coat on top of the covers.