this could take all day, but it won't

no fancy toys for her

I think Daisy's gonna be one of those kids who is happiest chewing on a mixing spoon or TV remote, rather than playing with the bright, fun and educational toys her mommy and daddy get for her.

Her favorite toy on Christmas morning was the tin of mints that my Dad had in his stocking. After all, it was a great size for her little hands, wonderful for chewing on, and made wonderful noises when shook. Forget the cool toy momma found, this mint tin is the best!

 

Grandpa's tub of nuts was pretty fun to bang on!

 

And the best part of opening presents was the paper to chew on and crinkle up!

No, you can't have a puppy.

We discovered this Christmas that Miss Daisy really likes dogs. It all started with a day I needed to work uninterrupted so a friend with a friendly lab babysat. Then my parents and CC came to visit. And then we went to Aunt Debbie and Uncle Rich's house where Murphy lives. This crazy kid gets so excited around dogs, squeeling and excited and flaps her arms like a wild woman. It's the cutest thing ever!

Guess this means a trip to see Auntie Jen and her "cogs" is in order!

Baby's First Christmas

And our first as parents too!

We woke up early Christmas morning and were joined by Mom and Dad to eat orange rolls and open our presents and stockings. It was wonderful to be at home for Christmas eve and morning.

Santa Clause came to Aunt Debbie's House

(And he looked strangely like Gramps.)

 

I couldn't stomach the thought of waiting in line and paying exhorbitant prices to see the mall Santa, when I knew we had our own suit at home. Plus, this way we got more fun pictures too!

(Ahhhh...nothing like a photo with Santa to get your weight loss goals in order!)

I've got lots more pics and videos and stories from Christmas. So check back often!

2007 Gemmer Christmas Card

And here's our letter!

Christmas traditions

Our tree 2007:

One of my favorite things about Christmas is all the traditions that surround the holiday. I thought it would be fun to share ours here with you.

Traditions since I was a kid:

• We all have matching stockings that my Grandma knitted. (My cool mom just had a friend make one for Darin, and she's now working on one for Daisy.)
• My Dad reading The Night Before Christmas on Christmas eve.
• Christmas eve service at church.
• opening packages one at a time on Christmas day
• Orange rolls on Christmas morning.
• As a kid I could open my stocking up before my parents got out of bed. This was a good way to keep me from getting them up too early, I suppose.

Traditions we've started since being married:

• Darin and I exchange an ornament each year. We try to get ones for each other that have some significance to that year.
• Our Annual Top Ten Christmas letter.
• When we lived in Seattle I wanted to start a tradition of getting a wreath at Pike Place, shopping downtown, and seeing the gingerbread houses at the Sheraton. We did it one year and then moved.
• Getting a new Christmas music CD. (We're slowly working on Darin's aversion to Christmas music.)
• Doing something to help someone less fortunate.

Traditions we're starting this year:

• Eating Merry Margharita Pizza on Christmas eve. (We've also got green river and cranberry sodas to add to the festive flare.)
• Wrapping up an ornament and Christmas book in a special box for Daisy. In future years I think I'll add a new pair of Pajamas too. This will be a present she can open on Christmas eve.
• the advent calendar

Other traditions I think are cool:

• Putting on Pajamas, loading up with snacks and cocoa, and driving around to see the lights.
• Making a birthday cake and having a party for Jesus.
• Gathering on the couch to watch a Christmas classic.
• Lighting an advent wreath as a family. (When I visited the home of a college boyfriend, his mom lit the advent candles every night, not just on Sundays. I thought that was so cool. Two years ago I was searching for Children's curriculum on advent so now I've got a lot of resources. We could definitely do something every night.)
• Cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer.
• Waiting to put the baby Jesus in the nativity until Christmas morning.
• Decorating gingerbread houses.
• Finding a tree in the snow.
• Sledding or skating outside.

Do you have any I've missed? The things that just make the season for you?

a little preview

For those of you lucky enough to get to spend some time with Daisy over the holidays, I give you a little preview of her sweet smile. This kid is pretty much irresistable.

not your typical December

I love getting the mail in December. I love that most days there is something special besides bills and ads. I love seeing the pictures and hearing the stories of friends and family. I love it so much that on my way home from work I daydream about opening the mailbox.

But this year has been different. I feel like every day I'm dissapointed. I've gotten like 5 cards all month. That includes the card that was hand-delivered during a book club meeting (so cheating!). Christmas is only 4 days away people! Where are your cards?! And letters?! And sweet pictures?!

Okay, rant over.

I can say this only because my cards got sent out on Tuesday. I'll wait a couple more days and then post a photo and our annual Gemmer Top Ten here for those of you who didn't receive a card.

she likes her food!

WARNING: Much like this post I read today, if you are at all queesy or easily upset, don't click on the videos below. If, however, you enjoy a good laugh then please click away!

Daisy sure loves to eat, especially her cereal. Sometimes she gets so excited she can't even keep it in her mouth!

But she really doesn't like the peas!

Christmas get-to-know-me

A friend emailed me this survey that I was supposed to fill out and send back. But it looked like too much fun, so I thought I'd post it here. Anyone wanna copy and paste their own answers into their blog?

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, unless I just can't make it fit.

2. Real tree or artificial? REAL!

3. When do you put up the tree?  Sometime after Thanksgiving, usually that weekend.

4. When do you take the tree down?  Sometime before New Year's.

5. Do you like eggnog?   Nope.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?   A cabbage patch doll. (I can't remember if it was a birthday or Christmas present.)

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, one I bought on clearance. It isn't my favorite, but I'm glad I have it.

8. Hardest person(S) to buy for?  My parents. They don't need STUFF. (I also hope every year I get one of my sisters-in-law when we exchange names with Darin's family as his brothers are hard to buy for!)

9. Easiest person to buy for?  Darin.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?    I honestly can't think of one..

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11. Mail or email Christmas cards?   Mail!

12. Favorite Christmas movie?    A Christmas Story. And Love Actually is a very close second.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?  As soon as I can.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? One year we had an after-Christmas party where the white elephant exchange required us to bring our "least favorite present" that we received. That was a lot of fun!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?     Sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles! I could eat them all day long. I also really look forward to my mom's orange rolls on Christmas morning.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?  Clear. Lots of clear.

17. Favorite Christmas song? In the Bleak Midwinter

18. Travel for Christmas or stay at home?  Both!

19. Can you name all 8 of Santa's reindeer?  Yep! (But doesn't rudolph make 9?)

20. Angel on the tree top or star?   Angel for now. The one that was on my tree growing up. (Darin doesn't really like it, but she's special.)

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?  Morning for sure. Traditionally you could open your stocking as soon as you got up. And then after an orange roll or too, a cup of cocoa or tea, we would dive into the rest. As a kid I would always beg my parents to "let me open just one" on Christmas eve. Sometimes they would give in, but most often my dad would say, "Santa hasn't come yet!"

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The pressure to buy, buy, buy.

23. What I love most about Christmas?   So many things. But I think mostly the feelings I get when I see lights on houses, or hear Christmas carols, or watch a family light an advent wreath in church, or pick out presents for loved ones, or bake cookies for my family...that feeling of goodness and peace. That, at least for that moment, all is right with the world.

God bless you this Christmas!