Anya got a very popular Christmas gift this year….click her to see her having a blast with it. It was so popular she got one from Mommy & Daddy and another one from Grandma Jeryl and Grandpa Ron. It doesn’t surprise me that she got 2 of them….this toy got rave reviews from all the toy and parent magazines. She has only had hers since this morning, but boy has she put some miles on it. Watch out Bubba…you might be next. (Bubba is G’ma and G’pa McArtor’s little horse)

We are back in Des Moines after our Christmas weekend up North. We had a great time celebrating with both sides of my family and Anya must have been a great little girl because Santa was extra good to her. We celebrated Christmas Eve day with the Miller family at Grandma Martha’s, then went to Christmas Eve Church Service and then back to Mom & Dad’s house to fondue (our X-mas tradition) and open presents there. Then Christmas morning we went over to Grandma Ruth’s and Gramps Arnolds for Christmas with the Olesons. It was a fast weekend, but we had so much fun getting to see everyone and celebrate Christmas.

Today, we are having a quiet day at home and I have spent the morning assembling toys and trying to find room for all our new treasures. Anya is having a hayday running from one new thing to the next! Here are a few pictures of all our Christmas fun.

With Christmas just a few days away, we wanted to pass on Holiday greetings to everyone! Wishing you a safe and happy time celebrating with those you love.

Thanks to a gift from G’ma Barb and Papa Jim, it is alot easier for Anya to count down the days until Christmas. We had one of these count down calendars growing up and I was very excited that they found one for us to have with our family. Anyways, Anya gets a kick out of putting up her daily decoration on the tree and we have to keep a close on on her, or she will try to sneak an extra day or two on the tree when we aren’t looking!! Guess she wants Christmas to hurry up and get here….she doesn’t have too much longer to wait.

Yesterday we celebrated Christmas with Jason’s extended family at his Uncle Doug’s house in Maxwell. It was fun to see everyone and Anya had a great time playing with her second cousins Isabella and Aly….I think Bella and Anya put a few miles on chasing each other round and round the house. It was so cute to watch. Here are a few pictures of our fun.

Well, look out because there is a new chatterbox in the house. As if Jason and I didn’t talk enough the way it is, we don’t even hold a candle to Anya lately. Sometimes she talks using real words and sometimes it is toddler babble…but regardless of what she is saying, she is pretty much saying it all the time! It is sweet music to our ears…..

Anyways, here is a quick update of all the real words she can say:

puppy
ruff (as in what does a puppy say?)
meow
baby (her first word)
yes
no (her newest word–and quite possibly her favorite word)
mommy
daddy
Yaya (her version of Anya)
ball
la la la
moo
more
hi
thank you (my favorite–sounds more like “hank pew”)
milk
papa (sorry Barb and Jeryl, we are working on grandma!)
wow
yay
stinky (what she says when her diaper is full–an excellent description I must say)

Seems like I am missing a few, but you get the idea. Who knows what she will be able to say tomorrow…..we will keep you posted!

Papa with 2 of his favorite girls!

Hope you have a great birthday!