Happy New Year!

This year, we were sad to say goodbye to Daddy before 2011 as he had to work in the ER.

Our last family pic of 2010 – what an amazing, wonderful year it has been!

It was nice to spend some time with Aunt Shana and Uncle Robbie, Auntie Lisa and Uncle Steven and a few of Shana & Robbie’s good friends from North Carolina, who happened to be in town for the Holiday.

We enjoyed some good food, good charades and numerous dance moves from Miss Q. She loved meeting all of Uncle Robbie and Aunt Shana’s friends, and of course, she continues to have a particular affection for “Rooobbbieeeeee”:

Before the all-important U of L vs. U.K. game:

Somebody loves Auntie Shana’s (Lil’ Sturgis) boots:

Sisters:

 

Happy New Year’s Day – I’m not sure who looks like the partied harder, Lyla or Uncle Robbie:

Happy 2011! We’re excited about all the wonderful days ahead of our family!

Watts Family Christmas 2010

The last leg of the 2010 Christmas Tour was on the 26th – Lyla and I piled into the car again for another trip – this time to Elizabethtown to Steven & Lisa’s house. We had a wonderful time celebrating the Holiday with my family, although we missed Lance who had to work that evening.

We loved that Steven & Lisa worked out a way to eliminate the “Kid Table”. Everyone sat together, and it made the day so much more special.

We were so happy to have Aunt Tevan (aka Aunt Baby) in attendance for the first time in 5 years. We are all grateful that she is no longer employed by the airlines and now has the flexibility to come home more often to be with us.

Lyla received many gifts today, and she was particularly enamored by this book from Uncle Robbie:

Mandy and one of the many “Marlou” contributions to White Elephant Santa – Aunt Nancy is onlooking – she ended up with MY beautiful owl towels. I’ll get you next year, Auntie! :) By the way, Roger looks pretty bored here. Hmmm…

This is the old version of a cousin picture that we recreated today. Here is the original picture (thanks for the scan, Aunt Nancy):

And, here we are all grown up. I feel so blessed to have such wonderful cousins. I am so fortunate to have so many friends within my family.

The hit of the day was Lyla’s new chair from Mimi, Aunt Shana and Aunt Tevan. She loved it from the start:

My beautiful sisters:

Several of my most favorite girls in the whole, entire World:

It was a great celebration of the Holiday and of Family. Thanks, Steven & Lisa. We love you!

Hottman Family Christmas 2010

We enjoyed Christmas afternoon at the Hottman’s today. Although we really missed Grandma Hottman, it was so nice to be surrounded by all the people who loved her most.

Lyla and Isabella are really getting the hang of unwrapping gifts:

Don and his toucan from Kip & Rebecca. He loved it:

Everyone enjoyed Christmas dinner, especially the babies:

After dinner, the babies went to bed, and we played a couple of family games (including a game of Dirty Santa in which Lance & I ended up with a Chia Pet and a Transformer…hmmm..one of those might just show up at the festivities again next year).

It was a great night, and we all really enjoyed being together. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

Christmas Morning 2010

We were all very excited to wake up on Christmas Morning to see what Santa left for Lyla Q. The morning was even more special because Aunt Tevan and Mimi were here to enjoy it with us. Here are some pics of Lyla with her presents:

Her new “Baby”:

She noticed it right away, looked up at her stocking and said, “Baby!”

Her new Owl Book from Auntie Tevan:

Lyla received a grocery bag full of play food from Auntie Tevan, but she decided the bag actually has multiple uses:

A new apron from Mimi:

Ready for the rest of her Christmas Day at Grandma Nan’s and Grandpa Don’s this afternoon:

Lyla really loves hats. Here she is with one of Mommy’s:

It was a PERFECT Christmas Morning. We can’t imagine that it gets any better than this. We are such a blessed family.

Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve with family. We feel so blessed to have been surrounded by so many people we love so much.

We spent the day preparing for dinner and for tomorrow. Then, we piled in the car and drove to Christmas Eve service in the snow. Yes, we felt so blessed that it snowed for Lyla’s Christmas and especially for Aunt Tevan’s first visit home for Christmas in 5 years.

We enjoyed a beautiful candlelight service (while Lance and Uncle Kip entertained the babies), and came home to have lasagna and to enjoy the evening with Aunt Rebecca, Uncle Kip and Baby Isabella. The girls are really starting to enjoy being together: 

And, afterward the boys gave their girls a Christmas Eve bath:

After the girls went to bed (which was much easier this year than I’m sure it will be in the future!), we played a game of Christmas charades.

And, then, after the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, we went to bed and waited for sounds of Santa….

Tevan is Here!! Here Comes Christmas!

Tevan arrived yesterday, and we’re all enjoying hanging out at home and preparing for Christmas Eve. Tevan says her job is to teach Lyla how to be “lazy”. We love that Lyla is currently calling Tevan “Baby” as she has some difficulty with her T’s and V’s. So, for now, Aunt Baby it is!

Lyla loves Aunt Baby’s Iphone:

A new use for Lyla’s walker. She’s climbing all over everything these days:

Helping to wrap gifts: