Christmas Eve 2010

Here are some shots that I took on Christmas Eve. They include our usual Christmas Eve celebration with a menu of ham, shrimp, fruit, veggies, cheese, and assorted cookies. I got a shot of Emily and Noah taking a nap in the afternoon. Both Emily and Robert are suffering from newborn sleep deprivation.

With newborn Noah, 21 month Bobby, and just turned 3 Emma - our Christmas Eve was filled with activity. We are blessed.

Dove Bars

Emma visited on Sunday. She requested a taco salad for lunch. This lunch has become a standard request and she eats it well. For dessert, she enjoyed a chocolate Dove bar. She had her first one the week before. As soon as she tasted the first bite she said, "Nana, when I finish this I am going to have another one." Here are some photos of her enjoying dessert.

Brothers

I was able to visit with Emily, Robert, Bobby, and Noah last week. Everyone is doing fine and Emily is just an amazing mother. She has a big job with Noah and his feeding schedule while balancing her time and showing Bobby the attention that he needs now.

Both boys are just darling. Bobby calls me "Nanny" and is very much all boy. He also loves music and dancing. Noah has beautiful coloring and a head full of dark hair. Here are my favorite photos from the week.

Welcome Baby Noah!

Emily, Robert, and Bobby, welcomed in the new addition to their family on December 1. Noah Walter Howell weighing in at 7 lbs, 9oz. and 20 inches long.

Dan and I drove to Greenville yesterday afternoon to give him a squeeze and kiss. He is the first baby in the family to arrive with a full head of hair -- thick dark and curly. He is so cute!

Emily and Robert both looked weary. I hope they get some rest before Noah goes home to be with Bobby. Emily and Robert will have their hands full. I hope Noah is as good a baby as Bobby. I have plans to stay with them the week of December 13th -- can't wait!

Minnie Mouse goes to dance class

On Saturday, Dan and I were invited to go to Emma's dance lesson. The children dressed in their Halloween costumes and performed for parents and grandparents at the end of the lesson.

Emma did well until another Minnie Mouse, her friend Jocelyn, showed up at the lesson. The two of them were more concerned with each other and comparing their costumes than performing.

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Big D's Birthday Celebration

Friday was Big D's birthday. We celebrated today with mid-morning bagels delivered by Molly, Bjarne, and Emma and carrot cupcakes with cream cheese icing. Emma was wearing her Minnie Mouse Halloween costume -- she has been wearing it for several days now. She "helped" Big D blow out his candles.

Tonight we are having the B-Day dinner. Dan requested lasagna and salad. I make my own from scratch, including the sauce. Fortunately, I have a short cut today -- as I had some sauce in the freezer.

Trucks and Dirt

Bobby loves to play in the dirt. Emily shot these cute pictures of him at play. He is such a beautiful little cherub - dirt and all!

Birthday Party - Happy Birthday Bjarne!

We celebrated Bjarne's birthday this evening with a fun time and great meal at his parent's house. Emma enjoyed playing with cousins, Brendan and Jayla. She wore a beautiful dress that my sister, Marybeth, sent from California. She was able to help her Daddy blow out the candles and open his presents.

Popsicles 1-2-3!

Emma came over on Saturday for a play date with Nana. She wore Nana out - Play-Doh, painting, stamping, markers, and Wiggles. She ate a good lunch and also managed to work in not 1, not 2, but 3 popsicles - Purple, Red, and Green!

Hungry

Emma came over this evening to eat dinner with us while Molly and Bjarne enjoyed a dinner date out alone. Molly told me that a little boy at Emma's nursery school had bitten her this week.

I asked Emma, "Did someone bite you at school this week?"
Emma replied, "Yes.
I asked, "Who bit you?"
Emma replied with the little boy's name
I asked, "Was he hungry?"
Emma replied, "He was hungry for me."

So cute.

Attic24 Granny Stripe Blanket

Here is my latest project. I have it about 2/3 complete. I haven't had much time for photography, projects, or blogging lately. We traveled to California for our nephew Omar's wedding earlier in the month and had a great visit with the family. Since we returned, we have embarked on home renovation - new roof, painting, refinishing hard wood floors, and replacing some appliances. Refinishing the floors is quite an effort, as it involves packing and moving furniture out of the majority of our downstairs. I will be glad when this is over.

Chubby

Emily, Robert, and Bobby visited last weekend. Here are a few of my favorite shots of Bobby taken on our back porch. Emily had him in a onsie that had the definition of "Chubby" listed on the front. Bobby is so sweet and had a head full of blond curls.

Doggie Prom

They had a prom on Wednesday at Sophie's doggie daycare. I made her a pink ribbon collar for the event. Her "date" was a blond Labradoodle named Riggins. He wore a bow tie. A good time was had by all.

3 Hats, 2 for Emma + 1 for Bobby

I have been knitting lately and have finished 3 hats. I tried new patterns. Emma's hat is a pattern from the book "Scrumptious Toppers for Tots & Toddlers" by Debby Ware. The first try turned out a little large, so Emma has 2 hats -- one for this year and one for next. I made Bobby a cute stocking hat with ear flaps and ties from a pattern named "The Hudson Hat!" that I found online.

Emma stopped by today and she modeled both her "this year's hat" and Bobby's too! So there is no question - Bobby's Hat is blue, green, and red and Emma's hats are the ones in pink.

Whale Pool

We bought this Whale Pool at Pottery Barn Kids. Here are some picture of Emma in the Whale Pool on Saturday. You can hook a hose up, and it sprays water. There is plenty of room for Bobby to play in it with Emma.