Merry Christmas!

We had a very Merry Christmas this year! Grammy and Bompa came all the way from NY to spend the week with us. We played hide-and-seek, we did crafts, we laughed, read books, watched a movie, visited the Aquarium, went to Bounce Time, played hide-and seek, did crafts, built a gingerbread train, played on Bompa's iPad, did crafts, and played hide-and-seek. Did I mention that I love to play hide-and-seek and do craft projects?

I got to go see The Nutcracker for my very first time. I loved it and Mom said that I did very well sitting for such a long time for a 4-year old. It wasn't until the last 15 minutes when I started asking if I could play with Bompa's iPad when we got home. So much for culture, right? LOL ;)

Over Christmas break we also went over to my BFF Fiona's house for a cookie exchange party. I just love Fiona's energy, enthusiasm, humor and silliness. It's probably safe to say that I love her like a sister which makes sense because at times we fight like sisters. It was all love at the cookie party though! Below is another picture of me with other friends from the cookie party. 

 

On Christmas Eve we went to church, ate tacos and then opened so many wonderful gifts from our family. We are VERY loved! Thank you so much everyone for all the thoughtful gifts!

 

Happy New Year!

 

Christmas Party

Last night we went to the Christmas Party for Nash's toddler school. As always, I was so excited to catch up with my old teachers.

  

For the first time I was excited to see Santa too! On the way home I told Momma that Santa was a "pretty nice guy." Mr. Nash felt the same way about Santa that I did when I was his age....

 

 

Fortunately Nash had a wonderful time at the party the rest of the night. He ran around like crazy and it was fun for us all to watch him interact around his teachers and friends. On several occasions he charged right towards Shana and into her arms which was nice to see first-hand how much he loves her.

After dinner Nash and his friends sang a couple Christmas carols. Nash can't quite talk (or sing) yet, but he was more than happy to join the crew with cookie in hand. After the first carol they got the bells out and sang "jingle bells" which Nash was very excited to participate in and as you can see by this photo string he became increasingly more into it as the song progressed - even with a mouth full of cookie!

 

 

 

 

Reading and Writing

I've always been an advanced reader. Even as a young baby I had the patience to listen and watch Dr. Seuss books well beyond my age. A couple of months ago I dug out some boxes of "Bob Books" that had been handed down from cousins Calleigh and Luke. Mom told me that they were "learn to read books" and ever since I've been determined to learn to read. At times it is kind of a mystery to Mom and Dad exactly how much I can read because I'm also very good at memorizing books very quickly - especially the very short Bob Books with pictures.

This weekend while playing with the Doodle Pro I asked Mom to write a word so that I could read it. Over the next couple days Mom and Dad took turns writing 3, 4, and some 5 letter words while I sounded them out. No pictures so it was pretty clear what I can and can't read. Mom and Dad say I'm sharp as a tack! I could play this game all day except sometimes we have to take breaks playing with the Doodle Pro when it turns into a tug-of-war session with Nash. Santa really needs to find a second Doodle Pro!

Always eager to learn the next thing, I also took a few turns at writing 3 and 4 letter words for Mom and Dad to guess. Not quite as successful at sounding out in my head and then writing, but still a fun game for Mom and Dad to guess the words. Every once in awhile I even come up with letter combinations that give Mom and Dad a chuckle - like RIP - but I don't really know why.

On the other hand, Mr. Nash is now 16 months and can barely make it through a sitting of Moo, Baa, La, La, La. I think it's pretty clear who is the brains of the house and who is the brawn. :)