Laura's Visit

My sister Laura came and visited during her winter break. She is so much fun! I love spending time with her. Unfortunately, like I mentioned before, Andy can only handle so much touring and the weather is bone chilling in January so we didn't get to show her as much as I had hoped. She arrive the evening of January 7th. The first Day she was here it snowed. We went to the Palisades Mall. It is a four story mall just a little ways upstate.

Andy enjoyed trying on Laura's boots.

The next day we went to the Metropolitain Art Museum ate lunch in central park, and visited Time Square. We attempted to get lottery tickets for the broadway musical Wicked. We still had Andy this whole time since Patrick was working. When you wait for lottery tickets you are suppose to wait outside, but the security guard was extremely nice and let us wait in side because of Andy! It was sooo cold that night. When the line started Laura waited out side, She was one of the first in line, and I stayed with Andy. Went she got up to write her name down I when up, but the man running the lottery would not let me write my name, since I wasn't in line, until everyone else did. Laura, who was going to write my name first and then hers on another card wrote down my first name, when the man told her she couldn't do one for me she finished with her name last name Christie. This wouldn't have been such a big deal since it is my maiden name except that I no longer have ID with my maiden name. Which meant that if they called Julie Christie we would not be able to claim the tickets. We didn't get called, by either name. Patrick who was coming to pick up Andy, picked us up too! It was too cold to stay outside! The next day we went to Liberty Island. It was a great day but also very cold, and we both forgot our gloves! My hands hurt so bad!!! Luckily, Andy was nice and warm in his snow suit! He was so cute walking around on the grounds and chasing birds that every time I turned around there was a tourist taking pictures of him. Laura got some great pictures of the Statue of Liberty.

We went to church and hung out in side on Sunday and she left me on Monday. Sad Day! We can't wait until she can visit again!

New Year's in Alexandria

We drove down to Alexandria to see Phil, Erin, Olivia and Sam on New Years Eve. The traffic/drive was great! We got there in time to relax a little and then watch the ball drop. The Next day we went to the National Archives to see the Declaration of Independance. It was truly a pleasure to look upon such an important document. We also saw the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We didn't stay too long, I am finding with kids all sight seeing trips are kept to one spot and not more then a couple hours can be handled at one time. In fact with Andrew I fight for the couple hours as he is usually done in one.

We didn't do well taking pictures this trip. We also went to the Holiday Train show at the D.C Botanical Gardens. Which was AMAZING! I took some pictures on my cell phone since we left the camera in the car, but I am not sure how to down load them. I will add the pictures later...Hopefully this year!

Our Last Pictures from 2009

For Christmas I received a bike with a stand to make it an indoor exercise bike. I think Andy likes it even more than I do, and I like it a lot! (12/26/09)

What do you do when your head grows and your bowl hats don't fit as well as they used to?

Find a larger pan! This pan even looks like a hat! (12/31/09)

Happy NEW YEAR!

Christmas 2009!

We had an excellant Christmas this year, besides being so far away from family. We spent Christmas Eve with our friend Lesley, her daughter Arianne, boyfriend Alex, and her sister Carol. Christmas Day we spent as a family and were blessed to have our friend Donna spend the day with us. In the afternoon a few more friends came over for dinner and games. Although Andy didn't quite have the opening gifts down this year, he was still very fun to watch. Donna was also very fun to watch open presents.

Our Christmas tree and presents before the attack.

Andy patiently waiting, and observing the tradition of Christmas stockings.

Me, going through my stocking. I spent Christmas Eve Eve complaining that I could not find my rulers, I had to print one on paper from the computer so that I could cut the pajama bottoms out straight. Looks like Santa was listening.

Here is Donna going through her stocking. She was so excited!

Andy finally got into the game and enjoyed pulling everything out of his stocking.

Looks like the books were a hit...

... So were the Cheddar Goldfish, which he prefered eating to opening presents,...

The Clementines were also a hit, he wanted to eat them right away!

Donna, pulling out mitten shaped coin purses.

Patrick and his Stocking Loot!

Soft, cute sleepers from Grandma Debbie and Granddad Christie!

I made Patrick and Andrew matching Scarfs, Andrew's is a lot smaller!

I think the tricycle got one of the best reactions. He saw it under the tree as he came out, squealed for joy, walked as fast as he could over to it, petted it, and walked around it checking out all the details. Unfortunately, we weren't quite ready with the camara to get the inital reaction, but we did get a short video shortly after. (I will try to post the video.) Andy can barely touch the ground with his toes, but managed to move backwards and enjoyed being pushed.

After the loss in balance!

My new Fairy Tale Books.

The Novice Gift Opener!

Donna and the Scarf I made for her.

Andy thought my new bike and indoor stand for the bike was cool!

Andy and Pat playing with Andy's new Tonka trains.

All of us Christmas morning after all the presents were open!

Thanks Sierra for taking a picture for us!

At about 3:00 we had some friends (Chet and Megan, Bill, and Lesley and Arianne stopped by)over for dinner and to play games. We had told everyone to wear an ugly Christmas Sweater. I think Patrick's and mine were the best, but we didn't get any good pictures. Maybe next year. It was a blast and we had all kinds of yummy food.

Decorating The Christmas Tree

On December 7th we decided to put up our Christmas tree.

Andy was very helpful and enjoyed the process of putting it up and decorating it.

A picture taken earlier that day, he sure loves hats!

Andy and Patrick putting the fake tree together.

Andy testing the new LED lights.

Tree up, lights on, bathed and pajamas on and one big hug!

Andy was so kind as to take out the ornaments, he discovered that they bounced... thank goodness for plastic!

Our finely decorated tree... Andy proof...almost!

CHRISTMAS EVE EVE 2009

On Christmas Eve Eve I was frantically trying to sew our pajama pants so we would have them to wear for Christmas Eve. I look tired, because I was tired!

A VISIT FROM SANTA'S ELVES

This year we were lucky enough to have the elves visit us and grade our 2009 efforts to be good. They left us each a note and a fruit according to our grade. Andy and I got apples (an A) and Patrick got a lemon (a C). I hope to see better effort from Patrick next year! They also put a few treats in our stockings. It was fun watching Andy get into the stockings on Christmas Eve morning.

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