Santa Claus is coming to Town

We decided spur of the moment to head to Town Square and have Olivia see Santa. We arrived right as he was taking a break so we played in the playground there for about an hour, it was a nice last minute family night. We were pleasantly surprised this year that Olivia LOVED Santa. She was fussy in line but once she saw him she went right up to him and give him a hug, high five and asked for him to pick her "up". She even told him "Ho Ho HO, Merry Kissmas" like we have been practicing! When he asked her what she wanted for Christmas she waited a second (as if she was thinking) then replied "PuppEEE". I am not sure who was more shocked Rob or myself. Where that came from we do not know. The one thing I do know is Santa will not be giving us a "Puppeee" for Christmas, maybe a fish!

Christmas Ornaments

Realizing I switched the color on her. Olivia starting to Paint her "geen" ornaments

We have been having a ton of fun painting and decorating Ornaments to give to family from

Olivia for Christmas. She loves to do anything artsy so I thought this would be fun. After they were all painted we put glitter on them, Olivia really enjoyed this she kept screaming "Parkle" so cute. Olivia is getting so big and it amazes me about the things she says. This was our first real art project, aside from coloring, thanks Katie for the fabulous idea! Now all I have to do is go to the post office to mail them all out...

The Finished project.

Christmas Pictures

This year I decided the one place we really needed to cut back was on our holiday pictures. I decided that instead of going to the portrait studio and getting a family picture, Olivia’s picture alone and one of each of us with her and spending 400 dollars between pictures and Christmas cards that we would take pictures at home. I mean Rob bought me this fabulous camera I should put it to good use. I was not willing to give up Olivia’s picture alone or her picture with Santa, however. I decided for her portrait I would take advantage of this great package Portrait Innovations is doing, I got a ton of pictures for 9.95 (one pose) this was hard to narrow down. Usually I get the package then add on a TON of stuff but to keep myself from doing this I only went with 20$ in my purse. I was so proud of myself for leaving without a million pictures it actually felt great to save. I did our Christmas cards at Costco as always and have not done Santa yet but I have spent 90.0o, including postage for 100 cards and I am SO happy with the results. I think this is my new thing. Let me know what you think of the pictures.

Family 2009 Daddy & Olivia

Mommy & Olivia

Even though Olivia had professional pictures done, this was our at home version.

This is the one that we used for our cards, I loved it!

Magical Forest

A family tradition since I was a little girl was to go to Opportunity Village and see Santa. I have always went with my father however, in the recent years it has not worked out. We have however been able to go with Rob's family the past two years. It is probably my most favorite thing to do during the holiday season. This year was perfect, we went last Friday, even though it was the first day it really got cold in Vegas, it was nice, not many people were there and we were able to ride the rides without much wait. Olivia's favorite I think was the Carousel, however while we were waiting for the train she was VERY antsy, (I think we got a peek at age 2). We had a little camera trouble, Rob's battery dies but luckily his friend Eddie had his camera and video camera and was nice enough to leave me the memory card for the video camera. Our attempt to get Olivia Happy for a family Picture, she was done by this point Going down the mini slide (she LOVED this, went like 100 times)
She would say one two three then catch, I was at the top Rob was at the bottom so funny she would run quickly back to me to go "AGAIN"

Our attempt to get Olivia Happy for a family Picture, she was done by this point. It was a great night with the family.

Thanksgiving (I am not sure what I did but I never posted this... it was in my folder under draft)

This year was a busy day for us as always, I went to my moms early in the morning to help get dinner started. Then I rushed home to get Olivia up from her nap and in her holiday dress. We headed out to Jessica's house to have an early delicious Thanksgiving dinner there. It was so nice the whole time Olivia played in the backyard with all the kids, her favorite of course being her big 2nd cousin Olivia. (my future babysitter).
Then it was back in the car to head to my moms house. This year was nice because Rocco's whole family was in town for dinner in total there was about 25-28 people. Dinner was so good I couldn't eat another bite. Then it was time to play Bingo. It was a blast. Olivia loved playing even though she really didn't understand. We had so much fun, we forgot to eat dessert. by the time everything was wrapped up and we headed home it was 10:30 at night. Olivia was exhausted and so were her parents. LOL! I slept a few hours only to get up and go shopping on Black Friday... Fun times!

Where we spent the majority of the day...In the car.

Sharing and non caring moms???

I hate when kids don't share, I think it is the worst manner not to have. We were at Child's Play (a place I take Olivia to play, a big indoor playground) the other day and this little girl kept coming and taking toys from Olivia. She was SO mean. Her mother of course was not paying any attention. So I had to keep giving Olivia another toy, then finally I got frustrated and stopped the little girl from taking a toy Olivia had, of course then her mother paid attention and gave me a dirty look... DANG moms pay attention to your naughty kids! The BEST part is Olivia is such a good sharer she walks around giving kids toys, nothing irritates me more then a unfriendly kid. I feel like the moms I go with and I are the only moms paying attention to their kids, last week this older girl (about 4) came over and rammed into Olivia with a cart for NO reason just to hit her, then a little boy kept pushing her, worst of all I had a mom actually say to me while I was playing with Olivia and these Velcro blocks, and I quote "Oh good you look like you will watch my daughter, I am going to go talk to my friend over there" she preceded to walk to the other end of the facility and for 15 minutes did not even look over once... I was irate! When Olivia went to do something else I just walked away. (Not before telling an employee what happen just to clear my conscience in case the little girl got hurt.) How do moms just not care.

Olivia's new obsessons

" POPPY'S" (Popsicles, Ice Cream, and Suckers)
"EYES" (Sunglasses)

"Outside" (Doors)

"HAAAT" (Hats, all shapes and sizes, she sees one she has to try it on!)

PINK and blue

Olivia ABSOLUTELY loves to color. She calls it "pink and blue" formally known as "purple." She will sit and color for hours if I let her. It amazes me that this is one thing she has not ever gotten sick of. She loves when I have time to sit down and "pink and blue" with her. Often when I am doing my daily "chores" she comes and grabs my hand and says, "walk mommy" she then walks me over to her art table and tells me to "pop UP" (sit down) it is the cutest thing ever. Somehow this table has become a permanent fixture in our living room, I guess that is part of having a toddler, so I am told. (it sorta bothers me that it is there, OCD issue I guess, shhh don't tell). She loves to play games with the colors as well, I say a color and she finds it in her box. We are so proud of her for knowing almost all her colors already. She also likes when she calls out a shape and I draw it then she colors it in and points to the shape and says what it is.

She loves when I sit with her and write out her name (something I have been doing since I was in Jr. High) she points to each letter and says what it is. she walks around the house saying "OliViA" emphasising the O, V and A...

She is also a fan of this ottoman, what we "pop UP" on to color with her. Rob looked to awkward trying to sit at her table so we improvised.

I am a brave one so my mother says to embark on the playdoh fun. Olivia loves it she calls it "Pay" she especially likes cutting out the shapes, or "push"ing.

I have to say that Olivia's love of "PINK and blue" has taught her alot of things, she knows all her shapes, almost all her colors and how to spell her name because of the time we spend at my most favorite table (sense the sarcasm).