Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!! I'll let the pictures do most of the talking!!


Yum! Christmas dinner is delicious! Doodle Bug ate turkey and yams and mashed potatoes!

After dinner, there was a loud knock at the door. Doodle Bug followed Grandma to see who it was...

SANTA CLAUS came to visit on Christmas Eve!!!

He had a bag FULL of presents for Doodles! He must have been a very good boy this year;o)



Doodles didn't know what to think of Santa, but he definitely did NOT want to sit on Santa's lap.

He kept staring at Santa as if he were very familiar.

Doodles helped Uncle M open gifts.


OK! Get me out of here, I've had enough of Santa!

I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus...


We all had a wonderful Christmas Eve at Grandma's house. We went home and Doodles went right to bed...he was VERY tired from a day FULL of excitement! That night, Santa came to our house and dropped off some more presents for Doodle Bug.

The next morning, Doodles woke up and walked out to his new playroom upstairs that Santa made for him! Here is Doodles seeing it for the very first time.

(hand is ALWAYS in the pants!)

Ooooh! A trampoline from Aunt C...

...and a play gym from Santa!

Doodles wanted to say Merry Christmas to his best friend...

...Phillly!

Afterwards, Doodles got all dressed up for Christmas dinner at our house. I tried to get a picture without the hand in the pants...but I wasn't very successful!



Silly Man!

Here is my attempt at a Yule Log! I made a long chocolate cake and rolled it up in a dish cloth. When it cooled, I unrolled it and spread it with peppermint icing. Then rolled it up into a log shape. I drizzled melted white chocolate on the top and sprinkled it with crushed candy canes.




Doodles seemed to enjoy his second Christmas! He spends all day playing with all of his new toys! His Mom and Dad enjoyed spending time with everyone from both sides of our families. We all made some long lasting memories and continued some meaningful traditions.

Annual "Drunken" Cookie Night

A couple of years ago, my Aunts on my father's side of the family started the "Drunken" cookie night. We get together to bake cookies, chat, and of course drink! Everyone brought cookie dough and a beverage of their choice and we got to work baking.

My Aunt S has a pretty neat plastic "thingy" that she rolls the dough in between so that it doesn't stick to the rolling pin. My cousin is demonstrating below!

Even Doodle Bug got involved! He loved looking, playing, and eating!

Cookies galore! You name it, we baked it! Chocolate chip, gingerbread, sugar, peanut butter drop, Aunt D's famous thumb print cookies (my favorite)...

Baking, decorating, drinking, and having a good time...

Voila!!! A few of the finished cookies!!!

We even made a Gingerbread House!

We probably made about 12 dozen cookies that night! Then we divided them up and each took some home with us.

Well, apparently Hubby felt left out of the cookie night because the next day he wanted to make some of his own.

He's really into the decorating process ;o)

Here are MORE cookies that we made the next day...

Needless to say, I easily gained 10 lbs this weekend!!! I've decided not to care until after the new year :o) This way I have a good New Year's Resolution to make!

Since this is a blog about my Doodle Bug, here are a few of my favorite pictures of him!!!




He spends the majority of his day being silly and making me laugh! He's the reason for my smile!

What a GREAT Thanksgiving!!

On Wednesday, November 25, Doodles went to the Pediatrician for his 15 month check-up. He weighs a "wopping" 19 lbs 4 oz. He is still in the less than 5% for weight. He is 30 in tall which puts him in the 25% for height. So far he is doing well drinking milk and the Dr. said to continue giving it to him... woohoo! That means lots of goodies to eat at Thanksgiving dinner!

Well, this is the THIRD Thanksgiving in a row that we're hosting dinner for 18 people!! We've got it down to a science this year! Everyone brought dishes to share and all we had to cook was mash potatoes and 3 turkeys. Hubby fried two birds and smoked one. Mmmmm, they were delicious.

That morning we let Doodle Bug watch a little of the Macy's Thanksgiving day Parade. He wasn't really interested in it until the Rockettes came out and did their routine. We couldn't tear his eyes off of the dancing girls!

Santa even stopped by for a quick visit. Doodle Bug was able to tell him what he wanted for Christmas and Santa gave him a few gifts to "practice" opening. His favorite gift was a motorized Tonka truck that drives towards him when he calls it.

On Friday, we went to Downtown Disney to get out of the house and walk around. There were a couple of good picture spots...

Doodles loves the Lego Dogs!

Aunt C was run over by the train!

While we were at Downtown Disney, Doodles went on his first Carousel Ride!

Saturday was Hubby and Doodle Bugs favorite day... another car show. Doodle Bug is obsessed with "old" cars. Whenever he hears Hubby start the engine of the "old" car, he starts waving bye and blowing kisses. We drove the Chevelle with Doodle Bug, my Dad drove the black Camaro, Uncle C the orange Camaro, and Grammy in the Road Runner... beep beep!

Here is Doodles in the back of the Chevelle. I was surprised at how snug the car seat was in the "old" car!

On Sunday, after everyone left, we finished decorating the house. Hubby set up a train on top of the pool table and Doodles LOVES watching the train go by!

Thank you to everyone for making this one of the BEST Thanksgivings!!! Hubby and I couldn't have pulled it off without all of your help!! We're so blessed to have you in our lives!