Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years...oh my!

Hello, everyone!

First, I would like to apologize for such a delay in blogging! Time seems to get away from us more & more these days, as Ariel is sleeping less during the day & we are just exhausted in the evening! 

Tummy time is becoming a LOT more of a show!

So, a lot has happened since the last blog. Ariel is nearly six months now! She is teething (though no teeth yet), eating solids (rice cereal & oatmeal so far), rolling over, and preparing to crawl by doing lots of tummy time & getting up on her hands & knees. And she just keeps getting cuter!

We started feeding Ariel in a 'bumbo' seat before we received her high chair for Christmas

Ariel loves her oatmeal!

Well, let me go ahead & update you on what's been going on these past few months. In November, we celebrated Ariel's first Thanksgiving. 

Ariel with Grandma Janeen at Great Grandma Laurice and Great Granded John's home during Thanksgiving

My dad, stepmom & little brother came to visit us for about 5 days. We had a lot of fun with them, and it was great for Ariel to meet her grandparents from Iowa, as well as her Uncle James.

Spending time with the Sands family from Iowa

Grandpa Jim and Ariel getting acquainted

My little sister, Jackie, visited shortly after Dad, Bert, & James left the first week in December. She adored Ariel of course, and we really enjoyed having her here! We did a lot of shopping, went to a movie, and just hung out & talked.

Auntie Jackie and Ariel 

Since David & I share December birthdays (mine the 18th & his the 28th), we decided to combine the celebrations this year since so much was going on. My family celebrated both of ours at the Cheesecake Factory on my birthday weekend. I turned 28 this year!

Getting ready for our birthday celebration

David's family celebrated our birthdays on David's birthday weekend at his mum's house.

And of course in between those birthday celebrations was Ariel's first Christmas. We celebrated with my family on Christmas Eve and David's family on Christmas Day. Ariel had a lot of fun looking at her new presents and observing everyone & everything!

Meeting Santa and his moron elves for the fist time....

Opening presents

Tammy and David at Xmas - being goofy!

Ariel LOVES her new jump-a-roo

We had a rather relaxing New Years Eve. David & I just rented a movie & stayed home. It was a great year, and we're looking forward to making many more memories in 2009!

Here are some bonus photos for you to enjoy!

Ariel found her feet recently....

Ariel playing with 'bunny foo-foo' in her cardigan from Great Nana Jenkins

Ariel wore out Grampa Alan!

Love to you all!

Tammy, David & Ariel

p.s. Don't forget to check out the video of Ariel enjoying her oatmeal in the previous blog!

In Memory of my Grama Pat (1930-2009)

One of my Grama's favorite photos of herself; this was taken during one of her visits to California

Hi, everyone

My Grama Pat passed away in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Wednesday, January 21. She was 78 years old. I have so many great memories of her, and wanted to share a few.

Me & my Grama at the park (Angie is in the background), 1982

Reading with Grama, 1984

Angie's First Communion in North Dakota, 1989

Grama came to Mountain Home, Idaho to see me in a community play;
I played Annelle in Steel Magnolias (the character was pregnant), 1999



Hanging out with Grama during her visit to Idaho, 2001

My college graduation, 2003

Celebrating after my graduation

My moma often credits my reddish hair to my Grama, and it looks as though Ariel may end up with strawberry blonde hair too. I wish Ariel could've met her Great Grama Pat. We'll be having a Celebration of Grama's Life in Iowa this summer, but this is just a small tribute to her now.

I love & miss her very much, and I'm so grateful to have all the wonderful memories that I do.

With love,
Tammy

Update coming soon....

Hello, everyone!

Sorry for the delay in updates! As busy parents, we were silly & remembered everything but the camera at the major holidays!!  So we are waiting to get some photos emailed to us from my wonderful sister, Angie.  

Here is a recent photo & video of our baby girl you can enjoy in the meantime!  We'll get a more complete blog & set of photos done by the end of the week!!

Love to you all,

Tammy, David, & Ariel