Christmas Photos Part II

Just a few more photos of our home sweet home and our beautiful little miss all ready for Christmas Dinner.

She loved her new skirt and sweater from Grandma C. I have a feeling she's going to like playing dress up soon.

Decked out for the holidays.

La Casa Calderwood, 2009

Christmas Dinner at Nana and Papa's

Nana's home... do we decorate alike?

Fa La La La photos of Christmas Part I

What a wonderful Christmas 2009 has turned out to be. I don't think it could have gone any better, although having more family around would have been wonderful. We're grateful we've had time with my parents but would love to have seen Shaun's family as we had originally planned. Christmas always makes me reflect on family and friends and I'm grateful for all of the support we've felt even from afar. We love you and miss you all!

Last night we went to the temple visitor's center to enjoy the Festival of Lights and hear the musical performance by the Temple Sister missionaries. Ella was able to open her Christmas jammies before we put her to bed. She must have sensed excitement in the air because she was up at 6:30 this morning ready to go! She saw her gift from Santa, her pink retro kitchen, that her daddy the elf spent the evening assembling after she had gone to bed. She played with that until the rest of us were coherent enough to enjoy gift opening around 9:30.

She LOVED opening gifts and thought they were all for her (which was mostly true). She got a great mix of games, books, clothing and toys (including the most obnoxious cheerleader doll from her auntie Annie... thanks a bunch for that one... we owe you!). She was on toy overload and zonked around 10:30 for a three hour nap which was wonderful because it allowed me to get everything put away and get things ready for Christmas dinner tonight.

All in all it's been a wonderful day. We are so grateful for our beautiful home, our family, our friends, and our health. We are grateful for the gift of our Savior and it's my hope that I will give him the gift of more of my time studying his word, and more patience in his plan for our little family as it unfolds one piece at a time. I love my Savior and I wish him a very Happy Birthday! Love to all of you, The Calderwoods

PS: In addition to our photos we hope you enjoy our video of Christmas morning:) Please comment... we love comments!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Christmas!

I love Christmas. It appears that much of the east coast has been hit with blizzard conditions. So today, while we were getting hit with sixteen inches of snow, I've emersed myself in the comforts of Christmas music, gift wrapping, snuggling under a blanket by the fire, and any other prosaic image you could conjure up of the holidays. It has been absolutely wonderful! I know some are stuck in airports and some are forced to face the roads and my heart goes out to them, but for me this winter weather has brought in the Christmas spirit full throttle. I'm so grateful that instead of hitting the stores today I got to play with my little girl and enjoy what Christmas is really all about... feeling and giving love!

So to all of my family and friends who happen to read this, I truly and sincerely hope that you may also be filled with the spirit of this beautiful season. Church is canceled tomorrow, but no matter what I can always contemplate the great gift of our Savior's birth, his life, and atonement. It is my prayer we can all remember that babe in the manger, his humble birth, and his perfect example. I love my Savior. It is through him that I find peace. I wish to all a very Merry Christmas!

Insight from a two year old

In the car the other day I noticed Ella talking to her doll. After some time playing she took the doll and began to shake her finger at it saying "No, No, No!" It was a sad moment when I realized my own parenting style through the honest imitative play of my two year old... ouch! I guess we do say "no" a lot. As sad as it was, it was also pretty adorable. Ella's doing a lot of adorable things these days. She doesn't say "yes" as much as she likes to say "okay" but the K sounds like a T. "Otay Mommy". She says many words and tonight during dinner I think what she was saying was "Mommy, watch this" as she skillfully stabbed her noodles with her fork and shoveled them in to her mouth. She preceeds every phrase with "mommy" even if I'm not in the room.

Ella loves to dance and will do a cross between a gallop and a hop as she goes around the room listening to Christmas music. She really loves the Miley Cyrus song "I put my hands up, they're playing my song... " During that line she puts her hands up and "raises the roof" as her daddy taught her.

So that's my update on my little Miss. She's learning so much every day. I've already had my Christmas tree ornaments re-arranged several times by her little hands and she loves going around saying "Snowman", "Star", and "Mismas" for Christmas. You just have to love Christmas through the eyes of a child. Now if only I can find something to say to her besides "no" so she doesn't go around disciplining her dolls that way too.

The Calderwoods enjoyed a relaxing Thanksgiving break in North Carolina this year with our friends, the Wests. We enjoyed our visit: Shaun got to play turkey ball with Adam prior to the big feast, we went on a horse drawn carriage ride, went to a park with a carousel and boat rides for the girls, visited the Raliegh Temple, helped the Wests pick out their Christmas tree, and visited with good friends over wonderful food and many left overs. We really love North Carolina. It still remains my dream state to live so I'll keep my fingers crossed that one day the Lord leads us there. In the mean time, we'll just enjoy visiting with Adam and Tawnie in Raleigh, and our other wonderful friends, Becca and Troy, who live in Charlotte. We hope you enjoy a few photos of our little adventures. Happy Holidays!

Family Photos 2009

We just had a lovely afternoon taking family photos at the old train station in quaint little old town Warrenton. Thanks to our friends, the Carlsons, for taking these for us. These were some of our favorites (even though Ella was a stinker and didn't smile in a lot of them). Just a preview... Christmas cards soon to come:)

Of all the many blessings I could list being thankful for, these photos capture the most precious. I'm so thankful for my little family, the knowledge that we can be together forever, and that at this time we are safe and healthy. We hope everyone is doing well and has a wonderful Thanksgiving (my absolutely favorite holiday). We're headed to North Carolina so we'll post more about our fun adventures later this week. Until then, be safe and enjoy a wonderful holiday of giving thanks!