Two thousand zero zero nueve

Well, it's a new year. I haven't blogged since last year. He he. That's fun to do. See, it's a January 1 and it's a new year and...this joke isn't as funny to everyone else, right?

So, we rang in the new year and celebrated D's birthday at a really neat fish place right on the beach. But I didn't have fish. I had chicken fingers. They were good.

Oh, wait. I have something really important to say. I have a new cousin!!! Ava's mommy, my Auntie Lisa, had a new baby on the day before New Year's Eve. I saw a picture of her on my mom's phone and I kissed her. I can't wait to meet her so I can kiss her for real.

Today we took down all of the Christmas decorations. Dad said Christmas is over and that we will put them away and see them all again next year when Ellie comes back. I helped by taking the colored balls off the tree and putting them in the bucket. I didn't want to help. I wanted to leave the tree up forever (and I think my mom did too). I got to kiss the angel on the top of the tree and, when Dad put my nativity set away, he set up my new Noah's ark. It's pretty fun to put the animals in the boat. There's two of each of them, you know.

Pipe Down, Rub-a-Dub!

Yeah, that's right, you heard me. Pipe down!

I know it's been like two weeks since I've posted anything but give me a break. I was totally caught up in the Christmas season and was so busy having a good time and talking to Ellie and listening to my Nativity story that I just couldn't find a second to fill you all in. Lots of great stuff happened but let's cut right to Christmas Eve:

Twas the night before Christmas and as I was saying my good nights to Ellie mom and dad told me that this was the night that Santa was coming with his presents and when he left he'd be taking Ellie with him back to the North Pole. And what that meant was that I wasn't going to see my little Elf friend in the morning and that kind of made me sad. But mom assured me that Ellie would be back next year and this time apart only made our time together all the more special. So I said a loving good night to Ellie and went to bed.

When I woke up it was CHRISTMAS! As soon as I was dressed and out my bedroom door I saw that Santa had indeed showed up last night because I had gifts in my stocking. It was some cool sidewalk chalk and crayons that I liked a whole lot; but the best was yet to come.

When I got downstairs I saw a new BIKE and a new PAINTING EASEL!


I couldn't believe it. I was so happy. There was a bunch of other great stuff like a Noah's Ark Little People playset and some fun clothes and an awesome TuTu (hand made by mom!) I loved it all so much I had to put on my TuTu and ride my bike around the living room.

I also got a framed picture of Ellie which I like an awful lot. Ellie might not be here in person every morning but I like to have breakfast with his picture. I'll see him again before I know it.

The next couple of days mom and dad were both home which was great. We took my new bike to the park but it was pretty cold so we had to leave and I had my ups and downs but it sure was fun for just the three of us to hang out together.

Today I went back to Room 5 and it was good to see all my friends again. I even got to use my new ladybug lunchbox that I got for Christmas.

All in all, a lot has been going on which is fun but it's also kind of nice to be back into my routine. At least until Wednesday which, as I've been told, is New Year's Eve.

Let the count down begin!

Every other day of the week is fine

That's a song I heard my Mom sing and it seemed to apply here. Blogging every day is tough especially in this Christmas season. So much is going on. My new bedtime routine includes saying goodnight to Ellie the Elf, the Angel on top of the tree and the Baby Jesus in my Nativity set. Plus I have to sit on the potty, brush my teeth, pet Dynamite, read 3 stories and listen to 3 songs while looking at my Christmas tree lights and the stars. That's a lot to do. Add writing a blog to that and a girl can't get to sleep by 8pm. So, forgive me if I miss a day or 2 now and then.

Yesterday, since Mom's back was hurting, Dad let her sleep in and he got me up and dressed for school. That meant we were a little late getting started and late getting downstairs so that meant less time to eat breakfast. Sooooo, Dad made me a waffle to take in the car. Mom got up in time to help me get my shoes on and kiss me and Dad bye bye for the day. It was a pretty good day. My friend had a birthday and she gave us all presents. She gave me a book about getting ready for bed. Mom said it was a good book when she read it to me last night.

Mom's back was feeling better today and she got me up and ready for school. It was a really fun day. We read a story about how Santa picked the color of his suit and I knew all the colors he had to choose from. (You know he chose red, right?) Speaking of red, one of my teachers did something really cool today. She painted my nose red so I looked like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Mom and Dad were really nice and let me keep my nose red tonight when I got ready for bed! I hope it's still red in the morning. I'll let you know.

Bikes, Sleighs and Taquitos

That pretty much sums it up.

Saturday got off to a pretty good start because mom got up early and made that granola cereal that dad likes so well (apparently NaNa makes it too. I guess that's where mom got the recipie.) So when I got up I had a couple of choices for breakfast; mush, banana, waffle or cereal. As a two year old, if you give me too many options my reaction will be one of two things - going nuts or just chosing what I always choose. This morning I decided to spare mom and dad the 'too many choices melt down' and just said "Mush!" because that's what I've been eating lately.

Mom got to work boiling the water for the mush but when I saw the big ol' bowl of granola cereal that dad was starting to chow down on I knew THAT was what I wanted.

"Dat, dat!" I yelled, pointing frantically at dad and the sports page.

Mom must have figured this was going to happen because she brought a bowl right over to me and poured milk in it and gave me a spoon and it was so good I made her scrape the sides of the bowl for the very last scoop.

Good eating, that granola.

After that breakfast I was pretty much up for anything so we took a bike ride down to the park where I got to go down the slides and play on the teeter totter and generally run around like a maniac.

Ooops, after I first posted this, Mom reminded me of something ELSE that happened on Saturday. I don't know how I could forget this. After my nap, I got up and Dad said there was a surprise for me downstairs. This Christmas season seems to be full of surprises. This time I found a super cool bunch of Little People set up on the table by the door. It looks like a little barn with hay on the roof and on top of the hay there is an angel. Mom told me it is a Nativity scene. Dad says this is what Christmas is all about. I'm not sure I totally understand it yet, but I sure like to kiss the baby Jesus and his mommy Mary.

It was a super fun day. But I had no idea how much fun Sunday was going to be.

Right after breakfast mom got me dressed and we went over to S. and J.'s house where baby J. was and right after I was done saying my hellos and giving out my hugs, mom's old friend K. from New Jersey and his sons M. and J. and their mommy show up. Next thing I know I'm eating a brunch and pushing toy cars around and being chased by M. who wants nothing more than to put my hood on my head or lean against me or run around with me. And it was super fun. I love it over there. There's always something to do.

But someone was missing from this little party. My good friend L. We had to go home for nap and mom promised that when I woke up we would go over to L's house and see him and his parents (whom I also like very much.)

So I went to sleep and when I woke up that's EXACTLY WHAT WE DID. Amazing! And this was a special night because S. and J. and baby J. showed up and we all walked over to Ventura Blvd where there was going to be a Christmas parade! It was raining but I didn't care. Mom was pushing me in my stroller and dad had a giant umbrella so everything was just fine.

As we walked down Ventura we all seemed to remember that none of us had had our dinners yet so we went into a place called Mexicali for something to eat. I, of course, ordered the taquitos while mom and dad got something off the adult menu. It was super fun because there were lots of kids my age there and the music was loud and I got to dance and it was warm and I had all the chips and salsa I could eat right within reach.

The best part? The parade went right past the window so I got to see the fire trucks and everything without having to stand in the rain. Awesome.

After dinner we all walked back to L. and C.'s place where I got the play with Matchbox cars and watch a train go around L.'s Christmas tree and generally stay up WAY past my bedtime. I don't think I was asleep before 9:00.

That was okay, though, because this morning mom let me sleep in. Dad was long gone by the time I got up and mom dressed me and brought me into Room 5 where I had birthday cake and did foot painting all kinds of other crazy stuff. The weekend was pretty good but I sure am glad to be back at school, too. I sure do like it there.

Oh, and the big Winter Festival is this Friday. I'll make sure to let you know how it goes.