Playing Dress Up

Holiday Visit with Grand-Mom Tina and Uncle Kevin

A very popular gift...a set of cooking implements which Stella calls her 'cooko'

A Visit to Hampden

34th Street in Baltimore...a long tradition of going all out with the lights and decorations.

Snowman sculptures made with bicycle wheels...you can just see the tip of the hubcap tree!

Our friends Ed and Elaine live on 34th Street...the theme of their house is 'Peace'

I told Santa he should be on a beach somewhere relaxing!

Our friends Jamie and Charlotte live in Hampden too so we stopped by for a little visit with Stella's buddy Nathaniel.

Christmas

A new tradition I think...apple cider doughnuts on Christmas morning! Yum Yum

It took Stella all day to open her presents; she got about 8 of them....

Stella got a little cow..."Moooooo" she said; then gave her a hug and a kiss!! Good choice 'auntie' Laurie!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve dinner - prime rib, mushroom risotto, and veggies...

Our first year spending Christmas Eve building!

Now, this makes it look like Daddy did all the work! I put the whole damn thing together and he put the four fixing screws in!!

For all the people who wondered what we would do with no tree to put presents under!

Ice!

Out in the Snow

All bundled up!

The sidewalk was more like a tunnel!

You're not in Atlanta anymore M-ie!

The Great Snow of '09

It snowed, and snowed, and snowed all Friday night and all day Saturday.

The porch was covered in a dusting of snow...

I somehow imagine a kid, up early in the morning watching this and crying quietly to himself at the news.

The birds searching for food under the snow.

Here in Elkridge, Santa comes on the Firetruck

Here he comes (note Daddy's excitement at standing out in the cold!)

Lights blaring and sirens wailing....

Once again, Santa excitement turns to fear...

Bye Santa!

Learning How to Drink From a Cup

Got milk?

Making our Holiday Rounds at the Mall

With the poinsettia tree.

On the carousel after she insisted on getting off the horse and being held.

Riding the carousel got off to a good start...

Dancing and saying, 'Sanka, Sanka, Sanka' while waiting in line to see Santa; soon followed by crying on Santa's lap and saying, 'No, no, noooo'

Christmas Prep

Below is the real reason we got a big car--so we could carry home a tree! It was our first Christmas tree and had to live out on the porch to avoid any problems from kitties and Stella! Because of its location, I didn't haul out all the decorations but did a nature themed tree.

First Snow of the Season

Thanksgiving

Thanks to Pappy Russ for the photos since I was busy cooking most of the time!