Christmas

This was our first year to have Christmas at our very own house! In the past we've been visiting or living with someone else so I was pretty excited. Christmas Eve was spent in Shinsel family tradition at a Berry family dinner (Maxine's family). This year it was at Wes and Terri's, and Sydney seemed to have lots of fun dancing and being the center of attention before dinner. When we got home I tried to read a story with different Christmas objects about the true meaning of Christmas but she was too wiggly.... maybe next year. In the morning, Sydney slept in even later than usual and had Andy and I waiting for her to wake up until 10. We let her play with her Santa gifts, then had breakfast, did stockings, and finally got to the rest of the presents. We decided beforehand we didn't want to hurry so we let her take all her toys out of the packages and play with them while we opened other stuff. It was really low key and fun. I was surprised by how contained Sydney was and patiently waited until we told her she could open another gift. After we were finished at our house we went over the Grandma and Papa Shinsel's house to do presents there. By that time, Sydney knew what to do, but she still was pretty patient and helped hand other people their presents until it was her turn. Her favorite present is a keyboard/microphone from Grandma Pack. She loves loves loves it! I have to admit I feel pretty proud of myself for knowing she would love it so much because for a lot of other things I'm not sure. Andy got all outfitted for his new Kinect with several games and I got almost everything on my list! I felt really happy to just be our family and do things our way on Christmas. On Christmas, Sydney also got to meet her new cousin Kaylee for the first time. The Huntsmans came over for Christmas dinner. We made it there just in time after Sydney's nap :). Sydney and Kaylee are gonna have to work on sharing but they were definetely interested in each other, and I think they will be good friends. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of this part of our day since we forgot our camera at home (It was charging). Enjoy the videos and pictures.

(Click on this pic to see video)

Snow Day!

Last winter Sydney didn't really play in the snow since she wasn't walking yet, but in May I found a toddler sled at a garage sale so this year we were more prepared! I looked all summer as well for a snowsuit boots and gloves for her to wear this winter. Last week after the snow came, she got to try out the sled at grandma's house and play in the snow. Needless to say she loved it and I've set a goal to go outside at leat a couple times a week even though I'm not thrilled about the cold just so she can move around and play. I think she's an adrenaline junkie just like her mama :)

A Very Blue Day for Sydney

Amy went to Utah yesterday afternoon to go to a wedding, so Sydney has been hanging out with Daddy for the last day and a half. We were a little worried about this because Sydney is just entering a phase where she is really clingy to Amy. She has been screaming her head off lately anytime that Amy has to leave her with Grandma, or even Daddy. Amy was really stressed to leave Sydney in this condition, she was worried that Sydney would just be screaming her head off for two days straight and be traumatized for life. I thought that it would be good to post how today went.



When I gave Sydney breakfast, I put some raisins on her tray, and she ate one, then said "It's candy!!!"





This morning I asked Sydney "What color are you going to wear today?" and she said "um... blue." And that she did. All of her clothes (dress, bloomer, baby legs, socks, coat) were blue.




The only thing that she wore today that wasn't blue was her skull and crossbones hair clip.  I needed to take a shower, so I turned on the xbox so Sydney could watch Mickey Mouse, and when the xbox started up, Sydney looked at the little video in the corner of the screen that shows video from the Kinect sensor (the black box in front of her head), saw me walk by and said "Whoa! It's weird"



 

When I took a shower, Sydney came in and told on Nemesis. She said "Nemesis naughty kitty". I have no clue what Nemesis did, but Sydney had to let me know whatever it was. We then got ready and went to Grandmas house. Grandma sure put Sydney to work so Dada could finish some Christmas presents. Sydney was a really good helper. She helped with all sorts of stuff.

Sydney helping Grandma Shinsel wash the strawberries



Sydney wanted to play snowball basketball.  I am going to get called a child abuser because I let her go outside without a coat.  This was on purpose.  I really needed to finish making a Christmas present, but she wanted to go outside.  So I thought of a way to maker her think that she didn't want to be out for long.  We were outside for about five minutes, and she said "hands are cold", so my plan worked out perfectly.



Sydney had fun helping Dada wrap Christmas presents for the Wrights



We had fun after Sydney's nap also. Overall, Sydney was really happy. The only time she cried was for about ten seconds right when Amy left. Good job, Sydney.

Holiday Activities

Here is an update on what we've been doing the past few weeks....

Sydney has decided a bookshelf makes a good bed too



We made Gingerbread houses with friends... can you guess what they are supposed to be?



I've always wanted to make a pirate ship gingerbread house... this was my first attempt but it started falling apart almost immediately

Oreo Suckers that we made with friends

On Friday night we took Sydney to the Living Nativity. This booth had animals that they were "selling" for sacrifice in Bethlehem but Sydney liked the animals

Petting the sacrifical pigeon

I didn't get any other pics outside because it was freezing and camera was dying but the nativity was really well done and will be better hit when Sydney is old enough to understand all the booths and the story

Making sugar cookies with mom... Sydney did awesome she helped me cut out all the cookies and didn't even try to eat the dough, then whnen we decorated she didn't try to eat the frsoting either until I told her she could. This is her decorating a reindeer :)

Christmas Party

Last weekend we had a Christmas party with our friends! It was an ugly sweater party.... although some of our sweaters are uglier than others ;). We had fun hanging out though and playing Christmas themed games. I guess we were pretty riled up because we woke up Wyatt at one point but luckily he went back to sleep eventually. Sorry Wyatt :). But a big thanks to Brock and Emily for hosting; it was lots of fun! I am really starting to get into parties...., I have several ideas to have another one at our house soon :)

Thanksgiving Pics

Enjoy!