Christmas and Beyond

I am quite far behind with the blog, so be prepared for more than a month of news in most pictures with a few words.

This picture actually takes us back a month before Christmas to Evelyn's birthday.  Aunt Abby and Uncle Max sent these great dinosaurs for Evelyn's birthday and I forgot to include the picture in the birthday post.  The blue dinosaur seems to be her favorite at this point.  I think the long neck makes it easier to haul around.

This was Evelyn's one and only encounter with Santa.  He was at a pancake breakfast at church and she wouldn't look at him or even take the candy cane he offered her.

Evelyn decorated some decorations herself this year that we hung up from a ribbon on the mirror in the living room.

Daddy had to work Christmas Day this year, so Evelyn had to wait very patiently for him to get home and for Gran and Papa to get here before she got to break into her gifts.  She did take over Ripley's stash right away. 

She was very patient with such a big temptation.

And Ripley did get to enjoy his gifts a bit as well.

Once everyone was around the opening and playing began!

Gift opening went a lot faster this year.  Last year was all about the paper, this year was all about the presents.

She did have to take a bit of a break in the opening so she could play with everything.

And the playing continued the next morning.  She wasn't so sure about letting the dwarfs into the princess castle.  She kept throwing them behind her.

A few days later the other side of the family came our direction.  Evelyn just loved having the older kids around to play with.

After Christmas we all had bad colds that kept us down for a little while.

Then the tea cupcake bakeware came and we were very excited for tea cupcakes.

Like father like daughter.

Evie's first tea cupcake!

These are very important cupcakes and must be examined carefully before eating.

And of course Daddy needs a sip.

And after the cupcake was dumped out the cups are still fun the play with!

And for a Baby Brother update...

This was 2 weeks ago (I need to get another picture taken)

I feel like this little guy is so much bigger than Evelyn was at this point.  I need to open up some of the old pictures and see if it is my imagination or not.  Baby Brother is definitely more active than Evelyn was.  He is constantly wiggling and kicking, sometimes painfully.  We bought the paint last weekend and hopefully I will get everything packed up from the nursery so that Dan can start painting this week.  We're beginning to get a little anxious about getting everything done while I am still able to move.  As ready as we are for this little guy to be here, in some ways it feels like we'll never be ready.

Now to go make more tea cupcakes!