CHRISTMAS 2010!

My Holiday MJ dress (love this line of clothes!)

Wow, God is good! I am so grateful this Christmas for Jesus, and God, and the Holy Spirit. I cannot begin to imagine my life without the many blessings He has given us. Today I obviously wanted to reflect on baby Jesus and what a gift He is. I feel like even though December 25th is very comercialized in our country and easily distorted and not focused on the real reason for the season, we were still able to do that because we are fully aware of all the blessings and beautiful gifts we have. One is certainly my family. We had such a wonderful morning. Santa did come and Eva thoroughly enjoyed it. She knew immediately the gifts were hers and did not hesitate to play with her "new" kitchen. I say "new" because believe it or not, this beautiful kitchen you see is an antique. It was my solid wood, white kitchen from when I was a little girl. My mom never throws anything away, and Grant was able to restore it and paint it to the beautiful pink shade of the Pottery Barn kitchen that I love. He worked tirelessly for every night the week before this night to restore this kitchen including the real sink faucet and glass knobs and pulls for the vintage look. He is amazing with his tools, and he has lots. If he doesn't have it, he buys it! Ha.

(he routed out the hole for oven and installed the plexiglass! among all the other things)



Eva is hysterical opening presents, she has to rip off every single piece of paper. She starts in very small pieces and then find a big one. But each present takes a long time. She loves it!
We also had other fun events this season. Including a family dinner night with Grant's dad's side of the family and one with my dad's side of the family. They were both so enjoyable, however, at the Coppock family Christmas there were five little girls! FIVE! All Eva's age to age 5. It was hysterical. Here are some funny recaps of the evening, including all of Eva's "cheese" faces.

please notice Eva's arm around her cousin Molly. Molly is hysterical here and I think it because Eva took a toy of her hours before and hurt her feelings. Obviously, Eva has forgotten!

This is NOT Eva's grandfather, but her uncle Ken. She LOVES him and he loves it. Too funny, she was always finding him and crawling in his lap.

The best pic I could get of all five girls in matching sweatshirts compliments of yours truly!

Christmas Eve after our children's church service. Eva did not want to take part or walk up to the nativity. Maybe next year.

Lastly, I was so happy today because we had a WHITE CHRISTMAS! It snowed/slushed all day in Pleasant Grove and all was white except the roads. I do not have pic right now, but it was amazing and my first ever! How cool!

Merry Christmas to blog!

Caus Caus!

That is what Eva calls Santa Claus. She is all about Santa on the front door, in the songs, on Barney, in our books, but NOT in his lap! I really thought we'd have great time talking, singing, and sitting with Santa. However, this is what I got. You would never guess that 30 seconds later she was calling his name!?

I am now off work for two weeks! Whoo, hoo! I am loving this Christmas season and am looking forward to everything, church services, family dinners, traveling, sleeping (even if it is just 7 am!), and playing with my baby!

Short and sweet, maybe more later.

Thanksgiving and I have an 18 month old!

This year I have been so thankful for many things. First, my family, Grant, Eva and yes Lucy, even though my life would be so much easier (and cleaner) without her! My parents and my brother and my two grandmothers all made it to our Thanksgiving lunch. My mother still cooks EVERYTHING! I know I have to start helping, but what do I say when the dressing or sweet potatoes or everything else, just isn't any good and I ruin Thanksgiving??? So, I just brought bread, lemondae and a granddaughter. Eva loved turkey and sweet potatoes. She had to eat a little early before all of us becuase it was going to be her nap time. We had a relaxing time with my family and then left to go visit Grant's family in Pleasant Grove. Eva played with her cousins, Lily, Waylon and Addison. She LOVES her baby cousin Waylon and hugged and kissed him for a long time. This year was one of the best Thanksgivings we have celebrated, and we are very grateful.

dinner with Ellie. How cute are they?

18 month pics. Oh how serious!

Pictures by Catherine Mayo (aren't they great!)

www.catherinemayo.com

I am also grateful for work (mine and Grant's), health (which I take for granted), my home (even though we would like to move, we are fortunate to have it), fall weather, relatives who keep my child all the time, friends (some whom I talk to all the time, some rarely but still love them), Barney (I swore I'd never let my child watch it!), Mickey Mouse, Dora yogurt (Eva devours it), bath time, giggles, and surprise hugs and kisses (which come very often now). Lastly, I am thankful for the gift of Christmas, and I hope that I am able to teach my daughter what gifts are most important and why we celebrate with a tree and a holiday this time of year. I want her heart to know the love of Jesus and to have the compassion for others that He does. I am realizing how hard that is when all around us it is all about the toys, Santa, the tree and the stuff. It will only get harder.

Eva's recent milestones: (getting harder to pin point now but)

1. Speaking many phrases

2. recognizing and remembering things she only sees/ hears once (rainbow, santa, marshmellow)

3. initiating hugs

4. says "please" and "thank you" always

5. says uh huh when I ask if she understands (no she doesn't all the time, but it is cute)

6. eats with a fork and spoon

7. still can't decide on left or right hand

8. knows after she goes to the bathroom but is still not concerned and always waits for the fresh diaper before going number 2! (maybe potty training soon)

9. loves to color and only uses one crayon at a time

10.knows all motions to Wheels on the Bus, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Mr Knicker Bocker, and more...

11. loves to look at pictures of herself, calls herself "Evie"

12. is obsessed with shoes, still

13. cries uncontrollably when she has to leave Papa or other grandparents

14. adores her dog

15. started liking Mickey Mouse (Disney World here we come)

16. squeals with delight at playing hide-n-seek and ring aroudn the rosie

17. loves all vegetables but broccoli

18. very independent and knows what she wants (aka: pitching fits):)

So, for these eighteen things I am very grateful, because it means I have a growing, healthy, happy daughter. Eva, I love you!