White Christmas

December 19th

Keever Family Christmas

 Keever Cousins

All of the big kids received video game chairs.  Mimi didn't expect Greta's jealousy.  Reagan was gracious enough to let Greta share her seat (I mean, Greta was gracious enough to share "her" seat with Reagan).

Crayola color wonder paper and markers...sounds like a great time, right?  Well, Greta didn't think so.  This is Greta exposing her dramatic side when the markers don't work like she wants them to.  The delay concept did not compute.  Two days later she found them hidden in our bedroom...the same result.  She is not ready for color wonder paper. 

December 24th

Smith Family Christmas

 Jack and Great had so much fun today.  However, this was a solitary incident of voluntary sharing :)

 She's ready for Supermarket Sweep

 In the midst of the chaos, Greta planted herself on the floor with her DoodlePro.  She didn't need anything else.

Jace with his Christmas vino.

December 25th, 2010

Christmas morning at home.

 

Beautiful White Christmas morning.

Santa brought a dollhouse and she loves it!

 

 

Off to Mimi and Papa's house...

December 25, 2010

Extended Keever Family in Monticello

Santa Clause Came to Town

The minute her stroller went by Santa's roost, she yelled "Sant-uh".  Jace let her loose and she ran up to Santa's platform, laid down on her belly, and started telling him quite a story.  She was pumped.  However, the minute Jace put her on Santa's lap, she froze....completely froze (as you can see from the photo).  She didn't cry, but stayed very still.  When prompted, she identified Santa's nose, but promptly resumed her stoic pose.  It was so funny.

Since I am post-operatively handicapped, the trip to the mall proved very stressful for Jace.  He was in charge of much more than usual and he doesn't handle Greta stress very well.  After two hours at the mall, we descended upon Applebees for a family lunch.  He ordered a tall pilsner of Coors Light and had his second one ordered in five minutes. Daddy was tired.  So to sum up the day:

Overpriced non-smiling Santa photos...........$22

New work pants for Penske......................$60

2 tall beers for a stressful daddy.................$9

Attempt at a family holiday lunch................$53

Making holiday memories with a cranky toddler and a grumpy daddy............PRICELESS!

Standing Room Only

It's a Zoo Out There

Christmas Pictures 2010

Although she claims to be an amateur, I always end up with amazing pictures from my best gal Stacey.  I couldn't be happier that she has taken photography as a hobby and doesn't mind offering up her services.  She came down to take this pics in November.  It happened to be one of the few very cold days that month.  Luckily I had planned for the coat and hat photos, or the pictures would not have happened.  Greta did not like the cold and our session was cut shorter than we had planned.  But not to worry, because Stacey captures some really great shots for us (especially the last one).

 

O' Christmas Tree

I should know by now that best laid plans with a toddler are great in theory, but seldom happen as you'd like.  We picked today to get our Christmas tree.  The whole family is home on Wednesday and we wouldn't have to rush the shopping in the evening. As I was getting ready, Jace rushes into our bathroom with a bleeding Greta.  All I need to say is enthusiastic dancing...head bobbing...end table.  The girl loves to dance and puts her whole body into it.  So, as we prepared to leave, Greta soaked up blood from her injured lip and proceeded to rub it all over her face.  With all the stress of the injury, her ever-present cheek spot flared up.  All I could think about were the photos I had planned for the tree lot.  Nonetheless, I snapped pics of my beautiful girl...blemishes and all.

Today happens to be a beautiful snowy day for Christmas tree shopping, but a less than desirable day to drive around town.  So, while dealing with overly cautious drivers, traffic, and snow, Greta decided that her lip now really hurts and is screaming the entire way to the tree lot.  Jace was ahead of us in a pickup truck and called to say he forgot the tree stand (they drill the trunk right into the stand) and he forgot his gloves.  Acting completely out of character, he says he's not going back to the house to get the stand...he'll just buy another one.  You know what kind of morning it had to be for Jace to voluntarily spend money on something he already had.

Greta enjoyed the trees, but we picked quick and got the heck out of there.  Memories.  Here are a few pics of our experience.