Christmas 2013, part 1

I got up this morning to a pile of presents around Daddy's desk that looked like this:

I started with my stocking and got all sorts of goodies! Mostly train pieces and a cool pen that "drips" colored fluid down a maze. It finished off with a candy cane.

Daddy pulled a replacement ring out of his stocking (he thinks that this is the sixth one Mama has purchased for him) but sadly, it did not fit.

I ended up with a bunch of ornaments from Oma and Ompa

Daddy got frog themed presents from Oma and Ompa, and the magnetic seasonal frog is already on our freezer.

Mama got a moisturizing bar and Irish blessing ornament from Oma and Ompa, some new sleep pants (frogs and plaid) and an pair of sleep boots that have lining that is SO SOFT.

Then for the bigger presents (from Oma and Ompa) I got a neat puzzle ball which kept the adults entertained

I got some dinosaur collectibles

A new keyboard--I was very excited!

A baby computer type thing

and an expansion set for my blocks.

Last, but not least was the "marble run" present from Mama and Daddy:

The one thing missing was marbles. So Daddy and I got a bag of marbles yesterday and I have been playing marble run quite a lot since then, I told Mama last night that I want my new friend Cooper to come over and play it with me. (Mama's note--yes, this Christmas was largely sponsored by the grandparents Oma and Ompa, the letters M, R & P, and the number 4.)

Santa

On Saturday, Daddy took me to see Santa at the holiday party for our apartment complex.

I can't wait to see what comes on Wednesday!

Decorating the tree

Daddy and I got to decorate the tree this year. I got to place most of the ornaments, but Daddy did a couple of them, and Mama took the pictures because her back hurt so much.

First ornament is placed

I decide that the red balls should hang at the bottom of the tree

Daddy places the green ornament towards the top since I can't reach

Posing with our masterpiece

All done and lights on!

Meeting Harper

Harper is a red-tailed boa (if Mama remembers correctly, and I think is Connor's snake)

I did much better with Connor than the much bigger snake I met last year. Mama and Daddy are still not planning on letting me have a snake anytime soon, though.

Cookies!

First, I helped with Cookie Day at Antema's house.

The past couple of days I've been helping Oma make cookies.

Many of the cookies (the ones in the bags closest to the picture) are destined for the food pantry at Oma's church. This way some of the families will have Christmas cookies too. Some of them (the pile towards the back of the table) are destined for our house and my tummy, though!