Hmmm...guess it's time to catch up since I am now TWO months behind! We had a wonderful family Christmas. Spent Christmas Eve as usual at my Aunt Lisa and Uncle Denny's house. It was nice but we were missing some family members so it was definately a more quiet event than it normally is. I am looking forward to next years when the rest of the family can join us! She got a few goodies--a Mister Potato from Aunt Lisa and an adorable pink coat from cuz Alyssa. Em was especially taken by my aunt's new little dog--Minnie. Christmas day was fun. Opened presents Christmas morning and then had lunch next door at Grandma's. She got a new wooden kitchen, pots and pans and some food to go with it. We ended up putting up some of her gifts because she was opening one and playing with it for a hour! We would never have gotten done! Grandma Connie and Papa Donnie came over and they brought her an American Girl doll...she was in love! She used the stroller she got from Grandma Anna to stroll her around.

We decided to take a drive down to Tampa to visit some more family during the Christmas break and left the day or so after Christmas. Our plan was to go and stay for a few days. However, once we got there we realized that their house, etc. was not quite toddler proof and I had to run around catching her from breaking all the ceramics and other trinkets! Also, Em got sick the first night there and puked in her sleep-poor baby. I started to not feel well too so we decided to make it a quick trip and stayed only one day. We did get to visit briefly with the Ballinger cousins, aunts, uncles and my grandparents. I was really hoping to get a little bit more time with them but it just didn't work out that way. We were really bummed and decided to do at least one fun thing while down there and stopped at Busch Gardens before leaving town. Em had a blast--she got to ride her first ride by herself--woot woot! It was the swings ride. And she got to meet Big Bird, Elmo and Abby from Sesame Street. Would love to go back and do Busch Gardens again when we have more time and feel better. She crashed out in her stroller on our way leaving the park, with pretzel in hand (that NEVER happens!). She slept most of the way home though I could tell she wasn't feeling well. We left Tampa on New Years Eve and got home almost right at midnight! I ended up with a fever that wouldn't leave and Em was still feeling ill. Ended up taking her to the dr. the next day and poor girl was diagnosed with double ear infections and a sinus infection. I ended up with a really bad cold that lasted a few weeks. Boo! We will all be happy when Spring arrives and the sicky germs leave our house!