HOCKEY!

Addie has recently taken up a very large interest in hockey. It started last weekend when Addie asked Brian where he was going and we told her that he was going to play hockey. Ever since then she has asked about hockey multiple times a day - playing hockey, wearing her hockey shirt, if Dada is going to hockey... So last night we decided to take Addie to her first hockey game. We watched the Women's US Olympic Team play the Gophers at Ridder Arena. We were able to sit right next to the boards so that Addie could stand and feel very close to the action. I think her favorite part of the game was when there was a scuffle along the boards by us and some snow was sprayed up on the glass - she kept asking for more snow the rest of the game! Her scariest moment was when Goldy came right up to the glass by us and waved to Addie. She did not like that - a true HUSKY!

Happy New Year!

I like to look back at old pictures when reflecting on the previous year. As I have been looking through our 2009 photos I am still amazed at how much life can change over the course of a year. Unlike 2008, we did not add a new member to our family, however, we started the year with an infant that we could bring with us pretty much anywhere and ended the year with a toddler who is craving independence and is always on the go. I discovered that there is a day I can look forward to even more than my own birthday - Addie's birthday. We took our first vacation as a "family" to Duluth which is much different from our vacations to places like Belize or Japan. And even when we got to travel alone we were constantly thinking about our little girl at home. A year ago we would go for a walk and strap Addie in her stroller and be on our way. Now, a walk in the neighborhood takes at least an hour and we can only make it a few blocks with the little naturalist that insists on walking along with us.

We started 2009 with Addie at our side and surrounded by our family and friends and that's how we ended it... what a great year. Here's to 2010!

NYE 2009

We rang in the New Year with our college friends and their kids at the Wineberg home. It was very different from past NYE celebrations with the focus being on the kids rather than just a group of adults hanging out. Addie had a blast and stayed up until 10:00 - a new record! Even this morning when she was laying in her crib I heard her singing songs about all the friends she was playing with last night, it was so cute!

Love You!

Addie said, "Love You" for the first time tonight! How sweet!

Merry Christmas!

Santa and his Elves

We have been very busy lately preparing for Christmas and at the same time creating our own family traditions around the holiday. A tradition I had growing up was each year my mom would take me to see the Dayton's 8th floor display and then we would pick out a new ornament for our tree. We have continued this tradition with Addie and went to see A Day in the Life of an Elf last weekend. She really enjoyed the display and had fun running around to each of the different scenes with her friend, Ava.

We have also made two trips to see Santa - yes, two trips. The first time we went to Macy's downtown and anxiously waited in line with many other children to see Santa. When it was Addie's turn they brought us into a room and Santa was there waiting! Apparently seeing this large, old man sitting in this room was quite scary for Addie because she started crying almost immediately. She threw such a fit that they didn't even attempt to take a photo - not even a family photo! I was pretty upset at the thought of not having a picture of Addie with Santa, especially since we had been looking at last year's picture, talking about Santa, reading about Santa - I thought I was doing all the right things! So we decided to try again at the mall where it was more open and she could see all the other kids sit with Santa while she waited in line. When we got there Addie was so excited! She was waving to Santa, yelling "Hi Santa!" and talking about all the toys Santa had with him. When it was finally Addie's turn she ran up to him and asked right away to see his Elmo doll. He pulled it out for her and she grabbed it and ran away! He pulled out an Elmo book to lure her back, but it was still all over. She started again with the tears, screaming, and running away. The only time we got her back near Santa was to give back his Elmo doll and she quickly ran away again. Before we left, she yelled out "Bye-bye Santa!" loud enough for the entire mall to hear and that was it.

Snow!