Santa

Reese met Santa a few days before Christmas.
We were able to get a decent picture before she cried.

This year Reese wasn't able to tell Santa all the things she wanted for Christmas, but somehow Santa knew her well and delivered gifts she loved.

Santa's big gift to her was a BALL PIT!
Reese kinda likes it as you can clearly see.

Santa also knew Reese would love a tunnel of fun!

Clap if you love crawling through caterpillar tunnels!

Reese going through her stocking with Daddy's help.

How did Santa know Reese loves yogurt melts, stuffed animals, and books?
That Santa is the best!
And Reese's life has pretty much been a ball since celebrating her first Christmas!

Baptism

Reese was baptized on December 23.
Father Tim Luchen performed the ceremony.

It was a special day with special people.

Special people who all love Reese.

Reese especially liked the part of the ceremony when she was able to stick her fingers in daddy's mouth,

When loved ones signed a cross on her forehead,

and when she had a chance to play with mommy's necklace.

We weren't sure if she'd enjoy the holy water, but she didn't seem to mind it.

Maybe it reminded her of the baths she loves so much.

Whatever the reason, I believe her Aunt Tiffany was thankful she still loved her afterwards.

Reese with Father Tim.

He is such an amazing priest and friend to my dad.

I am very thankful he agreed to baptize Reese.

Reese with her Grandma and Grandpa Sanders.

Reese with her godmother.

Also known to her as Aunt Tiffany.

This is Reese's Great Uncle Mike.

He and my Aunt Pam gifted Reese her baptism gown.

They bought it for the child they never could have.

Reese with her Godfather, my dad, and her Nana Charlotte.

Papa Don and Nana Janell were there, too!

Reese had many cousins there and others as well.

I'm thankful she has so many wonderful people in her life to support her through it all.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

I had two of my nieces stay the night a few weeks ago. 

I had purchased them gingerbread houses hoping they would enjoy crafting it up with me.

I was in luck, they did!

Reese didn't want to miss out on all the fun so I placed her in her highchair so she could watch her cousins create their candied houses.

Tayler's final creation.

Beautifully done if you ask me.

Karson's gingerbread house.

Equally as beautiful.

Between the start and finish of our crafting we took the girls to Irma's Burger Shack for dinner and then to look at Christmas lights at Cheaspeake Energy.

The lights get prettier every year.

Tayler wanted a picture taken in front of a blue tree.

Her favorite color.

Karson wanted to stand by a pink tree.
This is no surprise since this girl loves pink!
Just call this girl Pinkalicious.

I just wanted a family picture.

And a bunch of close ups of my baby girl.

To end our girls' night we got in our pajamas and watched The Polar Express.
I love this Christmas movie.

Thanks for an awesome night Tayler, Karson, and Reese!
It was a special evening.
Hopefully we have many more together.

11

Reese turned 11 months old last Thursday.

Right now this girl has two loves.
I am not talking about Joe and I, unfortunately.

Love number 1 = puppets.
You're golden if you can put on a good puppet show.
Kinda like Papa Bear did the other day.

Love number 2 = dogs.
Reese tries to say dog, but she can't pronounce the "g".
Her and I know what she's saying though.
And that's all that matters.

She loves dogs so much, in fact, that her 1st birthday party is going to be a DOG THEME!
Here's the invitation.
The dog's head moves. It's the cutest thing.

I am going to have a blast planning this bash!
Can you believe she's turning 1 year old next month?
Yea, me either!

Red Cake Day

Red Cake Day has occurred the last three years, or so.
The women on my mother's side meet to celebrate.

Celebrate Christmas, celebrate my grandma Carol, celebrate our love of red velvet cake.
We eat, visit, laugh, exchange gifts, and are merry.

Reese was able to attend, out of the womb, this year.

My Grandma Carol was a great cook.
I loved it best when she made Red Velvet Cake.
Her icing wasn't the usual white, which made it special.

First, the ingredients are mixed.

Then, poured in cake tins.

After the cakes cool

they are placed on a cake plate.

My new sister Amy, a baker, was there to help us out.

Then it's time for the best part. 

The icing of course!

This years' batch was the best yet.

So delicious you have to sneak a finger taste.

When we weren't baking we were...

gathered around my Aunt Christi's fireplace,

or catching up.

Reese caught up on some reading

and was swung around by her Nana

again

and again!

Wheeeee!

My Grandma Carol is loved and missed.
We honor her memory on Red Cake Day!