Happy New Year!

Hope 2011 is great!

The Big Bay Balloon Parade

A little cold

We went to a fun parade this morning. It was called the Big Bay Balloon Parade and it was downtown by the water. Addison enjoyed running around everywhere instead of really sitting down and watching. It was pretty windy and cold, but we had a great time!

Grandpa's visit

Fun at the park

Such a grown-up girl!

My dad came in town for a few days and we had a great time with Grandpa! We went to a puppet show, went to the park and played a lot with all of the Christmas gifts! Grandpa had a lot of tea parties and played a lot of princess stuff-good thing he was used to it having 3 girls of his own! Today when Granpa had to leave, Addison said "Play for 2 more minutes, Grandpa?" So sweet! Thanks for all the fun presents everyone and thanks for coming Grandpa-we love you!

Christmas

Getting ready for church

I love my new music box, Grandma!

Dancing in her new tutu from Aunt Kathy

What did Santa bring?

We had a fun Christmas! We spent Christmas Eve at home, opened a few presents and went to church. It was nice to have a little down time with just our family. Addison has really been into Christmas carols, and has been singing different ones during nap time (sometimes skipping nap altogether!) and in her bed at night for up to an hour. Although I want her to get her sleep, it just makes me smile to hear her sweet voice!

On Christmas day, we drove up to Laguna Beach and had Christmas with Chris' family. It was a delicious lunch and I got to get some baby love from my new little niece, Danielle. Addison was so sweet and gentle with her. She's going to be a great big sister someday!

December happenings

Excited to get our tree!

Decorating our gingerbread house

At the Toyland Parade

Her first candy cane!

Our December sensory box

Our theme this month was the Gingerbread Man, so we read lots of different versions, did crafts and made some fun things to eat!

Playing with gingerbread playdough

Grammy came for a fun visit-unfortunately Addison would not smile for a picture!

Decorating our yummy Gingerbread Man

Mommy and Addison in our matching Gingerbread shirts!

The poor sick girl

Helping mommy wrap presents

At a cute puppet show-Benito Bunny's Christmas

A very independent girl lately-wanting to get dressed by herself!

Riding the train around Bonita Mall

Her new tunnel from Aunt Diane and Uncle Dave!

Helping to make cookies for Santa

Wow! A new tutu from Aunt Kathy!

Dancing with her new Ariel doll from Aunt Kathy and her Belle dress from Aunt Beth-thank you!

We have all been sick for the past couple of weeks, so between that, a week of rain and being stuck inside, and getting ready for Christmas, I haven't had much time for blogging. Despite all the sickness and craziness, it's been a fun time to see Addison enjoy Christmas. She loves looking at the Christmas lights and when they are not on, she usually runs and gets a leaf and says "I will wave my magic wand to turn the Christmas lights on!" She has also enjoyed finding the "Elf on the shelf" every morning. Something that has really stuck with me was when I brought out the advent wreath to light the candles every night leading to Christmas. I explained that we would light them until it was Christmas to celebrate baby Jesus being born. Now, every night I light them, she sings "Happy Birthday dear Jesus." I hope that we can always keep Jesus at the center of our Christmas since that is the most important part!

Merry Christmas from the Munstermans!

Santa

We went to see Santa today after church. I was a little bit nervous because she cried last year and she's not too in to strangers lately. Plus, the 2 kids in front of us screamed the whole time. But we had talked about how Santa is nice and he will bring toys, and I gave her an Ariel sticker right before she sat with him, so she had something to tell him about! She did great and then didn't want to leave when we were done!

At the Birch Aquarium

Enjoying her new big girl panties!

Always the little artist

Our short camping trip

Her "cheese" for the camera

We have had a busy month of November! We attempted a camping trip, which ended in us driving home at midnight because Addison was saying "Go home now please." She has been such a funny little girl lately.

Some of her highlights so I won't forget!

-When I was trying to get her into the bathtub one night, she said, "I can't, I'm learning!"

-When Chris and I were talking at the dinner table one night, she said "No talking at the table mommy and daddy! Talk to Addison!"

-During our camping trip, Addison wanted another marshmallow but hadn't eaten any of her hot dog so I told her she'd have to have a few bites of hot dogs first. She replied, "Actually, I'm all done eating."

Addison continues to keep us on our toes and make us laugh!