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Now that Sienna is a bit older and understands what goes on with Christmas, it really is a lot of fun (last year every time we handed her a present, she would ask if she could open it. This year she knew what to do!) It is also nice to start our own family traditions like going to see the Rockefeller Tree and the Dyker Heights lights. I also feel like this Christmas was a little less stressful than in the past and didn’t get upset when I didn’t make all the cookies I wanted to or make a gingerbread house with Sienna like I wanted to. There’s always next year! I didn’t overly stress about what we were doing for Christmas dinner (we ended up going out to eat with my parents) or worry that we didn’t get enough or got too many presents for Sienna. I just wanted to enjoy the time with my family. And I did!

We opened our stockings on the eve and Sienna pretty much woke up normal time on Christmas. I made a french toast casserole in the oven (which came out so so but I think I used too much bread or not enough eggs. There’s always next year!) It was a big year for Little People, board games for family game night, Tag books and Super Why!

Stockings:

Christmas morning:

from Grandma and Grandpa in Jamaica

French toast casserole

from my parents

from my brother

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On the eve of Christmas Eve, we went over to Dyker Heights to view the Christmas lights. That neighborhood is known for it’s extravagant holiday displays. This is another thing I don’t usually go see but we thought it would be something Sienna would enjoy. And she did! We were teaching her her right and left so on the way over, she was calling out the houses with the Christmas lights saying “Christmas lights on the right!” or “Christmas lights on the left!” It was fun. Anyway, it was a really chilly night and initially we weren’t going to get out of the car but then we found a real good block chock full of lights! (84th and 12th Ave for future reference.) Since we were there relatively early (5ish), we were able to find a spot and walk up the block of lights. Sienna was SO excited! She was a blur running from house to house to see the lights! What a joy to see her so excited!



Sienna has also been adapting my goofy poses (another example here)

Happy New Year Everyone!

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Before I post about Christmas, here are some photos from a little snow we got yesterday. 🙂 It started around 10 am on Sunday and was still going when I went to bed around 11:30pm! This is how it looked when we woke up this morning and went outside.

It’s very windy so there are a lot of snow drifts. See how lucky that tan car across the street is? The wind blew the snow in a way that made a snow free moat around his car! Not so lucky for that black car on our side of the street!

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Friday Sienna’s school had a breakfast with Santa event and the parents were allowed to go (it was a paid event). Breakfast included a bagel, fruit cup, coffee/tea and juice. You get a photo with Santa and a small gift. It was nice enough. Sienna cried when I had to leave as the event ended at 10:30 and she had until 11:25 for school to finish. I had a nice time hanging out with the other parents!

Sienna with Megan

Sienna with Alexis

Eli, Costas and their mom Antoinette

Emily and Olivia with Sienna and Megan

Sarah with her mom and little sis Sam

Sienna with Dariny

Santa is in the building! When I asked Sienna if she wanted to go over and see Santa, she said she wanted to get a bagel instead!

Sienna ate almost the whole bagel!

I was a little disappointed that the “photographer” was using what looked to be a point and shoot camera to take the photos. I wonder how it will come out.

dancing!

Waiting to head back upstairs

Sienna and Natalie

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I totally thought I posted these photos but alas, I did not! It’s from October when we visited the Bronx Zoo’s Boo at the zoo and met up with Tammy, Mark and Baby Zack (we probably should stop calling him that but Sienna calls him that and it sounds so cute!). It was so nice to get some one on one time with them!

They put these pumpkins in a lot of the animal displays for Halloween. I thought it was funny and in my mind, made up a story of how the turtles were freaking out over this big orange thing in their home.

I missed the kiss but Tammy sent me the photo (at the top of the post) that Mark caught. So cute!!

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After school yesterday, me and Sienna hopped on the train to go meet Yves for lunch and a tree. I usually take the tree at Rockefeller Center for granted, only going if I happen to be in the neighborhood (I missed it last year entirely!). I thought Sienna would enjoy seeing it. First we took a look at the holiday windows at Lord and Taylor (maybe we’ll check out Macy’s next week.)

There weren’t any ice skaters when we got to Rockefeller Center because the zomboni was out preparing the ice. That was kind of a bummer since the skaters add to the atmosphere.

Family portrait take 1

Take 2! Got it!

Her posing cracked me up!

We also put up our tree the day after Thanksgiving. Pretty early for us but it was fun to get into the festive spirit now that Sienna is really getting into the holidays. She told Yves that she loves Christmas! Who can blame her? I even joined in on the decorating of the tree! (I’m usually off doing something else)

All done! Now it’s Santa’s turn!

Here is a video of Sienna “singing” a Christmas Medley. LOL

Christmas Medley from Lisa on Vimeo.

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I decided at the last minute that I wanted to make an advent calendar for Sienna. There are so many cute ideas out there on the web and I could have easily drove myself crazy getting it together. Thankfully, I had my senses about me and decided to keep it really simple. (I’m sure if I had decided to do this a lot earlier, I would have totally done it up! There’s always next year!) I stamped the dates on envelopes in red and green and taped it on the wall by the dining room table. I didn’t put up all the envelopes as I haven’t filled them all yet. I don’t want to put too many candies in the envelopes so I mixed it up with some other stuff. I made things with her 2 current obsessions,(Super Why and Disney Princesses) like magnets and paper dolls. I need to remember to add some Spider-Man and Batman (she picked those books out at the library!) I also included a vinyl sticker for her computer. Yes, HER computer! We set her up with our old 14 inch powerbook. She plays games on the pbs website. I’ll have to take a photo to post. Anyhow, here are a couple of shots.

Getting the envelopes ready

Hung them on the wall. Looked a little lackluster so made this title.

She really enjoyed using the tape to put it up!

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As much as I want to curl up in a ball and wallow in self pity from dealing with some health stuff, today is not the day for that (besides which, it really isn’t so bad, it could be worse!) I want to take this day to be grateful for all I do have and I am truly thankful. I am thankful for my family. My wonderful husband who is supportive and always there for me and who is a great father. My miracle, my daughter. What a joy to hear her singing or talking to herself in the morning as we are getting up from sleep. She truly is a joy and I have to remember that with the few times she does upset the applecart, they are so few and far between. For my parents. Although we have a difficult relationship most of the time, I am grateful they are alive and live close by. I am grateful for the little time they spend with Sienna. I am grateful for the roof over our heads, for the money that buys our food and for the opportunity to be able to stay home full time to take care of Sienna and do crafts in between. I hope I have these things to be grateful for for a long time to come.

And to keep this post from being all sappy, here are some photos I took at Sienna’s school. She had a Thanksgiving party and the parents were invited. There is also a cute video at the end of her singing and dancing to the Please and Thank You song.

Chowing down!

Sienna and Yves looking at something

Dancing with her teacher, Mrs. D.

The chicken dance with Julian

Saying cheese with Kostas

The last 3 photos were taken of photos posted on the wall from when they went pumpkin picking back in October. So cute!!

Please and Thank You from Lisa on Vimeo.

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Sienna had 2 birthday parties last month! She had so much going on with Halloween and the birthday parties that her social calendar was a lot better than mine! The first was Hailey’s 1st birthday and since that was Halloween theme, Sienna dressed in her full Princess costume as I had posted here.

Sienna is playing with Caitlin, Hailey’s older sister

I couldn’t resist this shot!

Sienna shows us her Princess twirl!

Jana with Leah

Emma shows off her crafty creations

A cute photo of Emma and Sienna!

Someone is really enjoying their cupcake!

The birthday girl, Hailey! With her mom Heather.

Cake!

The 2nd party was for her classmates, twins Olivia and Emily, held at the Party Gym. We went to open play there a long time ago! Sienna had a lot of fun.

That blur is Sienna with her classmate, Alexis

Playing with another classmate, Dariny

Sienna gets a tattoo

Pizza time! Sitting next to Alexis

They played lots of games. There are the birthday girls next to Sienna, wearing princess dresses

They got to take home these balloons. Here is another classmate, Megan.

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