Gregory's Christmas

We spent Christmas with Nick's family in Greensboro. I really should have taken a picture of the tree before or even after the gifts were open... there was a TON!! Little Abby even got a wii from Mom-mom (Grandmom) & Pop-pop (Grandpa).

The big picture below includes Uncle Joe & Aunt Beth. The pic on the left is Abby banging away on the piano with her pink baseball hat from the Masters Tournament. Mom & Dad won tickets this year!

We really had a wonderful Christmas. Thanks Mom & Dad!

Mouseketeer Abigail

Thanks Auntie Jayne & Uncle Scott. They picked up this super cute Minnie Mouse hat with Abigail stitched on the back from their trip to Disney World...

This was just one of Abby's many generous gifts she received for Christmas.

All triked out

I took Abby out on her trike for the 1st time. She did great!! I was also testing out my new camera lens that I *LOVE* :) (thanks Nick!!)

Christmas Eve & Morning

Abby & I made a gingerbread train together. Mostly she ate and poked at the icing. Abby on her trike from Santa on Christmas morning. We had to pry her off of it to open her gifts & stocking.

In case anyone is wondering, the shot of the stockings were taken before Nick's stocking was filled... you can also see how l-o-n-g Abby's stocking is. Hers is cut off of the stocking photo and you can see it dangling behind Abby on her trike ;)

Honorable mention to Sparky who I am thankful to report made it through Christmas without having an accident in the house (that is a very good accomplishment for him lately).

& a shot of our artificial tree we got this year. If you look closely there are very few ornaments hung on the bottom 1 ft of the tree because of our dear Abby & Sparky... but mostly Abby.

Holiday Express

Nick & I took Abby to the Holiday Express at Pullen Park. It would have been prettier to see all the lights if we stayed till past dark, maybe next year when Abby's bedtime can be stretched a bit. We still had fun though.

* Abby got to ride on the famous carousel for her 1st time. Its a super old indoor carousel w/an old fashioned music player to boot. We didn't realize the giraffe we picked did not move up and down but for her 1st time on it, this may have been a good thing.
* Next we tried the Pullen Park Train & saw all the lights through the park. I noticed the lady & her daughter sitting in front of us. The lady was carrying a red & white walking stick. As we got out of the train the little girl had to help her mom up and show her which way the exit was. There were quite a few disabled people at the event. It made me thank God in light of all the hardships and economic turmoil to thank Him for our health. We have a lot to be thankful for this year even if it doesn't seem like it at times...
* Next was a stop to see Santa & Mrs. Claus. If you've been following Abby's Christmas events, you'll notice this was her 4th Santa this year (she's got a long Santa list) j/k! Amazingly enough she's done well with each one.

Next year maybe we'll stop by the craft stands, get magical reindeer feed (oatmeal & sprinkles), get our faces painted or play on the playground. I've been meaning to take her to Pullen Park all year I'm glad we finally made it. It would be a fun place to go even without a Christmas event.

Christmas Pictures 2008

Our friend Riot took our Christmas pictures for us this year. Click here to see her post. She was raising money for Victory Junction (what a great cause!)

(from their website)
Victory Junction Gang enriches the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering, in a safe and medically-sound environment.

What a difference a year makes

Abby went to the mall with her Grandmom & Grandpa. They treated her to her 1st Build-a-Bear (actually 2, both Holly & Hal) and a trip to see Santa. Same Santa Claus, same Abby my she has grown!!

2008 -

2007 -

Just for fun, review of Family Reunion

This should really be posted in July 2008 but since its been so long I thought it may get lost in the shuffle. Maybe I'm just homesick... maybe the holidays... but it would be really nice to see my family. So in the interest of practicing my (lack of) photoshop skills & perusing family pictures, here's the result!

Click here to see the original post

Going home from school (Take 2)

Back by popular demand :)
Here is take 2 from this earlier post (click here) since the previous picture was a bit blurry.
(Pictures taken from Sony Ericsson C902)

walking down the hall, then Abby see's Cole's dad. She stops & says "Cole Cole!!", walks down the hall & stops to see the tree...

Santa filled weekend

We had a busy weekend! Sat morning Abby & I went to a cookie decorating & craft party with Santa. Santa asked Abby what she wanted for Christmas to which she replied "hi"... you can also see Abby enjoying her FIRST CANDY CANE! She loved it. As soon as she put it down I made it disappear.

Sat was also my birthday! Abby & Nick got me lots of great presents. It would make for a better blog if I had taken pictures of the wrapped gifts or the yummy cake (before it was cut) but since I'm just now thinking of doing that 1 day later, needless to say, I'm too late. Special thanks to Nick's parents, they came to babysit Abby so Nick & I could go for dinner & a hockey game. They also made me the yummy cake!

Here is Abby trying on the pretty scarf my sister Jenny & her husband Abe sent me from the UK (click to see their blog). They sent me such a thoughtful package, thank you again!! The chocolate was yummy too (it's all gone now).

On Sat afternoon we went to the Stonehenge Shopping Center's Christmas event. We rode a trackless train, got a reindeer balloon from the First Noel the Elf & visited with Santa.

Going home from school

This is Abby ready to go home from school. On a typical day she insists on carrying her bag herself (see it on her shoulder?)

The bag is actually too big for her to carry. Usually there is not much in it so its light enough for her. She drags it down the hall. What a big girl! This picture is a bit blurry I was trying to hurry & keep up.

Thanksgiving & the day after

For Thanksgiving we went to Nick's parents house in Greensboro. Thanks again for having us! We spent the night & the next day we went to the Natural Science Center of Greensboro, we also went to feed the ducks at the lake. We all had a really fun day!

Some of the hungry ducks

Abby feeding the ducks. Luckily they were doing some construction on the lake so they had the black barrier up. Abby had to get used to her feathered friends being so up close & personal.

I love posing for these things. Abby must've inherited this corniness from me :)

There were surprisingly a TON of animals at the Animal Discovery from peacocks, sheep, burros, alpacas, meerkats, wallabies, gibbons, monkeys, lorikeets, iguanas, vampire bats, python, tarantulas, an anteater, maned wolves (be forewarned their pee smells like skunk) & tigers!

Abby & Daddy at the meerkat tunnel

Making music in Kid's Alley

Baking Cookies with Grandmom

Abby got to bake her first Christmas cookies with Grandmom. Grandmom was prepared too! She bought special cookie trays for Abby to press into, Abby's favorite is the the star shaped one. Grandmom and Grandpa had cookie dough all made up and ready. Look closely, Abby's wearing an apron too. She tasted a little bit of the cookie dough while she worked.



Abby tasting her yummy cookies!

Bucket Hat

Not a good day at school today. Abby got bit, poor girl. Then playing outside, she fell on her nose.

On a better note, check out little Miss Diva in the bucket hat :)

A cold visit to Shelly Lake

I took Abby to feed the ducks at the park. It was 47 degrees at home, but near the lake it seemed much colder. Abby still had lots of fun feeding the ducks. 1st we fed the ducks by the fishing dock so she could see the ducks up close. The last time we fed them on the dock, the geese were still around and jumped up on the dock to get more food! We went to the bridge next, Abby ran up and down the bridge and made the ducks swim back and forth for their treats.

Dropping some crackers off the bridge:


Pushing the stroller by herself

Snow

Woke up & there was SNOW! None on the street. Only a bit on the roof & grass. I'm not really sure how much more snow we'll see in Raleigh this year. So just in case, I took a picture to remember.

Poor Abby

A not-so-nice friend in Abby's class scratched Abby in the face today. Clawed maybe a better word. She has multiple scratches on both cheeks and near her left eye. I'm not really sure what happened since a teacher did not witness it. They weren't fighting or trying to get each other's toys. Of course they won't let you see the tape since the confidentiality of the culprit. I really don't care who the darn kid is as long as the parents clip his nails tonight.

Its a bit hard to see the scratch near her eye. This was taken the night of. I think it looks even more red the day after.


As for Abby she seems unaffected by it and in good spirits tonight. I gave her ice cream after dinner mostly because I felt so bad for her. Here she is licking every bit of her treat!

I felt a bit callused at the time, ever since going back to work I never really cried having to leave her in daycare. But after a day like today, I feel terrible she had such a bad day. When I got the voicemail from daycare I did just want to cry and go get my little girl. I don't know if it hurts as much for her but seeing the scratches everytime I look at her face is so much worse than the bites on the hands/arms.

Bath time cry baby

Judging by these pictures you would never know that Abby is a hysterical cry baby during bath time. She's great before and after, just during is the hard part. After the washing part is over, she's usually in jovial spirits, plays around for a bit and on most nights refuses to get OUT of the tub.

Anyone have any suggestions or tips for her to like bathing again... please?

Well tonight she was so extremely happy and smiley after the washing part I ran & got the camera.


I mean so wonderfully happy!! Is this the same girl crying bloody murder 1 min ago?


Being goofy

Hockey Girl

Abby was sick most of the weekend. She threw up all Friday night. Luckily she was feeling much better for the hockey game on Sunday. We didn't take any pictures at the game but don't worry, we have a game every Sunday in Nov (whew~!) so we'll get out chance yet...

Abby sitting on her fun chair in her room (I forget what the chair is called), it sings and lights up


Looking a little puzzled?

Sparky making his cameo appearance

Bribing the dog

I left Abby alone in the kitchen with the dog. She was rummaging in the kitchen pantry. Usually when we come home she finds something on eye-level where I keep her goodies and she pulls out something she wants with her dinner. Well, she pulled out Sparky's milkbones and decided to "feed him" :) His bowl was empty, which, doesn't always happen, he is moody about when he eats. Abby decided to give him a bowl full of treats, what a way to win his heart & tummy!

I started to put away the treats then realized this was comical enough to share.



After the bowl of treats Abby wanted the apple in the fruit basket. I didn't think she'd really start chomping away at it... she did great for a couple of bites!

Cruising Pictures

Nick & I went on a cruise to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Here are some pictures we took along the way.

Light house @ Key West; Nick in front of the ship


I'm such a dweeb I love taking pictures in front of these types of things. I know it screams "TOURIST!!" but I still love it...

Nice sunrise. I slept in every morning. Photo coutesy: Nick.

Port @ Cozumel

Mayan ruins at Altun Ha just outside of Belize City.