Christmas is coming!

The holiday season is in full-swing at our house. We were able to find a beautiful tree just outside the canyon, and we finished decorating it last weekend. Brian and I even went and bought some garland for the stairway. We are all still waiting for some snow, but it feels pretty festive nonetheless!

While she loved decorating, un-decorating, re-decorating, undecorating, etc. the tree, she wasn't all that thrilled about meeting Santa. UNTIL he gave her some candy. Then he was alright. I guess that you can't really tell that she's crying, but trust me, she is!

We nearly froze our tails off in the 6 degree weather waiting for Santa, but we finally sang our Christmas carols loud enough for him to find us. Kailyn thought it was very cool that he arrived on a big firetruck instead of a sleigh!

Stop Worrying!

That could have been the title at today's sermon at the Baptist Church. Though we usually go to the Catholic Church, we wanted to try something new today. It was great! The message seemed directed just to me... Brian must have jabbed me in the side every minute or so as the pastor highlighted yet another thing that I do ALL THE TIME. I am such a worrier. From the legitimate, "Will Dad be OK," to the highly unlikely, "Will Kailyn ever get kidnapped or harmed?" I even worry about things that have already happened, like "Why did I buy a new snowmachine last year?" Anyways, the moral of the story was to stop worrying, which does nothing for anybody, especially yourself, and start praying. Seems to be a much better course of action... Instead of dwelling on the negative, wish positive things for those in need (even if it's yourself). When I lay in bed at night and think of those families overseas that have soldiers patrolling their neighborhoods and friends and family members being doused with kerosene and burned alive... I cry and feel so sad for them. Which doesn't really do much for them or me. I'm sad, they're still living in a nightmare. I hope that I can focus those emotions and try to do something small for them, and maybe, if we all did the same, it might really make a difference. Who knows?

On the same note, he talked about being thankful for the situations that we are in. Not as in "Oh, I've just been in a car crash, praise the Lord," but as in "Oh, I've just been in a car crash, thank God that I'm not alone." He suggested that we think of all the blessings God has bestowed upon us, and maybe even share them with a loved one.

Here's a few of mine:

Living in a place where a family can go out to find their own perfect Christmas tree.

Having a daughter healthy enough to wonder what in the heck we are doing cutting down trees in below zero weather.

For some reason, I cannot post any more pictures. I will try again in a few days to put the ones of the tree and Kailyn & Santa up.

Almost!

Kailyn's poncho from half the Beauvais family almost fits!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Swingin

A simple reminder of how great life can be if we let the simple things amuse us!

Something doesn't feel right...

I went out with the girls (well, we stayed in, but it was "out" for me!) and left Brian with the task of getting Kailyn ready for bed. When I got her up the next morning, I noticed that her jammies looked a little different than usual...

My great winter hats

Back when I was known as Streeeeeetaci at the Alaska Club (or Staci Play Center for those that didn't know me as well), I used to think that the kids' hats were SO COOL, and couldn't wait for the day that I had my own little munchkin to buy crazy hats for. How could I have known that I would have such a fun kid such a short time later... and even better than crazy hats that I would buy, check out these hats that were made for Kailyn!

From Aunt Jeni - a perfect match for this coat!

From Memere Beauvais - don't you just LOVE IT!!!

Doing some basketball warmups before facing the freezing wind outside.

Kailyn's Second Halloween

Carving her first pumpkin and thinking it's a LOT OF FUN! I am still finding pumpkin seeds!

She was sure to let me know what she thought of the ladybug outfit... so NOT FUN! She cried and whined and moaned...

(Can you see Bella-monkey in the background?)

Until she realized that those nice people actually gave her stuff...

Now she loves it and will wear it anytime I want!

McDonald's

If I hadn't been a hesitant participant in her birth, I would wonder if this child were mine. 'Twas her first McDonald's trip, and you know what she ate? Her apples.

She had her choice of McNuggets, tasty french fries, and, apples (who knew that they'd even heard of apples at McDonald's?).

She'd take a little nibble on the McNuggets, a taste of the fries, but what she really liked were the apples.

Not that I'm complaining! We fed the rest of her fries to the birds, which was more fun than eating them, anyways.

Even more important than the McNuggets and apples, Kailyn wanted nothing more than to share her food and snuggles with Grandma.

I'd say it was a good trip.

Texas & Florida

Though we've been home for a while, it seems that I can never make the time to get in here and post these pictures.

We had so much fun in Texas and Florida - we left when the sun was shining (well, it was green anyways), and came home to a snow-covered Alaska - WOOHOO! The timing couldn't have been better - though it was definitely hot down there, the end of October is nothing compared to summertime.

While in Texas, Aunt Nancy, Uncle Joe, Cousin Bryan, and his new wife Justyna came down from Houston. We all had dinner at the Texas Steakhouse, and Kailyn was quite the little cowgirl - check out her boots! We have decided that if we ever (God forbid) have to leave Alaska, Texas is where we want to be. The people are UNBELIEVABLE! Among several other incidences, there was a group of smokers that moved into the street to let Kailyn have fresh air. Brian and I were speechless!

Kailyn's first time at the bar. Belly up! After this, we were able to get a babysitter for the rest of the night. Brian and I went dancing with everyone and had such a good time that we had to call home to see if we could stay out "just a little bit longer, pleeeeease???"

Our Florida trip was a little different - no dancing there! We were able to get all of my stuff packed up and loaded into the connex, along with the Bobcat and the furniture for the cabin. Brian helped dad alot in the yard and shop. Apparently the bark beetles have gotten down that way, too. They've killed most all of the pines in the yard, which is really sad because my parent's house has always been pretty well shaded. They make these little holes and then get in there and eat the bark until the tree dies.

As usual, Kailyn wanted to know how she could help all the time. When Dad and Brian were clearing brush, she wanted to be right in the middle of it all, checking it all out. She is learning so much these days - she repeats everything and LOVES to read books so much that she actually pants when you get one out. It's so funny.

We took golf cart rides at least once a day to go see all of the animals around - there were goats, cows, horses, roosters, chickens, bulls.... she had a great time. No one could go in the garage without Kailyn dashing for the door to climb up on it. We couldn't decide if she liked being out in the open with no car seat, or if she liked talking to all the animals... probably a combination.

Kailyn also had her first trip to McDonald's when we were down there, but I hear her waking up, so I will post those later.