New Years Eve

Baby Aliyah's due date was 1/1/2012, so needless to say it was a quiet New Years for us. We were planning and hoping to celebrate it in the hospital, but when the time came and she wasn't here we (or I should say "I") just didn't have the energy to stay up until midnight. We did have the opportunity to see some friends while they were in town - wish you ALL lived here!!!!

Beau and Monika Bennett, Tom and Kate Henwood, Adrienne and Rob Wilson, and Scott and I after lunch at Monzana in Lake Oswergo.

Christmas Round Two

Nena and Bumpa came to celebrate a belated Christmas with us (and be here for the arrival of Baby Aliyah). Jalen is always excited to see them and was thrilled to get Christmas all over again. Here are a few shots of the our belated "Christmas Eve" and the following morning after Santa came to visit:

Christmas Eve

Christmas was a little different this year, as we stayed home for the first time in either of our lives. We started with an early church service, which was beautiful. Our neighbors were also home-bound without any family plans, so we had them over for dinner (wish I would have had my camera out while they were here). Scott made Prime Rib and we had a fabulous night hanging out with good friends (Kenjie and Karen and their kids Zoe and Ethan)!!! We then finished off the night by opening presents and preparing for Santa to come. Although not our typical Christmas Eve in Boise or McCall, it ended up being fantastic!

Jalen ready for church.

Dinner is set and ready.

A romantic dinner for two - Zoe and Jalen's table.

Scott preparing the drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Cheers!

Pre-Christmas Festivities

The holidays just keep getting more fun as Jalen gets older! It's so fun for us as parents to see him experience new things and participate in all the holiday festivities. His daycare did a fantastic job on their annual holiday program/party and we were so proud of Jalen for singing all the songs and doing well on stage! He showed a lot of interest in Santa this year - although he liked him more from afar or while holding our hand. Our most favorite activity was taking Jalen to the Polar Express, where we got to see Santa once again. He loved watching the chefs sing Christmas carols, read us the Polor Express story, and of course serve us our cookies and hot cocoa. He made some new buddies on the train as well.

POLAR EXPRESS:

Jalen and Daddy getting ready for the train to start.

Pure joy when the train blew it's whistle - we were off and running.

A visit from the Conductor - who checked Jalen's golden ticket and punched a "J" in it.

"How cool - a J for Jalen."

Jalen with some buddies he made on the train - who happened to have matching PJs.

Cookie break


SANTA VISIT at BRIDGEPORT VILLAGE:
As we waited in line for Santa, Jalen was SO excited - saying with arms wide open, "Give big hugs to Santa...I want to see Santa..." Once it was our turn, Jalen ran to him with open arms, yet when Santa did the same and said his "ho,ho,ho," Jalen nearly wet his pants and didn't want anything to do with him. Needless to say, we never got a photo on Santa's lap. We ended up with a humorous photo of all of us squeezing onto his lap. Maybe next year.

Nena and Bumpa

DAYCARE HOLIDAY PROGRAM:

Jalen after his performance, as he watches the older kids.

Jalen was jumping for joy when Santa came around the corner (although we never got a shot with Jalen on his lap...too many kids around).

Translation: "Way up high in the Christmas Tree, two little candy canes winked at me. I shook the tree as hard as I could and down come the candy canes, Mmm, Mmm good."

Translation: "Where is Santa, where is Santa? Here I am, Here I am. Merry Merry Christmas, Merry Merry Christmas. Ho, ho, ho, Ho, ho, ho."

Translation: "When Santa comes to my house, I would like to peek, but I know he'll never come until I'm fast asleep."

Soccer Tots

We signed Jalen up for Toddler Soccer and he absolutely loves it!