Happy 75th Elsie Rose

Sunday we had one more Brochtrup family gathering to Celebrate Eslie's 75th birthday. Elsie is Kevin's mom. We all got together at Roy's house, Kevin's brother. It was a nice day together. A bunch of family, from Elsie's side, joined us. We dont' get to see them very often. Her actual birthday is the 28th. So, we do our best to giver her a seperate celebration for her birthday. Just as I am going to make sure we do with Teresa's birthday. So, a happy happy birthday to my second mom!

2009 Holly Jolly Christmas

Our family....mom, dad, sister Amy, Matt, and Kevin and I.

This Christmas was so much fun. The girls made it so enjoyable. They both loved it and were SOO good for two days of fun.

Christmas Eve we have our tradition of going to our family friend's house, Jim and Elaine. This is actually the house I grew up in for the first three years of my life. We have stayed friends with them, camped together, and my best friend is their daughter. It's so much fun to go over and celebrate with them and all their friends and family. We love them all. We Spent Christmas Eve night at my parents house, another tradition. Santa comes to Nana's house. Mary was up at 6:00 ready for the fun. We had asked her for a while what she wanted Santa to bring her, and she didn't really have an answer. Well, about a week before she started saying she wanted a vacume. WELL, Santa was not bringing her a vacuum. She was getting one, but from her other Grandma. SOO, when she went out to the living room and there was not a vacuum, she was a little disappointed. She was bummed all day until Grandma got there and she opened her vacuum. What 3 year old wants a vacuum. Ok, it's not a real one, but it makes the sound and doesn't suck anything up. It's on a maid cart with a mop and bucket too. SHe loves it. I only wish she could really use it for me. haha! But Santa did bring her a doll house, she does like.

Mary and her doll house Santa brought.

The two Grandpas putting together the christmas toy!

My family around here is my parents and my aunt and uncle. SOO, we have kinda taken on the Brochtrup family. My mom was kind enough to have Christmas with all the Brochtrup family. They all came over and we had a great day together. So much fun to have little ones around.

The Brochtrup Family

The Five Brochtrup Siblings

Margeaux, Kevin's sister on the right, is a foster parent. She has taken in the little boy in front, in Stephanie's arms. He is 9 months old. He was crazy about Teresa, but Teresa was not so crazy about him. By the end of the night they were better at playing together.

We left My parents house after everyone left on Christmas Day, and helping clean up. Mary had not napped all day. She fell asleep on the way home. We took her out when we got home and she stumbled to the couch. This ist he site we saw two minutes later............................

She was so out. I could not wake her up to go to the bathroom and put her in her PJ's. SOOO I just took her to bed as is and let her sleep. 4:30am she was in our room for her PJ's. HAAHAA What a cutie.

It was a fun fun Christmas. I am so thankful for all my family, close and extended. I love them all.

Christmas Pictures

Christmas at the Old Folks Home

Monday we went to have our Christmas with my grandma down at the facility she lives in. Mom got a whole turkey dinner from Ralphs and we took it down. In the same facility my dad's 'uncle' lives there as well. We say 'uncle' because he's really his mom's cousin, so it's easier to just say uncle. Anyway, we had a nice time. Grandma scarfed down her turkey dinner and pie. Mary helped her open presents. It was a nice time together.

Rocking Christmas Night

Last night Kevin and I went on a date to see Brian Setzer for his Christmas show. this will be our third time seeing him since we have been together. He is such fun to see. We dropped the kids off at Grandma and Grandpas and we were on our way to Universal for some fun. We were walking around City Walk trying to figure out where to eat dinner when outside of Karl Straus a guy stopped us to tell us there was only 15 minutes left of Happy Hour. Well, that concluded where our dinner/drinks were going to be. We found two seats at the bar and ordered our beer and an appetizer while it was still happy hour. Phew made it in time. = ) The place was full of people going to the same concert. It was so much fun. We became friends with the people sitting next to us and were having fun talking. We ended up staying there until it was time to go to the show. As you can see in in the picture, I'm a bit 'happy'. We were having fun. It was a fun night the two of us. My feet still hurt from the cute shoes I wore. Why do cute shoes have to hurt???

Christmas show

Last night we went to a little Christmas play at our new local church. Our neighbor has joined the choir and gave us free tickets to go. It started at 7:30 so I was a little scared how this was going to go since that is a half hour before Teresa's bed time and an hour before Mary's. But I packed up what may be needed and we were on our way. When the show started and the singing began Teresa was waving her arms and trying to sing along. It was pretty darn cute. Mary seemed to like it as well. We didn't end up leaving until after 9 and both girls did great. We brought them home and put them to bed. We were hoping they'd sleep late because of the late bed time. WELLL, no such luck. But it was fun night.

We still need our nap

Today when we got home from our crazy morning out Mary was playing so nice that I decided not to push a nap. I was doing some Christmas cards and I needed her to 'sign' one and so I called out her name. She did not answer. I turn around and this is what I saw. She was passed out on the stool. She has this obsession of leaning on this stool when she watches TV. Well, she obviously needed the nap I was not pushing for. So I pick her up and move her to the couch. She woke up for a second and then went right back to sleep after I covered her up. Later she was snoring. What a doll she is.

One Year Old Already

Teresa turns one year old on December 17th. We had a small celebration on Sunday for her. I can't believe it's been that long already. It seems like yesturday I was in the hospital for her arrival. Boy how times flies. She is so much fun these days. She is walking everywhere. She shakes her head yes and no for when she wants something. We think she's said a word or two, but nothing is clear yet. She seems to favor her left hand, so she may be a lefty. We will then have to depend on my mom and Corie to teach her all the left handed ways to do things. Poor child. = )

mmmmmmmmm cake. She loved it! She was enjoying one of her cards carefully.
Mary was helping her sister open gifts.

Fun family birthday gatherings. = )