We are Thankful 2010

We are so thankful for what we have been given. 2010 has been one of the most amazing years of our lives. Thank you, God, for everything we have. The things were are more grateful for than ANYTHING are those intangible things: our time here, our health, our baby, our family, our jobs, and our love. Who knew I could fall more and more in love with the both of them than I already was......

....and while we appreciate those gifts that have been given to us, we have to remember..... You are what makes them possible.

Gymboree

(after my last post, I got a few emails from friends saying they love the Zac Brown Band.... they originated in Smyrna, so I'm gonna play another for you fans out there.....)

Today we are having our last "Cisel Family Day" of the year. Tomorrow it's back to the real world and I start my work week. Bummer. We started off this morning with a lovely breakfast (thank you, Daddy!) at J Christopher's. It was wonderful and Bianca sure enjoyed her French Toast and fresh fruit. Later we ventured off to Bianca's gym.... she goes to gym class every weekend with Daddy. Today was "open gym" so we took her together so she could play and have fun with both her parents and all her little friends. Here's what she did......

and this is how you know Bianca has had enough of Gymboree and is ready to go home....

(i still need to get an external flash.... the pics are a bit blurry. sorry)

Elmo Slippers

Look what Grandma Dee found.....

Holiday Snip-Its

What a blessed holiday. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful life. This year was a great Christmas, and every year we have with Bianca getting older will surely get more and more fun!

This year, she really wasn't into unwrapping the presents. She was scared of the wrapping paper - it was too loud for her liking. Daddy had to unwrap most of her presents.

Probably the most exciting gift for Bianca was the $8 shopping cart I had bought some time ago at Aldi's. She LOVES pushing it around, putting her items in it. She puts her purse and "Baby" in the cart, as well.

Here's the house that was supposed to take 20 minutes to assemble. It took The Cisels 4 hours and two trips to Pottery Barn to get it right. I hope she appreciates it!

But, all in all, it was a WONDERFUL holiday. We were pretty tired after all the festivities...

We sure missed our family back in Illinois this year. Maybe sometime soon we can be together. All of the gifts were really nice.... but our greatest gift is our health and our family. We cannot be more thankful for what we have been given from Him.

It's Christmas Eve

Tonight is our Christmas Eve.

I work the entire holiday, so tonight is Cisel Family Christmas Eve. And a special day today is, indeed.

the stockings are hung by the chimney with care.......

Kinda. I'm waiting for stocking hooks to go on sale after the holiday. I refuse to pay $20 for a dressed-up nail. Bah, humbug.

in hopes that St. Nick will soon be there......

He's already come early. This kid has more waiting for her than she needs. (which reminds me, rewind about 20 years and my cuz Jules asked me, "Why do you have gifts under the tree already from Santa?" My response?, "Oh, well, we live out in the country, so Santa has to deliver to us early because we are so far away. just in case there's bad weather." Good save, Liz. Julie kept believe'n.

momma in her ker'chief and i in my hat......

These are the pj's I got for the family this year. I'm trying to carry on tradition for D and have new PJ's every year for the family. I want to have a theme each year as well. This year- "Life is Good."

And indeed, it is.

This Christmas is our Christmas. While is is about traditions and new happenings, it is most importantly about our Savior, Jesus Christ, being born. What a special day. Soon, very soon, Baby Jesus will arrive in the manger. We make it a point for Bianca to know how special this season is - and Baby Jesus.

But today and tonight is our special night. We give thanks to Jesus for what we have. A happy, healthy family. A little girl I couldn't be more thankful for. A wonderful man I couldn't be more in love with. We miss our extended family and our immediate family, but they are here with us - in our hearts and minds.

People keep asking, "Are you coming home for Christmas?"

We are home.

And while it does bring a bit of sadness that our home is far away from others, we know it is not permanent. On Christmas morning, our baby will be in her home. She will do as her momma and dadda did - wake up in her own bed, open her presents, and go to church. She's asleep right now.....

with visions of sugar plums dancing in her head... doesn't she look innocent??? Fooled YA!

Tonight, I have a grand meal planned for my family.

delicious prime rib, yummy carrot souffle (yes, the same stuff Tobin made that I have been salivating about since Thanksgiving), rosemary spiced vegetables, cucumber, fennel, & pomegranate salad, and yummy Oreo cheesecake. i even made this in a "water bath" in a roasting pan. i mean seriously..... Cheesecake Factory ain't got noth'n on me.

So, what do you do on a December day in the 60s?......

you go on a drive

you take a wagon trip

you play with Daddy

and yes, Nana. It's confirmed. We have a "purse girl." great.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.... AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!

New Baby!

I have decided I am officially obsessed with babies. I love them. I love everything about them: the powder smell, the little noises, the soft skin. They are just a slice of heaven to me.

I gotta new one, folks.....

Yep, my neighbor, Dana, and her husband, Jason, welcomed little Tyler Noah into this world 2 weeks ago. Oh my..... what a cutie!!! Honestly, the most adorable little man you can imagine. So - when I was like, "Dana, I mean... my feelings won't be hurt - but just know I would LOVE to take his picture...."

and she said yes

I was so excited! I love to pretend-photographer anyways, so this was perfect! I spent a few hours over at their house - and I gotta tell ya- this is one PERFECT little man. He was so good and so easy to shoot. What a cutie.

Let's start this off with a little G-ma love'n.......

And he's a little Hanukkah baby... just as sweet as can be.....

Amazing and beautiful he is. Thank you, Gallows, for letting me capture this little guy... and I hope you're happy with the results!

Silly Grandma

My poor mom. Nobody calls her by her real name. When I say real name - I mean nobody calls her "mom" or "Denise". Her name is "Bert" to me, my brothers, and my sisters-in-law. Her name is "Dee Dee" to the Donnellys. My dear little niece calls her "Silly Grandma." Bianca has yet to name Bert. She did a lot of "Dah" when she wanted her attention, but that's no name yet. We'll see what she comes up with. I'm hoping for a "Mimi" or "DeeDee", but we'll see.

Whatever she decides to call her, I'm sure it won't matter. My daughter has her Grandma wrapped around that finger so tight, she won't have to say anything.

They were like two peas in a pod, relaxing and snuggling on the couch. I guess it didn't bother me until I went to work Friday night, and instead of my daughter getting upset and throwing a fit when I was leaving, she looked at me... and then Bert... and smiled and said, "BYE BYE Momma!"

What???.....Bye Bye???

Where's the tears? Where's the fit?

She didn't cry and throw a fit until Bert put her down. She couldn't handle not being held by my mom. She didn't want Bert to get out of her site the entire time she was here visiting.

What probably made it worse for Bianca was watching Bert leave after a wonderful visit, and full-time playmate. I'm pretty sure she saw tears in my eyes when Bert left, too, which didn't help. But we miss you.

So.... MOM.... thanks again for a lovely visit. We wish we could have days like that together all the time. Bianca sure took to you and you girls are buds, no doubt.

During my mom's visit, we got another visiter from the Donnellys. My dear cousin, Danny, was in town for some business and we were able to do dinner. We went to an awesome Cajun restaurant in downtown Roswell, INC.

Danny, thanks so much for the visit. I can't tell you how much it meant to us that you were so thoughtful to take time out and see us. It had been a couple years since we had seen one another, so it was great to catch up. Dinner was amazing.... thanks! It just really meant a lot that you would make a point of seeing us when you were here for such a short, work-filled couple of days. We are so glad you are back in Chicago. We'll see ya this spring.

And the holidays are underway. A great two weeks are ahead as we venture into the final days of 2010. Bianca is ready for the holiday. She's all decked out thanks to Grandma and Nana. Check her out playing with her latest fave - window stickers.

Ho! Ho! NO!

Bianca sat on Santa for the first time last week when Nana was here. It was.... quite cute, actually. Although, I'm sure she would tell you otherwise. At first she cried, then she quickly realized it was ok.... and stop crying for the picture. There were no smiles - but that's ok. She sure was cute.....

In Bianca's mind...("OK, get this dang thing over with. I can't believe Momma is making me do this. Who is this guy???)

Right now, if you ask her, "Bianca, what does Santa say?" She replies, "HO." It's sure cute.

I'm at home, resting this dang neck injury. It's so annoying not to be able to move around well. But all's well and we are resting until tomorrow.............

the motherload arrives!

Nana Clause Came To Town

It's so sad to say goodbye to visitors. It's especially hard during the holidays. Little Miss Bianca has such a special bond with her Nana - she's heart broken now that she's gone back to Illinois.

She keeps saying, "Nana, Nana?"

It's absolutely adorable, yet sad - all wrapped into one.

And this Momma is sure sad Nana is gone, too. Life is a bit easier with Nana in town. Especially when you have a pinched nerve in your neck that paralyzes the right side of your upper body.

And our visit with "Nana Clause" has come to an end, but our thoughts of her are with us everyday. We so enjoy having you come and visit us. We feel so blessed to have you in our lives. Derek and I are trying to repay you for everything you do for us and B..... and we're doing it just like you said.

"Just do the same things for her as we did for you."

We're trying, Nana. We're trying hard.

And, although you may not be physically here in our lives everyday, you are in our hearts. But I wanted to let you know... you did leave a little bit of you in our lives this trip:

you left A LOT of loves and hugs

you left some yum yums....

and memories for us and B to have

Thanks, Nana! We love you.

xxx ooo

(and stay tuned.... more grandma love'ns to come....)