Leah's Christmas Outfit

I have a friend April who makes some interesting outfits for children.

This is one she made for Leah.



Hokey? Yes but Leah loves it and looks great in it :)

Christmas 2006

Woke up around 8 or so to open Leah's gifts. We were fortunate enough to get Leah a couple of things we think she will enjoy. An easel, art set, clothes, books, dvds, some other random things like a digital camera. Yes Leah is now the proud owner of a digital camera. We will have to upload her first pictures soon. Better than ones I take. But most importantly Leah got the TMX Elmo that Matt got for her at regular retail price. Here she is playing with him for the first time.

So far every Christmas Eve I give Leah a present to open, a pair of pajamas to wear that night. She looks adorable in them but then again what doesn't she look adorable in!



Afterwards we left to go to Ruth & George's where tons of presents were waiting for Leah to open. Lindsay was there as well. We all got wonderful gifts and had a great time-especially watching Leah open all her presents. I found it amusing that she knew when something was clothing before even taking the gift wrap up. She would pick up the box and say "Clothes" and put the box down looking for something else to open.





Then we went to have dinner at Aunt DL's. We got to spend time with Aunt Lois, Cousins Dustin, Danny & Dave. And guess what? Leah opened MORE presents.

Afterwards off we went to my dad's in the Bronx. Lani & Kain came over as well. The kids played and of course opened their gifts as well. My dad also took some time out to show Leah how to play some traditional latino percussion instruments.




And of course we took the obligatory picture of the cousins kissing.

Trimming the Deller Tree

Matt's family has a yearly tradition. They get together and they trim the tree. This may not seem like a big deal-tons of families do it every year but I always fine great joy is being part of it. And now with Leah here, its even more fun.

But the best part of the whole thing is watching the entertainment. Matt and Lindsay. Quite a competitive pair of siblings. Compete over who has the most ornaments (Lindsay does), who has the best ornaments (Lindsay does), who is going to be placing them where on the tree (Matt tends to move Lindsay ornaments more than Lindsay moves his), who broke whose ornament (I suspect no one broke them, they break over time but its fun watching them blame one another), which ornament belongs to who, who won the Santa game the year before (I've lost track)...you get the point.

For the upcoming week Matt moves Lindsay's ornaments when she isn't around. Silly man.

This was my fifth year there, I missed last year because I was working at Qdoba at the time. But still its nuts, 5 Christmases with Matt. He of course denies it but I can count. I have five wonderful ornaments Matt's parents bought me to hang on the tree :)

Coolest thing about this year though was the fact Leah is big enough to help with the tree. And help she did.

Holiday Ramblings

It seems that Leah has at least found two things she enjoys about the holidays. One is snowmen, she likes snowmen, loves Frosty. The other is jingle bells. She loves the song and loves jingling bells.

Ask her about Santa and she will tell you- "I don't like Santa. I like snowmen."

She is too much, too funny. She is the light in our lives and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Leah's Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,
I do not like you. I don't want anything for Christmas.

Thanks for the offer. But no thanks, I do not want to sit on your lap.

Leah

And if you don't believe it, here is proof she cannot stand the man.

modeling for mom

Every so often Leah just likes to have pictures taken of her. This was one of those times. My mom gets her some of the best outfits.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Leah says "Gobble Gobble". We had a busy Thanksgiving this year. Once again we had a wonderful, delicious dinner with all the trimmings at Grandma and Grandpa's. Ruth puts together a huge dinner flawlessly and perfectly every year. We are definitely grateful for that!

Leah played with her cousins Karen and David, hung out with her Great-Grandmother Bernice (AKA Nana), had some cuddling time with Lindsay and tons of kisses from Michelle (who I owe some empanadas), Helene (who's name Leah says so eloquently) and Gary (who from some reason she kept calling Marc). I guess she realized Marc wasn't there so she was making up for it.

Then it was time to eat and Leah was cranky so I took her downstairs to play and relax for a while, changed her diaper as well. Useless thing to do! I went upstairs to try and get some yummy food and Matt was with Leah...when Leah went and exploded all over herself. *sigh* Gotta love being a mom! Lindsay assisted me in getting Leah all cleaned, she got a bath and everything. Quite an eventful evening.

Afterwards we left in the pouring rain for the Bronx to visit with my family. We got to spend some time with Leilani, Keith and Kain. Kain is such a lovable and sweet boy. He gave us tons of hugs and kisses. He played very nicely with Leah. Together they danced the night away. Jenny and her boyfriend Edwin was also there. Jenny is Leilani's sister-in-law and one of our closest family friends. It was great to have everyone together. After we ate some more! We hung out and then headed back to Long Island.

I should've brought my camera but didn't so no pics of all of us together. Just means we have to get together again soon.

Leah's blog

For a bunch of reasons I am not going to list I am considering changing Leah's blog to a "friends only" blog. So if you received an invite, thats cause I want you reading this.

I may be moving the whole website to one of my domains, not sure yet. I will keep everyone posted.

Trick or Treat

Some pics of Leah & Matt from Halloween. Oh and one of us as a family-with a cameo from Delilah.

Birthday Brunch

Today we went to Four for brunch to celebrate Ruth's birthday.

The place is awesome. If you haven't been there-go! Great food, good drinks-lots of fun. Leah could have done without the weird bald guy on stilts but other than it was really nice.

Mom & Dad Party

Our family friend Amanda and her fiance Dave had their engagement party the weekend before Halloween. It was a costume theme/halloween theme and everyone dressed up, danced and had a great time.

It also marked the first night EVER that Leah spent the night away from Matt and me. I was sad. Really sad. Yes I know I go out after 11 and come home at 4am so I don't always spend the night with her but she is always with Matt if not with me, if not both of us. It was her first sleepover.

Ruth made it extra special by getting Leah her very own Elmo pjs and her very own Disney Princesses sheet set for Matt's old bed. Lindsay came over and they had an awesome night. It was a great night had by all. And Leah couldn't have been in better hands.

Here are pics of Matt and me, and some friends from the night. Matt is dancing!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

:) Today is Ruth's birthday. Unfortunately we were unable to wish her a happy birthday in person but we are all going out to a brunch at Four on Sunday :) And Leah is having her first official sleepover on Saturday.

Pretty exciting stuff right there

Our lil fairy

Leah loves to play dressup and I've been collecting some fantastic dress up costumes.

This one may be her Halloween costume or it may not be but she will get many hours of play out of it.







I know I am biased being she is my daughter and all but how could anyone believe this girl is not beautiful!!!!

Apples & Ketchup

Looking for a healthy alternative to hamburgers and fries at McDonalds?

Try Leah's combo of apple slices and ketchup!




I know what you are thinking "Well just cause she did it once doesn't mean she'd do it again..."

Well you are wrong. Cause she ate all six apple slices this way. I shouldn't talk, I put salt on mine...

I'm a hat girl

Oh a rasta girl, I have't quite figured it out yet but Leah loves this hat that her Nana Bernice made for her. She will never wear it in the cold but around the house-no problem.

More fairs

Later during the evening I talked Matt into driving over to Huntington for their street fair, well fair in the park.



We ate some yummy fair food. Arepas with cheese :) Leah ate nearly all of her arepa.

Street Fairs

I love street fairs, Matt cannot stand them. But every fall and spring he gets dragged to them.

I had a good time at the Farmingdale Street Fair. And I got some nice things for Leah's room. We went with Ruth and George. I enjoy these types of things with Matt's parents, especially his mom cause she seems to enjoy it as much as I do.

Some pics of course.



We found Leahland.

Off to the pumpkin patch

Today Kitti, Guy , Delilah, Leah and me all went to Schmitts Farm to pick pumpkins. It was a gorgeous fall day. The sky blue and the clouds wonderfully white. The girls had a great time running and climbing throughout the playground. Then it was off to pick pumpkins.

We all had a wonderful time. I love being able to share days and memories like today with Kitti, Guy and Delilah. I love that Leah is able to have Delilah in her life.

Pumpkin carving

After picking pumpkins Matt and Leah carved our first Halloween pumpkin together.

Beautiful Start To Autumn

Matt took us pumpkin picking today. It was an impromptu outing and we enjoyed every bit of it. Leah thought all the pumpkins in the same place was the best thing ever. She ate up the hayride, couldn't get enough of it.

Matt & Leah on hayride


Matt showing Leah how to pick the perfect pumpkin


Leah Spots A "Big One"

Butterflies Are In The Air

This is the time of year when Monarch butterflies hatch and fly around everywhere for about 2 weeks before they die. We have a lot of them around us. So I go with Leah outside and we try to catch them. We never do but she seems to enjoy it.

We got her a purple butterfly canopy for her bed.

She loves it.



Leah singng "No More Monkeys Jumping On The Bed"