Christmas part 2

Here is our yearly pajama shot. Aren't we good sports?

Susannah loved her daily outings to see the ducks and geese by Mia's house. We ended up feeding them 4 loaves of bread and a box of cereal during our stay at Mia's.

Of course she liked to travel there in her new car with her shades on and her sippy cup on hand.

After the duck outing she wanted to say hello to "Moses and Barney." Uncle Steve J. helped her name them on day 1 of our trip and she still talks about them!!

She was also a big fan of this snowman. In fact, she loves snowmen in general! At Mia's we also enjoyed one of the most unusual and entertaining Christmas displays I have ever seen. Apparently a local woman had all of these parade float-like structures on her lawn at one point in time and they were quite the attraction for WF residents. After her death, the family donated them to the local college and various civic organizations maintain them throughout the year. Susannah loved the Cinderella float and the "crocodile one" (Peter Pan) and the baby Jesus. She proclaimed to everyone within earshot, "there's a buffalo in there with Baby Jesus." In all reality, it was a bull, but who's really checking anyhow?

I think this is one of two family shots we took over the Christmas holiday. It's hard to believe that next year there will be 4 people in this picture!

Christmas Part 1...finally!!

 Isn't this the way everyone should travel for the holidays? Comfy pajamas, a healthy McDonald's breakfast and a fantastic attitude? She was also very concerned that she fit in the overhead storage bin. See? She's even double-checking.

I figured it is definitely time to put some Christmas photos on this blog! We had a WONDERFUL trip to Oklahoma and returned on the 29th. We started our trip at Mia's and enjoyed doing "the Christmas morning experience" complete with toy assembly on our "Christmas Eve." It was so nice of Santa Claus to let the daddy and uncles assemble the toys!!!

 Of course, all this work was well worth it. Susannah loved the kitchen and the car, and we all enjoyed playing with both.

Susannah waited on the stairs with Uncle Luke and Ibby. The rest of us were ready with cameras and video cameras!!! Susannah loved the car and the kitchen.

A surprising favorite gift-- the chapstick in stockings. She loved putting make-up on everyone, especially the uncles!!

 

 

 

More to come...

Sooooo B-I-G!

It's hard to believe another year has passed us by. Remember this little baby-o?

 I can't believe those cheeks and that round little face! Although it was just after these pictures were taken that Susannah started crawling- December 23rd! I remember that she went straight for a blueberry that was on the floor and ate it before I could stop her! She has not stopped moving (or eating blueberr-e-e-es as she calls them).

Last year we had our family Christmas early and then headed to Rock Hill to celebrate with Matt's family. Susannah loved discovering the gifts from Santa! 

I am trying to remember why I thought this Tiger Xylophone was so cute. It is played regularly here on Knollwood Lane and can drive you to the Tylenol pretty quick!

 Chubby baby on Christmas morning...

 Hanging out with Mimi...

 Thrilled with the music box from Pop... and this is still a favorite of Susannah's. She loves to watch the horses spin around.

 Enjoying the gift- unwrapping...

This book from Aunt Emmy has helped us through many a plane ride to OK. We can read it over and over again and Susannah always finds something new to talk about. It's hard to believe our girl is growing so fast. We are looking forward to seeing her delight at Santa's stash this year! I am definitely not including any instruments!!!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

The decorations are out, the tree is trimmed and lots of ornaments have been "rearranged" (or possibly dismantled, decapitated, hidden in purses, etc.) several times. It is a whole new adventure to decorate with an elfin assistant who likes to test her limits!

This is her "I promise I was not about to break something or rip the garland off" face. "What me? Never!"

This morning we had LOTS of friends over to kick off our Christmas season with the 3rd Annual Dunbar Christmas Brunch! We I love getting all the yummy food ready and decking the halls on Knollwood Lane. Matt is a fantastic sport and even picked up leaves in the dark last night! I think it was worth it, though! What a festive little house!

 IF you look closely, you can see Susannah's new stocking. Thank you Mia for such a beautiful gift. All her friends loved it too!

Oh yes, there are presents under that tree, and luckily Susannah has not yet realized that they can be ripped open. It's a good thing, too. Most of them are for her!

 I wasn't sure if our house could hold 6 girls between 19 and 27 months, but we did. More little ones came later, but here is the largest group we had at once. From left to right- Madeline and mommy Rita; Elizabeth and mommy Laura; Susannah and me; Berkeley and mommy Meg; Ella Grace and mommy Emily; and Natalie and mommy Coleman. The daddies were here too, but they were busy chatting and eating- and taking our pictures! We are so thankful for all of our wonderful friends!

It's beginning to look a LOT like Christmas here at the Dunbar house! Merry Christmas to you!

These Boots Are Made For Walkin'

This girl is hip. This girl is stylish. She knows tall boots are all the rage

 and the girl knows how to wear them- over her pants!

 She has them in both black...

and brown!!! Work it Suz!

I Just Called...

to say I Love You! The End!

Susannah has spent A LOT of time on the phone lately. She "calls" various members of our family to ask how they are doing, tell them she misses them and loves them and usually ends with some kind of greeting, i.e. Trick or Treat, Happy Thanksgiving, Night-Night, Merry Christmas, etc.

This morning when I brought her out for breakfast, she ran to her phone, picked it up and had the following conversation:

Hi Uncle Steve J! How are you? I miss you! I love you! Do you have a Christmas tree at your house- with lights? Night, night. Bye-bye. The End!" 

You know, you spend those first several months dreaming of the days when your baby can talk to you and tell you what she needs/wants. Well, for me those days seem so long ago.