Celebrations

Christmas was absolutely wonderful this year. We began our festivities on Wednesday by going to church with my family and the Baranowski's. This has been a tradition now for the past 3-4 years. After church, we went to my parents for drinks and dinner. I love going to Orchard Groove for their Christmas Celebration. Lilly also enjoyed herself. Christmas Eve was spent with my dad's side. We are so large, that we have our gathering at a hall. We had dinner and caught up with family we don't see often. Later in the evening, Santa came. Lilly's face changed the minute she saw Santa walk in. She said "no" even before I asked her if she wanted to sit in his lap. When her name was called, she held me so tight, she was pretty scared of him. So, we went up together to get her stocking and I didn't even try to sit her on his lap. Lilly loves "ho, ho, ho", when he isn't real!
Christmas morning we opened gifts as a family. Lilly loved opening her presents. It was so much fun watching her. Later in the morning my parents came over and we had breakfast. In the afternoon, we went to my sisters and celebrated with my moms side. Later that evening we did our family exchange. My parents spoiled the kids! and us too. Another tradition in our family is to find our stockings. My mom finds great pleasure in watching us find them! It's fun for us too! The in laws had the most trouble haha!!
We all stayed the night at my sisters and played games when the kids went to bed.
The next morning Saylor made his yummy breakfast! Our final Christmas was today (Sunday). We had Ryan's family over. Again, Lilly got lots of gifts!
We are so lucky to have such giving families! Thanks to you all~

This morning, we took Lilly sledding. She had a smile on her face the entire time! Here are a few pictures.

Lilly Lately: She continues to talk more and more. Some of her new lines are "Oh Man", "get down" (this is to Whitaker when he is trying to get her food). She surprised us the other day when I held up the yellow crayon and asked her the color, she said "lellow" and then same with red, "wed". I was shocked! She found a love for the Christmas tree, or should I say she loved to torture Ryan and I by purposing running her stroller into it, or backing into it. That's our girl! Sassy as can be:)
We love her so much!!

Hope your holidays were as bright as you hoped!
Love,
Kelli

Lilly and Ryan on the carousel at Canterbury Village

Me and Lilly on the Carousel ride at Canterbury Village

Thanksgiving Day ( Looks like her first day of school)

Stung by a wasp ( look at her poor cheek and eye)

We had a great Thanksgiving! We spent the day with my family at my grandmas. Lilly played and danced with Preston and we all cheered them on! It's not a Santiago get together without dancing!! Lately, it's been the kids and not the adults!
On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, poor Lilly was stung by a wasp. Yes, I know in the middle of November. And, it was in our house. A wasp was wrapped up in her blanket as she was nuzzling her face in the blanket. She started screaming and holding her face. We looked and looked and didn't see anything, until I noticed a wasp fly out of her blanket. If you know Ryan, he is not a fan of bees and wasps so you can imagine the reaction he had! Her left cheek and eye swelled up right away. Thanks to a few friends advice we gave her Benadryl. The next morning, her eye was still pretty swollen, so I took her to the dr. We weren't sure if this was an allergic reaction. It wasn't. She just swells more than others. On top of that, Lilly is allergic to nuts, so we really have to watch with her.
Late that week, we went to Canterbury Village (where Ryan and got married). We went with my mom and dad. For those that don't know, there's a Christmas Village behind the castle. It's really fun! We walked around and took Lilly on the Carousel. She loved it.

Lilly Lately: Lilly loves to say "thank you", she is just so polite! She has also learned to say "peeese" when she wants something. She says it with her head tilt and her hands under her chin. How can we say no to that! Lilly say's "whats that" when she hears an odd noise. When you ask her a question she'll answer you with "yeah". She loves her cousin Malaina. I watched her the other day and Lilly helped me with diaper changes. She's still not eating that well... but can always get her to eat oatmeal before the end of the night. Finally, I we cleaned out the basement and Lilly loves to play there.

Happy Winter~ I'm looking forward to a little sprinkle of snow. Call me crazy... I know:)
Kelli