Christmas!!

Christmas. It is much more awesome with a three year old.

Alyssa was very excited for Christmas. A couple of nights before Christmas we each opened a present. Erik got me a new camera and Alyssa was super willing to pose for me that night. It mostly meant she didn't have to go to bed!! She opened a game called Sleeping Queens which has been a smashingly fun game for the entire family!!

We spent Christmas Eve Eve, which was our nuclear family Christmas Eve with the Sisters and our home teachers! After they left we drove to see a spectacular light and music show. It was flashy! When we got home we put out cookies and milk and went to bed. We told Alyssa she had to stay in her room so Santa could come. She told us she would shut her door and not come out...and that is exactly what she did! It was remarkable because she is notorious for finding excuses to stay up until 10 PM or so!

Christmas (Eve) morning we discovered Santa had remembered us! Alyssa got earrings (magnetic) which she wore for 20 minutes. 

Here favorite present was a doll car seat from Grandma. It was proclaimed her favorite from her own lips! Now the dolls can ride in style! It was particularly ridiculous when we caroled with Erik's family. She would bring the everything up with her to each door! After two doors she started just bringing the baby, but she insisted the baby be re-buckled after every house!

Our apartment complex had a kids Christmas party a few days before Christmas. Each child received a gift. Alyssa got this doll - Sally - who laughs and kicks when you squeeze her. I was practicing my photography skills...

After a delicious breakfast of orange cinnamon bubble bread (a slight variation of my moms orange rolls mixed with cinnamon rolls all concocted with left-over Rhodes rolls in a bundt pan) we headed off to Texas. Alyssa is a stellar driving companion.

Upon arriving in Texas we had a fiesta and then prepared the traditional Christmas Eve Archibald Caroling Extravaganza!! Erik played the drum.

Margaret played the "zzzzst zzzzst-er". She also coordinated the whole thing and selected the songs, which were Feliz Navidad, Jingle Bells, and Silent Night - very important.

Alyssa walked around crazy-like and occasionally sang and shook the jingle bells.

Maria played that thing down there.

Doug played the tuba, Jim, the guitar, Danielle (fam friend), the tambourine, and I sang...la la la la la.

After caroling we went to bed and revealed to Alyssa that Santa was coming - again! Christmas morning was loads of fun. Alyssa a child size children's song book with a case! She spent the day singing and playing from it! Alyssa loves loves loves to sing. She mastered Picture a Christmas, Jingle Bells, Silent Night, and the Holly and the Ivy this year!

See? Singing emphatically!

Alyssa did all of our present delivering. It really sped up the gift giving process!!

The day was complete with a nap on the couch! We flew kites, got said kites stuck in trees, rescued said kites, ate food, reenacted the nativity, and enjoyed fun and family! We also got to talk to Claire who is serving in Orlando! She is awesome and optimistic! It was a wonderful, magical two days of Christmas! Alyssa was a little disappointed when we told her Santa was not coming the next day.

A documentation dump

The year is frantically coming to a close and despite my best intentions, I feel like I hardly was able to capture all that we did on this little space of mine! Erik and I agree that it has felt like the fastest year of our life. Between a new job, a new place, and our ever growing daughter that awes us day in and day out we have had quite the year. We've had adventures and trials, opportunities for growth and a deepening of our faith in God.

For posterity's sake, and just in case I really want to go back and throw in some documentation from some of our year's events, here is a list of the adventures we went on as well as other monumental milestones.

:: moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi from Delaware (boo hoo)
:: Emily joined MOPS to meet other moms in the area
:: Erik began working at ARA
:: Erik turned 27
:: Emily turned 25
:: Alyssa and Emily began attending story time regularly at the library
:: We joined the Mississippi Children's Museum in Jackson
:: Emily ran her first 10K - Run Through History
:: We went camping along the Natchez Trace
:: We went to Dallas for April General Conference
:: Alyssa turned THREE!
:: Alyssa FINALLY declared potty trained
:: Emily and Alyssa went to Utah because Ben came home from Calgary!! (Best parental surprise to date)
:: Emily went to girls' camp and Alyssa spent the week with Nana, Papa, and Maria
:: Family trip to Durango, Colorado with the Nelsen clan - saw the mountains, wild flowers, Mesa     Verde, a random 4th of July parade, fireworks, Silverton, Old Hundred Mine, a rock mill, rafted the Lower Animas River, and camped under a full moon (so bright!)
:: Erik ran the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon with Doug, Taylor, Krystalee and others
:: Emily and Alyssa played at Nana's house with Maria and Fife
:: Claire came to visit = tour of Vicksburg
:: Erik participated in 1st triathlon
:: We went to Dallas for October General Conference
:: Erik, Emily, and Alyssa ran "Over the River" in a stellar race
:: Emily and Alyssa went to Utah for funsies
:: Met the Archibalds in Florida for a Pensacola Thanksgiving
:: Emily and Alyssa went to Utah for Grandpa Nelsen's funeral
:: Emily participated in the Vicksburg Chamber Choir
:: Attended the temple, went to the swamp, the library, and Barnes and Noble multiple times in Baton Rouge
:: Celebrated 5 years of marriage
:: Spent Christmas in Vicksburg and Dallas

It's been real this year. So much happens and it all seems to happen so fast. I wish I could adequately document it and hold it all in my memory as clearly as when it happened, but I can't. So I shall strive to not lament what I forget, but strive to be grateful for what I have been able to experience. Who I am today has been determined by each day I live. I am thankful we are happy and healthy and that even though we have days where tantrums blanket my memory and disappointments consume me, they pass and we are able to move on again, happy and with hope!

Jingle Bells

This Christmas we caroled. It turns out carolers in Vicksburg are unusual! We had a good time. Erik played the guitar and Alyssa and I were the singers! Before we went Alyssa grabbed her mini set of drums and wanted to bring them. It looks like the Archibald caroling instrumentation extravaganza will continue on for generations to come!

Caroling is (sometimes awkward) an opportunity to share the love of Christmas and the spirit of Christ. In a time and season when the world is easily distracted, it is wonderful to focus on the Savior. It gives our family the chance to do something simple for others and help them feel joy!

A Few Pictures from Oo-taw.

That time we sang "Happy Birthday" for Family Home Evening

The day was October 20th. I made muffins for a play group. It eventually evolved into playing birthday party. By the end of the day Alyssa was pretty convinced we needed to sing happy birthday and blow out candles. It fit in nicely with family home evening treat and it even happened to be Alyssa's half birthday!

The smallest one was Madeline

Alyssa decided a couple of months ago she would be Madeline for Halloween.

A couple of weeks ago she declared I should be Miss Clavel.

Erik was the White House Fence Jumper. He had a White House Track and Field shirt he designed and then we made this little sugar cookie scene to describe his costume. 

It was a merry Halloween. We had a library story time party, a trunk or treat, a singing time play group party, a work party, and a little neighborly trick or treating. At one point on Wednesday Alyssa asked if Halloween was over...nope! We still had a lot more to do! Alyssa was pretty thrilled with all the candy and she wore her costume almost 3 days straight. That makes all the sewing worth it!

Sharing Candy

Today Alyssa said, "Can you eat some candy with me really quick?"

Sure! Why not?

So she we shared together the joy of eating a Starburst. And she was proud she shared.

Today was Sally's day

Alyssa unearthed a bunch of stuffed animals this morning. Among them was a small beanie dog. Alyssa named her Sally and then took her everywhere. She went on a walk with us, with a leash, "walking" almost the entire time. She came to the store and played outside. It is odd and highly entertaining how these things come about. It keeps me smiling, so I will just be grateful!

This is like one of those paparazzi photos of celebrities!

Temple day

This weekend we had temple day on Saturday. Alyssa drives to Baton Rouge with us and then she and one parent gets to do fun things in the area while the other parent is in the temple. This time I got to go to the swamp with her. We saw turtles and some snakes, which gives me the willies. We also went for a hike. The weather was perfectly lovely! It was such a fun day!

Looking up...

at the trees!

Some people sport pens in the pocket, Alyssa prefers carrots!

It is not always easy taking Alyssa to the temple with us. It makes the day really long. But her testimony of the importance of the temple is growing each day and she is always excited to go!

He's a jalous guy!

Alyssa: "He's very jalous with his mustache on."

Emily: "Oh, you mean jealous?"

 Alyssa: "No, Jalous. Jalous means cute. He's a jalous guy!"

These are direct quotes for Alyssa as she colored Elmo! Alyssa is starting to make up words when she doesn't know what else to say, and it is the makings for very entertaining conversations.

We spend 95 % of our free time coloring these days.