December 26 --- It just keeps going...and going...

Final Christmas post --- I promise! After Emerson's nap on Christmas Day, we packed up and headed to Lancaster. We had a really fun evening with Mia and Poppy, and were joined the next day by Harper, G.G., Great Great Aunt Norma, and Great Aunts Lala and Beth. We had a housefull! Lots of laughs with this family...always helps when the booze is aplenty. Isn't that what the holidays are all about though?

Emerson had a blast with Harper, and we were all spoiled with gifts. It was really sweet when Harper got there and took a few minutes to warm up to everyone, Emerson would ask her, "Harper...come play? Harper...come play?"

We wrapped up Christmas at Mia and Poppy's with the extended Lineberger kin. Phew...I'm kinda glad this Christmas is finally over! Seemed like it might never end!

Always a kiss for Mia.

Emerson was almost as excited as Jason was for the backpack blower!

Giving Auntie Jessi a very special book from Emerson...all about Aunties and why she is so special to him.

Safety first.

Emerson was helping Harper warm up by eating her grapes. Whaaaaa?

Coloring time! Harper has this ability to curl up into the tiniest little ball. And she seems to only weigh as much as Emerson's left leg. So fun to have a sweet little girl around.

Just chilling out a bit with Poppy, and Great Aunts Lala and Beth

Love his face in this. Getting a kick out of Harper's remote control car! Likely going after Sheffield with it. This kid is such an "Elmira" with the pets. Loves them so much it hurts...them.

Holy Moly! Look who decided to make an appearance! You'd think he'd be exhausted on the 26th...not so!

One little girl jumped right up there! And what a cool gift! Look at those flames!



Emerson took some coaxing. Harper was nearby for moral support.



A blue flame helmet for Emerson! Whatever will they need these helmets for?

From Poppy and Mia! Lots of fun times ahead on the Jeep!

Having a blast! Just need a little help steering.

Harper's turn to drive...you can see that Emerson is thrilled.

"Oh, there's a radio? OK. I'm cool." (Check out that smile from Harper!)

Back inside...what a fun day!

Harper poses with her feet...she's so funny!

The whole fam damily.

Christmas Round 3...a total success!

And here's G.G. telling Jason where the marshmallow hit her. Yes, that's right. Jason hit my Grandma in the eye with his marshmallow gun. Yes, that's right. Jason has a marshmallow gun.

Santa Claus came to town...and UNLOADED!

This is a big year for Emerson and Christmas. He's starting to get the concept. Jesus. Santa. Elves. Gifts. There are so many things to understand, that I feel like this year is really setting the stage for next year. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at our house, which we've done since we moved here 5 years ago. We're still establishing a lot of our traditions, which is really fun! We have all the traditionals, but a few unique traditions mixed in!

We had a really lovely Christmas, surrounded by family.

After Em placed his new ornament on the tree, and found the Christmas pickle, he and Jason placed the star on the tree as we read the blessing.

New jammies are a must on Christmas Eve. For children AND adults! I think Emerson looks like he should be sleeping in "Whoville" in these.

Enjoying poppycorn and a movie - The Polar Express. Emerson loved it! Who wouldn't?...It's a great flick.

We were even so lucky to get some snowflakes!

Emerson set out cookies for Santa. One of each treat. A nice sampler for the fat guy.

Oopies. Sorry, Santa. We observe the 3-second rule in this house.

One of a million pictures like this.

Using his new snow shovel to clean up the styrofoam.

Now...batteries and assembly. Glad to have an extra set of hands from Uncle Jared for this.

Whew. What a day! And it's only Noon! We still have to go to Mia and Poppy's after a nap!

PTO Rocks

PTO = Paid Time Off...This note is mostly for my Dad, who will undoubtedly have no idea what this acronym means.

As a Mom who works outside the home, I get crazy excited for big chunks of time that I get to spend at home with Emerson. I love a day where Em can play, and I can spend some time catching up on laundry, cleaning, cooking. I secretly love having dinner ready when Jason gets home from work. Naptime is kind of awesome too, and gives me a chance to clean up DVR. I always try to take time off work around the holidays, and the last few years, I've been able to take off the last 2 weeks in December. There haven't been very many lazy days around the house, since we've been running every which way to Sunday since my first day off. Nonetheless, it's been blissful getting so much time with my babe.

We squeezed in a trip to COSI to see the train exhibit, trips to the mall and everywhere else to wrap up shopping, an obligatory visit with Santa, decorating, baking, and decorating the baking. And then some. Do I really have to go back to work on January 3?



Sweetums.



After seeing Santa, we hit the food court.

Hurricane Wind Machine. AWESOME!

Look, we have straight hair!

Gingerbread Train. Emerson, you didn't eat any of the icing, did you?

Masterpiece.

Masterpiece after coconut snowstorm.

Hanging with Poppy during Day O' Baking!

We Believe in Santa! At least that's what our shirts say.

Emerson kept himself busy while we were in the kitchen.

But came in to help Auntie Jessi with the "Puppy Chow"...yums!

And to help me with the pretzels...such a big helper???

 I don't know if he actually put any decorations on the pretzels.

Christmas in Toledo

With Christmas falling on a Saturday and some time off work, we were able to spend the entire weekend before Christmas in Toledo with Mimmy and Dzia Dzia. This was the first major foray into gifts and celebration for Emerson at this age. We were so proud of how gracious and patient he was! He waited his turn to open gifts, and was so excited with each one! And check out that stylin' new haircut!

An ornery little elf.

Emerson and Kendall playing with Em's new toolset at the big Zielinski party

"My turn now?"

"Whoa!" (his response to nearly every gift)

Helping Dzia Dzia open his mini brewery

I love the excitement on his face here...epitome of a child at Christmas.

Christmas Round One...a total success!