January 1, 2010 - The New Christmas lunch with the Staley's

We headed over to Uncle Gary and Aunt Carol's house for a whole lot of cousin time! Mama's cousin Allison was in town from North Carolina and we sure do miss their family, especially those girls Madison and Maiya!

Riley and Colin being quite silly / Madi and Maiya

Colin giving Mama his present opening faces

Super cool new roller skates!!!

Colin taking our self portrait / then taking Aunt Lissa and Kivrin's picture!

Colin's first experience playing wii and hopefully won't again for a long time (from the non-video game fan Mama :) but his cousins did a great job teaching him how to play!

January 1, 2010 - The New Christmas morning

New Year's / New Christmas morning at Papa Staley's house!

Colin checks 'under the tree' to see if Santa and his reindeer have come... and they did! They ate the santa mice, milk and the reindeer chomped some of the carrots. There were also new presents for Colin from Santa, who knew where to follow him from Milwaukee!

Some book reading and snuggling before present time began!

December 31, 2009 - Mama's bubble bunny!

Mama found her favorite nightgown from when she was a little girl... and Colin fit right into it! He did some twirls and dancing in it before putting on his own pj's for the night.

Couldn't find a picture of Mama in the same nightgown, but a comparison picture around the same age. I think we're related :)

December 31, 2009 - Kvirin's new games

Kivrin, where's your....

Chin?

Ears?

Cheeks?

December 31, 2009 - The New Christmas at Nana's

We celebrated the 'New Christmas' this year a few times... and on NYE evening at Nana's house!

family get together picture

Colin, Mama and Kivrin / Kivrin opening presents

Nana made aprons for all of the cousins... that have the family favorite cookie recipe on the material of the apron! There was just one minor adjustment within the sewing :)

Plenty o' presents to open! / At the dinner table... hmm, who does Kivrin take after talking on the phone all the time?

December 30, 2009 - checkers with Papa

Papa teaching Colin how to play checkers

December 30, 2009 - big traveler

Colin is becoming a super traveler, helpful and fun for everyone at the airport!

Leaving MKE airport for our 'New Christmas' festivies in STL this holiday season

December 22, 2009 - Christmakuh 2009

An early appearance from Santa brought a special night of celebration and Christmas present opening!

Here's the tree after Santa and his reindeer brought Colin's presents

Santa and Colin

A toast at our Christmakuh dinner with MKE Aunties Melissa and Marissa!

Marissa and Colin posing with his new hockey sticks! / Colin showing off his cool magic show set from Auntie Melissa!

Pushing his new leaping lemur friend around on the greatest 'Snow Monster' snowboard ever!

Playing with his new robot dinosaur, learning the attack moves! / Mama and Colin in our Christmas crowns

December 20, 2009 - little reader

Colin loves to read books. Whether read to him, listened to on a cd in the car, him reading them himself and making up elaborate stories to go with the pictures, or starting to memorize read Dr. Suess words, it's his favorite pastime!

December 20, 2009 - out and about

An afternoon of Third Ward fun (with some to go popcorn from the Public Market), ice skating at Red Arrow Park and visiting the amazing Christmas tree at Bayshore (there is a little bitty Colin and Mama in front of the tree if you look very closely! :)

December 19, 2009 - play date with the Reas

A morning play date with the Reas, always a lovely time!

Of course we couldn't leave out the bouncy house fun!