Merry Christmas from Max

WARNING!!! NOT FOR THE QUEASY STOMACH READERS!


This year Max had to stay home because Nancy has too many stairs and we didn't want Max to hurt his back by trying to go down them so we left him home. We checked the house before we left to make sure we hadn't left any candy down in his reach and saw nothing! Well apparently we didn't look hard enough because Max left us a wonderful Christmas present. Rhonda had given Elli some clothes in a box that had a lid and all and I guess when we were packing up the night before I had stuck a box of chocolate in there as well. I forgot about it but Max found it. The box was up on the ottoman with the lid on the box! When we came home last night we didn't hear any barking and we weren't greeted at the door so we knew something was up. We didn't notice anything immediately. Until I walked into the dining area....There was puke everywhere!!!! Two piles by the table, one by the bar and one in front of his bed. I then found pieces of the chocolate box in the living room and the rest of the box under the Christmas tree!!! The large box of clothes had been knocked off the ottoman, the lid taken off and the box of chocolates unwrapped and eaten!! This dog went crazy!!! I wasn't worried since he obviously threw up quite a bit but I was PISSED!!!! The worst part...after Ray cleaned up everything on Christmas night...we found more! When I was sitting on the couch this morning I noticed my butt was wet. I got up and moved the cushion. BEHIND the cushion there was puke! Seriously!!! We had to take the couch apart and wash it. As I was doing that I looked over and there was MORE puke under the dining table!!!! Can you imagine how mad I was? Stupid dog is more trouble than he is worth!!! GRRRRRR Anyone want a dachshaund?
This is the rest of the Pot of Gold chocolate box found under the tree
Some pieces of the chocolate box...WAY too close to the new car seat!
Pile #1 by the table and recycling
Pile #2 by the bar and the new TV
Pile #3 by the table and Elli's new toy
Pile #4 in front of his bed
Pile #5 under the dining table
And pile #6 behind the couch cushion!
The back of the seat cushion!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We got up around 7:30 for our Christmas morning. It was wonderful to relax and enjoy our morning with our yummy cinnamon roll and our fire on the TV. I have been sick since Tuesday and Elli started getting fussy last night and didn't sleep too well, poor girl! Max got a bed for Christmas this year. He got it a few weeks early since we can't hide a bed from him but he did get some treats in his stocking. Elli got socks, binks, bibs, bottles and hair things in her stocking this year. She also just got clothes from us this year to save money. We knew everyone else would get her toys and books and since she doesn't understand it yet we didn't want to go overboard. The big present she got from Grandma & Grandpa was a new carseat! They got the best one out there! The Britax Marathon and she loves sitting in a big girl seat now! She will be able to see out the window now and she loves sitting instead of laying back so the seat will be nice. Ray got me clothes! Sad they didn't fit my baby pooch but we will go and exchange them soon! He also got me a new jacket that I love! It is teal and has a hood. A great fall/winter jacket! I got Ray an ipod shuffle with a gift card for itunes. He had forgotten he had even asked for one so he was pretty surprised! Now I just need to help him get his music on there! :) With her stocking from Mommy & Daddy
Her BIG present
She loves her new seat!


After we finished our Christmas we headed back out to Duvall for our stockings at Ray's mom's house. Elli got more bibs, books and socks! She had a blast playing with Zack all morning! She thought it was so funny every time he would lick her! She looked her cutest ever with her Christmas dress & sweater. We got a family shot, I'm not too happy with me in it but I will deal. :)


The Isom familyTrying to get a good photo...not working well...
Checking out what is in her stocking


We then headed over to my Aunt Nancy's on Novelty Hill. We got to spend the rest of the day there so that was wonderful! We don't usually get to stay long because we are going to Duvall so it was nice to go to Duvall first! We had a wonderful beef roast dinner with TONS of food and dessert for all 27 of us! I love having a big family, I couldn't imagine not having them in my life! We had fun playing games, opening gifts and just being together. I had Jesse this year in the drawing. He is pretty tough to buy for, what 14 year old boy that has everything isn't? He was getting a new bed for Christmas so Nancy gave me the idea for these fleece sheets. He loved them! He was excited for his new bed too! No more twin bed! He can actually fit! Ray had Aunt Karen and I picked out a scarf for her, and then we went together and picked out some earrings and a cashmere argyle sweater for her. She seemed to like everything. :) Elli got lots of toys and books from everyone! She had so much fun with the new stacking cups from the Blanks! Jesse had Ray this year and he went in with Grandma & Grandpa and got him a Keurig machine! He is excited to use it and not waste pots of coffee anymore! Nancy had me and got me Photoshop! I am so excited to start playing around with it! Janae taught all the kids how to play Kemps. It really is a drinking game from college, we just played without the drinking. Kyle and Ryan were teamed up and they dominated the game for sure! Elli still wasn't feeling to well, very snotty, so she took a long nap through most of the gift opening. She then got a bottle from Jaime and took another nap with her! :) Jaime just loved being able to kiss her and feed her with no gloves on since those things aren't allowed in the NICU. She did hang out with Aunt Nancy and checked out the train around the tree. She thought that was pretty fun! :)
So excited to see her Auntie Missa!
Some of the cousinsHer new stacking cups that also turn into balls!Napping with Jaime after her bottle
Checking out Uncle Dirk's train!

Twas the night before Christmas

After I got off of work at 3pm I picked up Elli from my parents and drove home very quickly! I picked Ray up and we were off to Duvall. Ray and Elli went over to his Grandpa's house in Duvall. I didn't go because I was sick and didn't want to be around Grandpa Frank, a cold would be a very serious problem for him. Shawna hadn't been feeling too great either so she came over to his mom's a little later and we got dinner started while watching 'A Christmas Story'. We had Stouffer's lasagna, salad and garlic bread. It was so good! After dinner we all sat down to open presents! Elli of course was very spoiled and got soooo many clothes! She also got a great new floor mat with hanging things from Grandma (see future posts for photos). Mom got both of us and Randy and Shawna TVs. It will be wonderful to have a new flat screen for our bedroom!! Shawna of course loved the notebook, notepad and framed photo of Elli! She is the one person I know that I can always get a photo gift for and she adores it! We also made an Elli calendar for Rhonda and she loved that as well! Randy and Shawna got Ray and I a $50 gift card to the zoo! That will be so wonderful to use this summer to take Elli to see all the animals!! It was a wonderful evening with family and great gifts!

Twas the morning before Christmas

On Christmas Eve I had to work but my parents had it off so I took Elli over there before work to open her stocking. As you can see there was a lot more than just a stocking for her. :) Her big present was at home with us to open the next morning. She was interested in some of the gifts and of course the wrapping paper. She looked super cute in her pink snowflake jammies! My adorable little girl!! It was nice to have a special morning with my parents before it got busy with the rest of the family there! I also had my parents open the presents from us. We got my dad movies (of course), candy, mouse pad with photos of Elli and under armor for football. He thought we spent too much but I did great with sales for him! :) We made my mom a photo book of Elli. That is all she asked for. I think my Dad loved it almost more than she did! :) But they both enjoyed their presents. They got Ray and I tickets to Billings for Isaac's 1st birthday in February! We are sooooooo excited to go and see my vbf!!

Elli and all her stocking presents....
The best present ever!!
Helping her open a new toy
She loves her books
The monkey tastes good
Shapes in a bucket
oh boy a Veggie Tales!
Really? These are for me?
Starting off early with saving her pennies!
Checking some stuff out
Ending presents with a bottle from Grandpa!

Fun Christmas Day!

Today was such a great day spent with Olga (GramO) and Jordan (Uncle J)! Elli & Uncle J

We met up at The Cheesecake Factory for lunch. Elli was a little cranky the whole time so it made for a difficult lunch. On the way to the mall I told Ray that I had to try really really hard to keep my patience since I knew the mall would be crazy. Well that didn't even make it through lunch...Ray got his fish & chips well before anyone else. Well then about 10 mins after Ray had gotten his lunch and 5 mins after O & J got their food I finally got my burger and fries. I ate about 5 french fries after having to ask a 2nd time for my honey mustard...since he didn't write down our order when he took it...and 2 bites from my burger when I saw a hair on my plate wrapped through my fries. So I totally lost my appetite for the rest of my lunch and when they offered a new one I didn't want anything else from the kitchen. They then offered a piece of cheesecake so I did take that and chose the new Red Velvet cheesecake. We asked the waiter for some warm water for Elli's bottle and while waiting Elli knocked over Ray's soda. It went all over Ray's legs and all over the seat! The floor was covered as well and started getting dirty from our shoes and the sticky soda! Poor Ray was all sticky the rest of the day! Well after waiting for the warm water I asked for I finally got up to go to the bathroom for water for her bottle. While in the bathroom I really lost my patience...I got back to the table chanting patience. :)

After lunch we headed over to see Santa!! The line looked super long but I think we only waited about 30 minutes. Elli slept for most of the wait but woke up happy so that was nice. We tried SOOOO hard to get her to smile. Even Buddy the Elf :) tried to help but she just stared. 'I get to see who?'

She also got to take a photo with Uncle J! She did a great job for her age I think! Elli & GramO

At least no screaming! :) We also stopped to take a few photos in front of the big tree in the middle of the mall.

Then Elli's Christmas present from GramO was to go to Build-A-Bear! She picked out Holly the Moose over Mischevious Monkey. It was such a fun experience even if she didn't understand everything. We got the lullaby sound. They have you warm up the heart, pat it, touch it to your head to be smart, to the ears to hear all Elli's secrets, to the eyes to see, to the nose to smell good, kisses, touched to the heart and make a wish and then we each put our heart in before it is sewn up. :) We chose skinny jeans, a pink top with hearts and some adorable pink glasses. :) Holly the Moose

Now we just need to think of a name! :)

So even though lunch didn't go too well the rest of the day made up for it! What a wonderful day spent with some of my favorite people!

Weekends Are Too Short

It has been another busy weekend! On Saturday we ran to Costco to get diapers & Christmas cards, then off to Kohl's to use our $10 Kohl's cash - our total at checkout was only $6.50 for 4 items!! Then we headed out to Duvall to celebrate with Rhonda for her birthday. We went over to Pickle Time in Duvall for a delicious burger! We then just hung out at the house watching the Husky game. That night Ray and I finished cleaning up the living/dining table and he put the lights up around our window. Then we sat down and watched '17 Again'. It was pretty good, I liked the message and there was definately some funny parts. This morning we all got up and went to the outlet mall in North Bend to get Elli some jeans. We found a lot more than jeans! She is definately going to be well dressed after Christmas!! On the way home I decided we could just get a real tree this year and really really buy a fake one after Christmas this year! So once we got it home we got it all decorated with Elli watching the whole time...well between the Seahawks game and the tree! Now I'm hoping to enjoy either a movie or some of my shows this evening before having to go back to work again.