Christmas Morning

With just Bill and I home on Christmas morning, Reagan took much quicker unwrapping than anyone would have thought. In fact, she barely even looked at what she opened, she was just ready to move on unwrapping.

Reagan frequently "teaches the kids". She goes to work as a teacher just about everyday. Santa found Fisher Price's Preschool for her this year so she actually has something else to pretend with besides air.

Pap Dorsey stopped by that morning. Reagan got a fairy tent and sleeping bag which she was pretty excited about.

ART!! LOTS OF ART STUFF!!

Allie thoroughly enjoyed her Christmas present and even let us open up our gifts without being obnoxious (meaning trying to sit on our laps as we opened presents as well as sneaking bites of wrapping paper, which we envisioned happening...hence, the bone.)

We had a super Christmas this year. In leui of exchanging presents, Billy and I bought a TV. a 50" DLP, which is nothing short of awesome!!!

Stay tuned for Christmas afternoon with Pappy and MawMaw and Aunt Carrie's house the day after...

Holiday Parties 2 & 3

Yesterday we were off to the next two christmas parties.

Check out this pouty face...

First stop was Christmas with my other Grandma and my dad's side of hte family. She had dinner catered this year by Diane's Catering. It's a local woman that does catering out of her house. She has AWESOME food. She's catered some school luncheon's too and my belly is always very satisfied. Reagan and MawMaw Izzy. She got Reagan a Rescue Pack with card games in it and a stroller and new baby.

Reagan, Bailee, and Lani decide to get in some holiday coloring.

Next stop was the Trent's...Bill's family.
Reagan still hasn't gotten in to the whole tearing open presents. She is just pained by the whole messy process. She instead has to, first, make sure no one is watching and then gently tear small piece by small piece. She looks all around for some trash receptical or hands it to me. Hopefully, Christmas morning doesn't take three days because, thinking it would be fun, Santa wrapped EVERYTHING, and individually.

While all the other kids tore into their presents, here's Reagan's gentle unwrapping approach. We don't have OCD or anything ;)

Reagan held the newest addition to the Trent clan...Ricky. He's 3-months-old.

Here are the other set of girls...Audrey, Aubree, and Reagan. How confusing can that get?!
The Bennett boys decide they could join for a group pic. My nephew Josh is on the left and nephew Isaac is next to Reagan holding baby Ricky (reluctantly).

Also, I met my SIL Carrie's new friends, Tiffany and Abby, who joined us. They recently moved to the area, and know no one. Carrie befriended them. Tiffany is our age and seems really nice. She is deaf, so, boy, let me tell you how much I need to brush up on my signs!! I haven't really used them much, so I can sign on a toddler and preschool level. But, she's super helpful with reminding or teaching new signs.

We haven't established a Christmas Eve tradition yet. When i was little, we always went to my Grandma's. She has it early now (that's the one we went to yesterday). So, this year anyway, we are having MawMaw and Pappy up to eat and probably take Reagan to see the lights.

Stay tuned for Christmas morning. Maybe we should start early :)

Guess Who Came to Town...

UNCLE JIM!!!

Jim wasn't here for his bday, so Reagan helped him open his gift not long after he got to the house.

We celebrated Christmas with one of my grandma's last night. Reagan did the typical stay at her table until it was over than ran around like a crazy girl.

Pappy helps Reagan open the first gift of the season. Good thing there are a few warm up parties before the big morning. She opened at a snail's pace.

She got Sarah Lynn's camping adventure. from my grandma. She loved it!!

Coloring with Uncle Al.

Tonight is my other grandma's christmas plus Billy's side of the family. We'll see how social she is tonight.

HO HO HO

We attempted to take Reagan to see Santa tonight. Reagan took her usual no-nonsense, this-is-serious-stuff approach. She wouldn't even crack a smile. This Santa was even a nice one, unlike some of the Santa's you come across in a shopping mall. The quality of the picture isn't that great. Apparently, the setting was screwed up on the photographer's
computer. They offered to take her picture again once they fixed it, but we were pushing it just sitting there once. They even said we didn't have to buy the picture if we didn't want it. It's my Reagan though, and I wouldn't have expected much smiling and laughing anyway. It is progress from last Christmas. She "cried" last year at Breakfast with Santa in Reagan's own I-refuse-to-cry-in-front-of-people-so-I'll-just- pucker-my-lip-and-lose-it-once-it's-all-over way. Everything is so dramatic and serious with her. So, here it is the 2007 Santa picture...

Ok, yes, I have been neglecting those of you who check in regularly to see pictures of Reagan. I've been told about this from several of you.

Bill FINALLY got his Jeep back tonight. Yay!!! It's been torture trying to figure out rides to/from work and not being able to just pick up and go. Thank goodness for my mom and dad who have been my chauffeur most days.

Saturday, while we were trapped in West Liberty, Reagan and I put up the tree. Yea, I know, we're slow. Wow, was she a "help". When I came up short several pieces from the tree, I discovered Reagan had shoved them in the tree just wherever along the bottom. They, of course, blended in and I didn't know until she showed me, and wa-la the missing pieces.

Isn't this how everyone dresses to decorate the tree? :)

She loved to put on the decorations. I tried to do this in an organized fashion. Meaning, let mommy hand you non-fragile items to put on. That didn't work out so well. She was way too quick. Toddlers have octopus arms.

Last night we attempted to take pictures for greeting cards. We did some in front of the tree and some in front of the fireplace. Again, that was a no-go. She made silly faces, jumped around, or just chose not to smile. This is one of the not so bad pictures, but just not card material.

And I swear, the image you are about to see, is not what it appears...

As I was cleaning up the kitchen, I heard Reagan giggling hysterically. She and Allie had been playing in the front room. When I checked on them, Reagan had closed herself in Allie's crate with Allie and they were playing. I took her out once, and she put herself back in there two more times. They have been come very good buds, but they are both very moody girls, so it depends on the day as to what their relationship status is like.

Recently, Reagan is in to being a "cheerleader". I'm not even sure where she learned of this, but it's her new favorite activity. She took ribbons from my wrapping paper tote and is using them for pom-poms. I have pom-poms I need to dig out of my school box to give her, so she no longer needs to use the ribbons.

A few of the elementary schools in the district where I work are closing and we are doing a reconfiguration. We will have one school pre-k through 2nd and another will be 3rd through 5th. 6th grade is moving to the junior high. This means a great deal of us are, what the county is calling, "displaced". Does that not even sound bad? Anyway, to us it means we do not have a job to go to next year. They are posting all of the available positions in the new elementary schools and we have to go bid, or apply, for our jobs back and whatever other jobs we are qualified for in hopes we got something. Today, they put the jobs up and I went to bid on my job back. Let's cross our fingers and hope for the best!

SNOW DAY!!

It's the first snow day of the school year, and we decided to make cookies.We chose to make snickerdoodles, yoummy! Mix it up!
Roll it!
Sample some dough!

We were going to go outside to play in the snow, but what a day! Billy wrecked his Jeep on the way to work this morning. He's okay! But, the Jeep had some underneath damage. After the tow truck, pulled him out of the ditch, he had to take it to a garage. So, we spent most of the day making plans. Like, how do we pick up daddy? And, now how do we get all of us to work while it's being worked on? The saga never ends. Anyway, I'm sure there will be plenty of time to play in the snow another day. We have a good 7 inches outside our house now. So much for the forecasted 1-3"

HELP! SUGGESTIONS NEEDED!!!!

The sleeping thing has not gotten any better with Reagan. And I'm desperate for sleep! This weekend wasn't so bad because we were running around all weekend, so she fell asleep in the car. Short of spending the next three years driving her around, what else can I do?
I certainly don't want to begin any "accidental parenting" at this age. Bedtime has always been way too easy, well not always, but after she hit about 8 months old and the reflux was much better.

Last night she cried nonstop. In fact, she even threw up from crying. She has decided I should sleep with her in bed. I don't think so! I don't even like sharing a bed with my husband. With her little arms wrapped tightly around me, she said "But you are my best friend and I love you". What did I do, but crawl in bed with her. I snuck back to my bed eventually. This is not a habit I want to start.

Why, oh why, can't we locate blankie?! Maybe I should go on the news for a public plea. I could pass around fliers with blankies picture. Something...

Is this girl cute or what?!My SIL Carrie made Reagan this hat last year. (Audrey has a matching one). It still fits this year and she wore it around the house most of Saturday morning. According to her, "My hair is all messed up. That why I need a hat". Boy, what a vision of college days that brought.

Yesterday, while I worked I worked in Weirton, Bill and Reagan headed over to my friend Erica's to restuff her couch. Erica was kind enough to watch Reagan until I showed up later.

James (20 months), Sabrina (5yrs) and Reagan. Reagan and James were quite the pair. They actually played pretty well together, but boy, what a duo. There was a lot of squealing toddler talk in that house!

The kids decided to make a castle out of the old foam.

Here are the dynamic duo again, drawing on the chalkboard together.
Right before we left, Reagan requested Erica read her a story on the newly stuffed couch. She, apparently, made herself very much at home yesterday.

I think Reagan has finally outgrown the shy stage. It still depends on her mood, but I think the Dorsey genes are taking over. Which, I never thought I'd say this, but I'm glad. For those who don't know my lovable in-laws and husband, they have the gift of gab and have not a shy bone in their bodies. I, on the other hand, spent most of my life, super shy. Hard to believe, I know.