MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year and we hope you did too! Gwen was so fun singing carols, opening presents, and getting into all the excitement. Santa is still not her thing, but at least we have picture where she is not crying :-). Our celebration of Christmas began Christmas Eve at Brad's Grandmother's house with all the Paynes. So many little kids this year made it so much fun! Santa paid a visit and added to all the excitement (for most of the kids, just not mine). So here is The Best of Awards for this year's Christmas:

The Best Santa Picture

Daddy stayed close by when Gwen went to sit near Santa.

The Best Snuggle Moment

Gwen snuggled with Grandmother for a bit before we had to go

After Grandmother's house, we headed to our next stop...Gram and Poppy's house! There the fun continued.

The Best For Speed

Joey did it again! He gave Gwen a personalized Dora Bike!

The Best Action Film

The Best Learning Tool

Ashley and Joey shared with Gwen the secrets of Purdue (the Pubs!) I am hoping she will be a slow learner!

The best Reaction

The Best Tea Party

Joey joined Gwen for her first tea party with her new tea set

The Best Awww Moment

Gram got her own gift from Gwen...can't reveal what it is yet...or Gammy would know!

The Best Display of Excitement

In the process of getting pjs on, Gwen got another burst of energy

The Best Christmas Morning

Gwen didn't even notice her big gift...her love of ornaments was too strong

The Best Smile

Gwen loved the music that this tree played and gave the cutest grin when it started to play

The Best Christmas

Gwen all dolled up (in a new dress) to head to the Tempel Christmas party.

This Christmas was wonderful and we want to say "Thank you" to everyone for making it that way. We can't wait to continue the celebration this week as we head to Chicago to spend time with the Caseys :-)

Santa is coming!!!!!!!!!!

Santa is coming, and we still have a bunch to do before he gets here!!!! However, while Gwen is busy playing with some friends, I will take the time to update on our happenings. After a rough start to this month (me being sick for a week) things have settled down a bit and Christmas decor is now up. Gwen has participated in it all. We recently purchased a new artificial Christmas tree, and she helped play with the box it came in and put the ornaments on. She has also been enjoying the musical decorations, like a reindeer that sings, as much as possible. Here she is when she discovered that it sings:

Reindeer dancing! Oh, what fun!!!!!

Here is Gwen showing everyone how she is such a great helper!

"I can show Christmas spirit"

"I can help Mommy and Daddy watch The Polar Express, and dance with the elves too"

"I can help put ornaments on the tree"

Some other fun pictures:

The first present under the new tree ;-)

Our masterpiece

Along with decorating our house for Christmas, and putting lights outside on the front porch, we also celebrated my birthday (and Auntie Erin's) on the 16th. We all went to Gram and Poppy's house to have dinner. It was a lot of fun and great to be with everyone.

Gwen helped open my presents. She really liked this one.

Gwen also helped me blow out the candles on the cake, but was a little nervous with so many candles.

Gwen's new favorite toy...the other Gwen!!!!!

So pretty! Gwen and Daddy ready for a Christmas party

Not only did Gwen help unwrap this box, but she also turned it into a race car!

Gwen and Auntie A were having a blast

Gwen showed Poppy and ornament, "Isn't this pretty?"

Our 2009 Christmas picture!

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!

Hilarious!!!!!

If you want a laugh, check out what Gwen did today!!!!!!! Gwen always knows when Brad gets home from work and runs towards the back door to greet him. Today was like most days, but she added a new twist. First she ran into the kitchen saying "Daddy home Poowa (aka Pooka)!" and then she showed us her new trick of door riding. I know it sounds odd, but for a toddler to figure this out is pretty amazing! She held on to both door knobs and...well... just watch :-) Too funny!

We didn't forget November!!!!!

This has been such a crazy month for us, but we have not forgotten about all of you out there! My computer was out getting fixed again this month, but now that it is up and running...so am I (not that I ever stop running)! Gwen has enjoyed everything that happens each and every day, but as shown above, she and Pooka know how to take a break while watching Handy Manny.

Where is Gwen? Playing in the leaves of course!!!!! (This one is already one of my favorites for the year!)

"Did anyone see Daddy?"

Ready, set, jump in!!!!!!!

Gwen couldn't get enough of the one pile of leaves Brad didn't mulch up with the mower! Even Clive, our neighbor's golden needed to come check out the fun :-)

Gwen, always making us laugh, was at it again! (Sorry it is so quiet.)

"Bubba! Dance!"

Gwen was able to have some quality time with her Bubba and Gammy last week. I arranged to attend a conference for work in Chicago, and why not spend some time with my family while I was there? Never enough time, but we had tons of fun together! We even threw Erin a baby shower on Saturday! I don't have any great pictures from the event, but if you want to see some check out Erin's blog (the link is on my list below). This video was after the shower when Don came over. We were all playing Guitar Hero-Beatles version, and Bubba and Gwen busted out the moves!

With the chaos of leaving for Thanksgiving dinner (or lunch) on time, I forgot my camera on the counter. So, despite Gwen's adorable dress for the day and her looking super cute, this is the only picture I have of Thanksgiving! But, with so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, not having a camera wasn't anything. Brad and I are so thankful for each other every day, but Gwen is something we are thankful for each second of every day. She brings so much joy to everyone she meets, has such a bubbly, curious, and eager to learn personality, and she is so darn cute!!!!!! We are thankful for getting to spend so much time with Brad's and my family every chance we get because those times are always memorable. We are thankful for my new job, as it has proved to be perfect! It is less time in the car for me, a great mix of people to work with who all have great ideas, and I am close to Gwen. We are so blessed in so many ways and have so much to be thankful for! Happy Thanksgiving!

As a Thanksgiving treat, and possibly a new tradition, Brad took Gwen and I to the circus! It was the first time for Gwen and it was awesome to see her reactions to everything! Gwen and I were able to ride an elephant, and she rode a miniature horse too, prior to the start of the show...so cool! She loved it and was talking about it all day!!!!!! Oh, and Brad has been talking about his favorite part all day...a bear decided to go pee-pee mid act in the center of the ring... needless to say it was quite the amount and caused numerous laughs during the act and when the trainer slipped and was drug through it!!!!!!! Too bad the camera was off!

"Ellies!!!!!!"

"Neigh, Neigh"

Happy Halloween 2009!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!! Halloween was always fun, but now with Gwen...it is soooo much fun!!!! Here are some of our highlights from Halloween Eve and today :-)

"Bunny!" Gwen was a bunny again this year--the costume fit even better than last year! She has been so adorable about dressing up and playing the part. She has been saying "trick or treat!" and refusing to take off the bunny costume!

Again, refusing to take off the bunny costume, but having a blast with Gammy!

Gwen participated in her first pumpkin carving! Only Gwen's was an orange in which she named "Apple"

Carving pumpkins :-)

The finished product! From the left, Mommy's, Daddy's, and Gammy's

"It says 'trick or treat'!" Gwennie showing off her Halloween outfit

Our bunny!

Pumpkins=shape sorters...or at least Mommy's

Some extra tidbits:

-Gwen's potty training is going very well. She knows when she is wet and is doing well trying to go "pee pee" every time she is put on the potty. Her ability to telling us she has to go before the event is still to come. We will keep you posted.

-Brad and I are now the proud owners of 9 acres of woods in Chrisney, Indiana. We closed on the property on Tuesday and are very excited about the investment. We are planning to build someday and this will be our plot. It is about 10 minutes away from Steve and Carolyn's house and is a minute from the house we rented which is now home to Ben and Valerie. So much to look forward to!

See you tomorrow!!!!!

Patoka this year was October 16-18th and it was a ton of fun! Pictures will follow as soon as I can get them from Carolyn:-) The one above is just a preview of what is to come...Brad won the pumpkin carving contest! He was also going for another win in the costume contest, but it never ended up being judged.

Last weekend Gwen welcomed some guests to our house...Grandpa, Gammy, and Erin came to visit! Gwen has decided that Grandpa will now be called "Bubba" and was playing and talking like crazy! While playing around with her wagon, Gwen turned to all of us and say "See you tomorrow!" It was clear as day and so cute! We all just looked at each other in amazement! The fun kept going and going all weekend! Here is just some of what went on:

Fun outside with all her buddies

Gwen's baby train was on the go

Gwen modeled her new coat for everyone! Thank you Grandma Dolores!

Gwen was having a blast with everyone watching her on the slide

Bubba was so nice to push Gwen on the swing...Weeeee! Check out Baby Mac!

Gwen was hiding from Bubba. "I can't see you, so you can't see me!"

Gwen has grown out of her baby towels, so new towels were on the shopping list. This is our latest fashion statement! Say hello to Princess Gwen!

All rise...Princess Gwen is leaving her room!

Peek-a-boo!

While Gwen is taking the longest nap ever (normally for Gwen an hour nap is great, but today...she has been asleep for almost 3 hours!!!!!!!), I am taking the time to do some much needed updating :-)

Gwen has been helping with yard work, hosting a brand new cooking show, and entertaining our guests. She also managed to climb into her crib today!!!!! Neither Brad nor I saw it happen, but she was out running around one minute and in there the next getting her Lovey!!!! We haven't had her climb out yet, but it won't be too long. Life couldn't be more fun!!!! And, we have thrown out the diapers! Not literally, they are in hiding and come out for naps and bedtime, but we are starting to use only training underwear starting today!!! It is a brave move, but we think she is ready. We have had a couple accidents today, but not too bad. We are hoping to have her fully potty trained by Christmas...wish us luck!!!!!

Now, on to the good stuff!!!!

Gwen has thoroughly enjoyed moving our furniture around the house. This particular day, the dining room chairs made it into the family room and became a perfect Peek-a-boo stage. Oh, and at the end, she was fine...I just was sparing you from the screaming.

Gwen loves her jewelry! She can say "pretty", but I can't catch it on camera.

Gwen's cooking show returns with a new kitchen! She has been promoted to the actual kitchen!

"I see you!!!!"

"Watch out! Grass is great for tickling!"

"Hello! Hello! Is anybody out there?"

Mommy's little helper--I had the great idea of taking out 2 of the sections to make it a mini!

Preview of Gwen's latest photo-shoot with Gram:

Go Go Go Gwen!

As we all know Gwen is always on the move, however, every once in a while things slow down and she takes a moment to look out the window with Nimbus and watch everything else move.
While Pooka was having a beauty day at the groomer, Nimbus enjoyed some one on one attention from Gwen. I think she enjoyed it too!

"Nimbus! Come here and let me give you some love!"

Gammy and Grandpa visit!!!!!!!!!

Grandpa and Gammy visited Holiday World for the first time and Gwen showed off in the wave pool! Just ask them how she loves the water...

If you recall, Gwen taught herself that pinching her nose makes her sound funny. Grandpa knew this trick too!

Awww! They are such goofs!

Gammy and Gwen getting ready for a dinner party at Bill and Angie's house

"Auntie Erin, I love my new outfit! I was just twirling in it a minute ago!"

A trip to Bill and Angie's is not complete until you have a tour of their hog barns. Gammy and Grandpa were able to meet some 10 day old piglets!

Gwen giving some "Ahhhs" (or some love). She wanted to love on them all!

So, Grandpa which is better...puppy breath or piglet breath?

Try as we might, Gwen just couldn't take her eyes off Handy Manny! We love you Gammy and Grandpa and thank you so much for visiting!

Ring Around the Rosie is one of Gwen's favorite activities now. We have modified the words a bit at the end...for more giggles we made it "Ashley, Ashley, we all fall down." I just wanted to hear her say it more :-)

If I say "stop"...Gwen says "Go!"

Dawn and I are now in charge of the Dale Fall Fest Little Mr. and Miss contest (ages 3-6)! This year the theme was "Rock and Roll is here to stay!" and we had a blast! The kiddos looked fabulous and everyone had a lot of fun!

Excuse the nakedness, but this has been all too funny and we just had to share. Gwen discovered shaving cream the other night and has wanted to play with it every bath since!