Happy Birthday Kari!

Earlier this week, I celebrated my 29th birthday...and with that came the reminders from everybody that this is the last year in my twenties (as if I didn't realize that myself!) Annaliese and I had a relaxing day...really nothing spectacular, and then Kyle and I went out on a date! Sorry, no pictures...but we did enjoy a delicious dinner at Rooster Creek Tavern, a cute restaurant in the village of Arroyo Grande, followed by some final Christmas shopping. 

Kyle had picked up on my not-so-subtle hint and gave me a much-nicer-than-anticipated camera! He even let me open it the night before so I could spend my birthday taking pictures! Most of them got deleted...I've got a lot to learn when it comes to photography. 

a new running shirt...love it!

 Trying on my amazingly comfortable new boots!

Experimenting with some of the 'special effects' 

Here are a few of the pictures that have been deemed worthy enough to keep! Mostly because Annaliese is just so cute!

Very much focused on pulling things out of the diaper bag!

Perhaps waking up to the camera flash isn't the best way to wake up:)

 Crawling down the hallway and over her stuffed dog Brady

Checking out the latest packages

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Setting up our Christmas tree has been a week-long event. On Monday, we headed to Orchard Supply and Hardware in search of the perfect tree. After perusing the available selection, we quickly agreed on 'the tree' and strapped it to the top of the Volvo.

Annaliese has the tag off the tree...now it's ours!

Once home, Kyle brought it into the garage, and while he got the tree stand all set and I got things ready inside, Brodie guarded the tree.

It took until Wednesday for me to be able to get the lights on...Annaliese hasn't been too interested in it. She watched me untangle the separate strands of lights, but hasn't made any attempts to touch them. At one point, she crawled under the tree. But when she went to sit up, it was pretty prickly, and she hasn't tried that again!

And last night we finally got around to putting on the ornaments!

Annaliese is putting on her first ornament! And then she promptly took it off again!

All decorated! Yes, all the ornaments are on the top  part of the tree...hopefully to deter  Little Missy from grabbing at it!

A Rainy Sunday

I had big plans for our Sunday afternoon...including getting a Christmas tree and going to "Elegant Christmas in the Village" in downtown Arroyo Grande. However, it rained. All afternoon. Not just a light rain, but a 'went for a run in the rain and came back soaking wet and wringing water out of my clothes' rain. Definitely not the type of weather one wants to go looking for a Christmas tree in. 

So instead, we pulled out some of Annaliese's new birthday presents! We even let Brodie come inside and join in on the fun:)

Ready for a ride

Brodie just tickled her in the face with his fur!

This was earlier this week, but she's becoming a pro at walking with this thing!

Clearly ready for a nap!

Happy Birthday Annaliese!

Annaliese recently celebrated her first birthday. And while I realize she has no idea what a birthday is, nor will she ever remember her first birthday, Kyle and I wanted to celebrate...we wanted to celebrate the little bundle of joy that she is...to celebrate that ever-present little smile and contagious giggle...to celebrate that we have been given the privilege of raising this little girl!

And so we invited all our friends over for a birthday party! We had party hats and kazoos and ring pops! 

She was ready for a nap early on...apparently its tiring to be the center of attention!

Annaliese really wasn't a fan of the party hat

Kailey is ready to help Annaliese open her presents!

I had to work on Thanksgiving, but Kyle and Annaliese headed out to Dinuba for the holiday and when I got out of work, I stopped by the airport to pick up my mom who flew out to help celebrate and we headed out to the valley to join everyone. We made it in time for pie!! 

Birthday Party #2 was on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Everyone was still in town, so we thought it would be a good time to celebrate and Grandpa and Grandma Gillette graciously offered to host. We spent all day getting ready- Grandma G., GG Joan, and Auntie Laurie decorated the garage while Grandma H. and I decorated the cake. 

And then all our family came...and Annaliese was spoiled with so many fun gifts! She came home with all kinds of fun new things!

Annaliese with Auntie 'M'

Enjoying the chocolate cake:)

Checking out the presents...thank you!

Thank you to everyone for your gifts...I'm sure in future pictures you will see the toys in action!