Christmas Eve

This year I cooked my first holiday meal ever. It was a success! We had the Beyer family over for Christmas Eve afternoon and evening. In all the years' passed, we have traveled to both New Jersey and to Maryland to see each of our families. Because traveling is much more of an undertaking now that there is more than just the two of us to take along, we have decided that we are only going to travel to one state each holiday season. It was wonderful to have everyone over to our house even though the Jets lost their game.

At the dinner table

I made a roast in my rotisserie oven for the first time and it turned out really good. I have only ever used it for whole chickens before. Al carved it for us.


Trafton was, unfortunately, not feeling well on this day and spent more time sleeping than actually being awake. He had a 24 hour stomach flu that Daniel had two days earlier.

Jonathan and Melissa - their first married Christmas!

Courtney and Michael - their last single Christmas!

Time for dessert

Al and Melissa

Sanchez fans - Trafton is wearing his new Christmas slippers from Melissa and Jonathan. He didn't like them at first, but now he can't be without them!

Trafton rallied a bit to open some presents.

It was exciting to watch him open presents and get excited about what was inside even though he wasn't feeling well.

Trafton just couldn't stay awake - very unlike him.

Now falling asleep on Pappy

This is how he spent most of his day.

Great Meadows Dec. 10-11

Earlier this month we took a trip out to see Pappy in Great Meadows. Trafton had a great time now that he can walk all around the house. He has been especially interested in a cowboy pull toy that he got for Christmas last year and took that with him everywhere.

Trafton has also been quite happy with himself lately that he can sit in regular chairs.

Trafton just isn't sure yet what to make of Harley, Uncle Michael and Aunt Courtney's dog. He keeps getting bigger and now is the perfect height to lick Trafton right on the face.

Enjoying an early morning read with Daddy

Also enjoying a late morning snooze

"I like that dog a lot more when I am safe in someone's arms!"

Christmas-time Weekend

This weekend we had a wonderful time getting in the holiday spirit! On Friday night we went out to dinner at Marley's, then shopped throughout the evening taking advantage of the Main Street Late Night Christmas Shopping event. On Saturday we went to Rohrbach's Farm Market for their Christmas celebration. Then on Sunday we picked out our tree!

Late night shopping

Rohrbach's kids section

Pushing the duck at Rohrbach's

Ready to find the perfect tree!

Trafton walked and walked among the trees while we scouted out the perfect one.

Investigating a tree stump

Leading the way to the Douglas Firs

Are you guys coming?

Ecology III Christmas Tree Farm

We finally picked our tree (in less than 2 hours!) - time to get the wagon and saw.

This is the one!

Helping daddy bring the tree in

How tall? Just over 2 1/2 feet

Time for lunch!

Trafton might have been asleep before we got to the end of the tree farm's driveway :)

Uncle Jason Visits!

Last Thursday, my brother, Jason, came to visit. He was away at drill sergeant school for more than two months so we hadn't seen him in a while. He was away when Trafton started walking, so it was exciting for him to see Trafton running around the house.

Jason came right from work, so he was still in his National Guard uniform.

Story time before bed

Photo Card

Picture Joy Christmas

Heartfelt: Christmas photo cards and holiday cards at Shutterfly.

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