Liz Visits the Big Apple

 

 

My cousin Liz had a few days off from school (she didn't have any Regents to take), so she came down to stay with us for a few days. We didn't really do any big sight-seeing things, but mostly just enjoyed our time together. Lexi loves Liz, and considers her one of her aunts... Lexi is really blessed with so many great women in her life! In these photos, Liz is demonstrating how she was able to cast a spell on Lexi so that she would sit still to get her hair braided. Lexi looked absolutely adorable- now I have to step it up and figure out the french braid thing since her hair really is long enough to style now. I have to embarrassingly admit that most days we let her hair go wild- but it really is getting to be a bit TOO wild.

Great-Grandpa Elliott made a little desk for Lexi for her birthday this year. Liz's mom and my grandmother came down to pick Liz up at the end of the week and delivered the desk along with lots of great art supplies. Lexi just loves it and the artwork is really beginning to pile up!

Snuggle Time

I am jealous of the snuggle time my sisters get with my daughter, but somehow they woo her into cuddling! Aunt Laura just moved to New York from Florida and since she has not secured a job yet, she has been able to spend lots of time with us! Here is the result of a lazy afternoon during movie time.

Mom of Twins

Lexi received a new baby doll for Christmas, whom she named Allie (presumably after her beloved Aunt Allie). Grandma Cope made her some little blankets for her dolls, and Lexi has been taking very good care of them- feeding and burping and swaddling (just as her mama does!). Good prep for her introduction into big sisterhood?

All Caught Up

I have just spent the past 2 1/2 hours (while Lexi is at preschool) updating the blog... took a while to upload some photos and videos, and actually I was not able to get all of them done. Now that the holiday rush is over (and, it appears, my bout with morning sickness may have finally ended), I hope to be able to keep the blog a bit more current. Happy New Year everyone!

Batter Up!

The sign on Yankee Stadium says "39 Days til Pitchers & Catchers". Lexi has been inspired to do some of her own pre-spring training work.

Lexi's Birthday Party #2 (aka The Train Party)

Lexi's Birthday Party

Click on the photo above to view all the photos from Lexi's train party.

So I definitely did not plan on throwing Lexi a *friend* party for her birthday this year, but she went to a party back in October and has been talking about what her party would be like ever since. She would draw a picture and state, "I'm drawing this for my party, mom!" or make something with her playdoh and say, "This is for my party." So I just did not want to let her down. We talked about it together and she decided she wanted to have a train party- which was a good decision considering most of her friends are boys! So we went downtown and bought a special stamp to make invitations, went to the party store and bought plates, napkins, cups, a pinata, and balloons and I figured out a few things to do to pass the time.

It turned out really well, I think. Our *mixer* activity while everyone was arriving was to set up the train tracks and play with the trains... that kept everyone very occupied and happy for quite some time. I was a little nervous to ask them to clean it up, but Lexi was anxious to get on to other activities that she knew we had planned. To my utter astonishment, there was not a single word of complaint when we asked the kids to clean up! Thomas even started singing the "Clean Up Song" that they sing in Nursery at church- those Nursery leaders are stupendous!

After cleaning up, we read "The Little Engine That Could" and I could not believe how enraptured they all were with the story. Side note: Hats off to all those elementary teachers who can read upside down & backwards! I found myself kind of making it up as I went along because I was having a hard time reading...

Then we had everyone decorate a box which we then made a train with- everyone in their own car, and Porter as the Engineer! Thanks to Sheridan, Jessica & Julia who really came through for me and provided the boxes on one day's notice!


After the train, we had cake (also following the train theme) but I have had some trouble uploading that video so stay tuned, and then a pinata in the shape of Thomas The Tank Engine. Sorry about the candy moms and dads... I couldn't find a pinata filler set of plastic toys, which was actually my preference.

And then it was time to go- we sent everyone home with candy, a train whistle, bouncy ball and helium balloon. Lexi was a wonderful hostess, greeting everyone at the door with an engineer's hat and then saying 'Thank you for coming" as each friend left. After the party she said, "Mom, I wasn't shy!" What a big girl she is!

Lexi's Birthday Party #1

January 1st- Lexi's birthday

Lexi was born on New Year's Day... And today she is 3!!! So we went to Nanny's house to have a little party- just mom & dad, Nanny & Allie. We decided to buy a store cake, since she is having a special cake at her kids party on Saturday...

New Year's Eve 2006

So, we have a tradition with our dear friends The Russells to fondue every New Year's Eve... however, the past several years have found us far from each other to be able to do it together. So this year, we invited some of our New York friends to fondue with us... Word to the Russells: You have GOT to try cheese fondue! It's de-lish!

This was also Lexi's first intro to the tasty concoction... I guess fondue-ing is a bit *retro*, but why not enjoy a good thing?

#2

IT'S A GIRL! I do hope she & Lexi will be friends! When the ultrasound technician first said it was a girl, I really had no feelings one way or the other. I think I was just hoping for a healthy baby, and since I already have one girl, I felt that I would be happy with either another girl or a boy... But now that I have had some time to let it sink in, I am thrilled to have another girl!

Christmas in New York

Christmas 2006

Click the above picture to view the album of photos.

We stayed in New York this year for Christmas... it was wonderful! Matt's parents came to stay with us and we had a great time seeing the Christmas Sights around the city- windows at Macy's and Saks, & the Tree at Rockefeller Center being among the most famous. We spent Christmas Eve in Brooklyn with some of Matt's extended family. Christmas morning was here at home, and then for the rest of Christmas Day, we joined Nanny Susan's family at her home for food, games (what's Christmas without BINGO?!) and fun. It was a great day- so exciting for Lexi- she could barely contain herself- so many gifts and so many people she loves!

Ice Skating at Lasker Rink

Today we went with Dad and his class down to Central Park to go ice skating again... it's turning into an annual trip! Lexi just loved it, although it's quite tiring for me to help her skate. One of the rink employees tried to help her learn by teaching her to "waddle like a penguin", but she had a hard time doing that. Mostly, she just wanted to hang with daddy's students- they took her for a few spins around the ice, but they, too, got a bit tired out. When I told Lexi we had to go, she got very upset and cried and attempted to break free and get to the ice herself. On stable ground, she was very good at walking on the skates... maybe next year will be better.
(Click on the little photo above to see more from our day trip).

Ice Skating with some of Daddy's students


*Skating* (more like walking) over to Daddy.

For Unto Us A Child Is Born

So, for those of you who were wondering, Lexi got stage fright (just like her mama!) and would not even stand with the other primary kids while they sang in church today. She clung to me and refused to go sing- even though we had been practicing the song for weeks!

Later that night, I took a little video of her singing the song, just to document that she does, in fact, know it well. The only way she would do it was if she could march along as she sang, hence the shaky camera work.

Decorating the Tree

We have never had a tree in our apartment here in New York, but this year since we are staying at home for Christmas, and since Lexi is getting old enough for it to be a fun experience for her, we splurged. The trees in our neighborhood started at $30 for a pretty small one- not that we wanted something huge. So one weekend, when Grandma let us borrow her car, we took a trip to New Jersey for a fresher and cheaper tree. The result was this nice tree that smells divine!!

Lexi putting the star on the tree.

...and the Government shall be upon his shoulders...

After reading this post on my friend Julia's blog, I discovered that the primary and senior nursery are planning to sing "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" from Handel's Messiah for our ward Christmas Program. It's an ambitious and lofty goal, if you ask me, but I decided to try and help Lexi learn the piece as best as a 3-year-old can. We played it for her the other night, and sure enough, when the choir sang "Wonderful! Counselor! The Mighty God! The Everlasting Father! The Prince of Peace!" she chimed right in! She made us repeat the song 3 or 4 times, which was fine with me because I just love it. Then we took a break for dinner. Soon after, Matt & Lexi headed to the living room and Lexi made this request:

"Daddy, I want to watch. Uhhhh... I want the government to be upon his shoulders. I want to listen!"

Matt gladly obliged.

Holiday Festivities

Parade of Lights, Corning NY 2006

On Saturday, we headed over to Corning, NY to participate in the Holiday festivities downtown. Lexi was adamant about NOT visiting with Kris Kringle, so we skipped that and headed straight for the reindeer. Took some time to mosey down the main street, and had some delicious pizza at Atlas Brick Oven Pizzeria. There weren't any tables avaialble, so we decided to sit at the bar, which turned out to be a front row seat to all the pizza-dough tossing a little girl can handle.

Then we headed outside to watch the Parade of Lights. Lexi was excited to see the street blocked off and took the opportunity to dance in the street.

Click on the picture above to see more photos of our evening in Corning.

Singing with Great-Grandma

 

Lexi is lucky to be able to spend time with Great-Grandpa & Great-Grandma Elliott. For the Thanksgiving break this year, we took a trip to visit them in Western New York. Since my grandmother plays the piano so well, and Lexi has memorized at least half of the primary songs (and that is NOT an exageration), they sat down together to play & sing primary songs. Great-Grandma did more of the playing and singing than Lexi, but Lexi seemed to love the time together! By the last day there, I think I overheard Lexi actually singing some of the lyrics herself. 

Shall We Dance?

A little clip of Lexi dancing to one of Bob Dylan's new tunes.

Red Shoes

 

While shopping at Marshalls the other day, Lexi found a pair of red shoes that she fell in love with. She was pretty upset when I said it was time to take them off! With a pose like this, maybe she could be America's Next Top Model!