Robot Day

(On our way to Ronnie's house for daycare:)

Elliot: "Mommy let's make this a fun ride today."

Mommy: "Okay, Elle - what's up?"

Elliot: (in a monotone) "Let's talk like robots today."

Holidays 2009

Well, after our craziest holiday season ever, which David and I have sworn to each other will NEVER happen again, we have survived and have even begun to recover. We left Dec 23rd, right after work, to drive to Ohio - a crazy tradition that we will be keeping up - to celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the Amrine/Pabst sides of the family. On the 26th , we all packed up, Jamey & Constance and fam headed north to Michigan, while Mom & Dad, Phil, and Dave, Elle, and I headed way south to Orlando. We arrived late afternoon on the 27th and checked out the timeshare we were staying in with Bill & Betsy. Mom & Dad agreed to go on a timeshare talk, and ended up purchasing some timeshare there at Bonnet Creek. It was truly lovely, and we look forward to spending more time there with both sides of the fam. We all headed to the Magic Kingdom on the 29th, and spent a great day together. The following morning, Phil flew off to the Air Force's bowl game - the Armed Forces Bowl, Mom & Dad relaxed around the timeshare, and the rest of us went to Animal Kingdom. We spent the following day recovering from that day and resting up for our big drive home. Dave, Elle and I and Mom & Dad started our trip home on New Years Day, driving part way together. After having breakfast then lunch together, we split off toward our homes. Dave, Elle and I continued on toward Long Island, and stopped for the night in Falls Church, VA at Diana & Bruce's house. We enjoyed our quick visit with them (they are such great hosts every time we visit!), then drove the last 6 hours to our home on Jan 2. We celebrated our "real" Christmas when we arrived home, it turns out that Santa had stopped here and left our presents while we were gone!

We finally have survived a week of work (quite a busy one at that! - Dave conducted the NMEA division I concert!) and are trying to recover sleep, catch up on housework, and find a bit of time to spend together!

Elliot sleeping on Christmas Eve:

The whole Amrine gang (I love this photo more than any other ever!)
The Jaks:
Elliot and Uncle Phil at Magic Kingdom: (and that rash on her face that just wouldn't quit in FL!)
Dumbo:
New ears:
New kitchen:
New drumset:
Mommy, Daddy, Elle, Cinderella's Castle and a full moon!: