Smile!

My niece Claire is famous for smiling just after we snap her photo.  Check out who I caught smiling!

Almost a smile

Could she be cuter? I think not.

Kendall and Laura were nice enough to host a little family time for all of us on Thursday, while Phil and Sandy treated us all to Deluca's.  It is so fun to watch Claire and Nathan play together.  Claire was very good at sharing her toys with him (not to mention all the stuff we borrowed--her car seat, her bundle-me, her excersaucer, her floor gym, her bumbo chair).  Many thanks to Claire and her parents!

Here are more fun shots from Thursday night:

Grandpa, Kendall and Nate 

Natey & Kimmy

Nana, Grandpa, Claire & Nathan 

Kimmy & Carlos

Sock, please!

Bedtime story with Hadi

As with the Tobin family, this was our goodbye to several of the Crocketts.  Sad feelers.

:)sbc

Oh, Cecelia!

Today I had the pleasure and honor of meeting (and holding and snuggling and kissing) the newest member of the Tobin family.

I heart this baby girl 

My tiny friend

Luke, Michelle and baby CeCe.

Luke, Michelle and big brother Graham are doing great.  Cecelia certainly has her mother's beauty, and I think she also has her hands. She is really quite something.  I love her and can't wait to see her again!

Unfortunately, this little hello was also my goodbye to the Tobins, as it is the last time I'll see them before I head home.

:)sbc

Back to School

On Friday, January 6, I had a day out while Natey stayed home with Beepa.

First, I surprised Sage and Sophie at Pembrook Elementary.  Just as Jess organized this for Sophie last year, she arranged for me to be the "Mystery Reader" for Sage this year.  We had to hide out for a bit, but I stayed busy playing with the stuff in Jess's class.

Finding just the right letters 

Viola!

I read Dog Loves Books to the class. They had read it before, but were very nice about reading it again.  When it was time to ask questions, one of the kids asked, "Did you bring anything to give us?"  Ahh, from the mouths of babes.  Here's the video:

Surprise!

Sagey & Shelb

Next, we surprised Sophie during her math lesson. I never get tired of doing this!

Awwww

Yay for surprises!

Time to let her get back to math lesson

After school I met Michelle for a "final drink" (for me, not her) before she gives birth.  It was nice to just have a little one-on-one girl time.  Update:  Cecelia Ann Tobin was born on Monday, January 9! Mom and baby are doing well.

Later, we had a Sisters Happy Hour and met up again with Michelle as well as some close friends of Jess's.

Sisters!

TGIF and thanks to Beepa for watching Nathan!

:)sbc

Seven Wonders of My World

On December 28, Nathan turned seven months. Can you believe it? Neither can I!

To mark the occasion, let's take a look at seven of my favorite, recent Natey Wi shots:

Happy after a nap

Daddy and Nathan on Christmas night at Kimmy's

A day-after-Christmas lunch and get well visit to post-op Rebecca

Brothers and their babies: Kendall, Claire, Kyle and Nathan on December 27

Kimmy and Natey on December 28 at Kyle's farewell dinner 

One eyebrow raised from one very tired boy

Sophie and Nate: There's an App for that! 

Ok, eight pictures.

"My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades!"
(Santa brought two pairs for Christmas, woo woo!)

This post is for you, Nancy Doty.  Thanks for the push to post, and thanks for always reading!

:)sbc

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

Let the fun begin! Every Christmas I am reminded how lucky we are that 

a) both sides of the family celebrate about three miles apart, which makes it easy on Kyle, Nathan and me.

b) both sides of the family are amazing. And welcoming. And accommodating. And fun. And understanding.

At noon on Christmas Eve, we celebrated the Crockett Christmas at Carlos and Kim's. I do love a lot about my in-laws, but on Christmas I love that each present is wrapped with meticulous care, including bows, ribbons and gift tags that sometimes have their own bows and ribbons.  I always take my bows and ribbons home.  I don't know why, I just can't bear to throw them away.  I also love how we open gifts.  Someone starts and then after they open their gift, it is up to them to select the next gift and pass it out to the next recipient.  We do this until all the gifts are gone.  I also love that Sandy signs all her gifts "S. Claus" or "Sandra Claus."  I also love that you have to guess what is in your gift before you open it.  I think the boxes could be empty and it would still be fun.

Claire enjoying appetizers 

S. Claus and Nathan 

Nathan in Claire's play station. Thanks for letting us borrow this--he LOVES it.

Laura, Claire, Kendall & Nathan

Sandra Claus and Nathan

Then it was off to Christmas Eve church services at the People's Church in East Lansing with the Bupps.  We started a little tradition last year:  Kyle and I take the Allen girls early, I save seats and Kyle takes his ladies for Holiday hot chocolate next door.  Pretty much the cutest thing ever.

Sage & Sophie

Off to get Holiday Hot Chocolate!

I couldn't change settings fast enough to get a clear shot, but it was REAL CUTE

All dressed up

Candlelight service (sorry, blurry again)

After church we have a lovely surf and turf dinner and open family presents, one by one just like Crocketts.  At Bupps, though, the boys pass out all the presents at the beginning and then we open oldest to youngest, then youngest to oldest again until we are done.  I love how we all go straight for calendar my dad makes--that one is too good to open one at a time.  If someone opens it, we all tear into it and gift opening gets delayed while we all get a first look.  I also love how at each turn, several people chime in with advice, "Open the red one!" or "Open mine!" or "Don't open that one yet!"

Christmas jammies

Heather and Matt couldn't be with us Christmas Eve, and Hadi (our name for Heather) got up at o'dark thirty to see what Santa brought. Poor Hadi arrived to a sleeping house and had to wait over an hour for wake ups to begin!

After a full day of Christmas fun--including a skype session to celebrate with the North Carolina Bupps--Gram and Beepa, Robinsons and Allens joined Kyle, Nathan and me for Christmas desserts and drinks over at Carlos and Kim's with the rest of the Crockett family. I just requested pictures from Laura and will update upon receipt. (Yes, I forgot my camera again. Maybe it was a good thing, though, because my cosmopolitan and I got caught in a game of "bottoms up" with Kendall...don't ask).

:)sbc

Buying Time

Email titled hmmmmmmm from Jess:
I wonder where my "blogging" sister is? I know a lot has happened since Christmas! :)

My response:
Naughty. I can't find my USB cord to download photos. I came here with two. Now zero. Still loooooooking.....

(There, that should buy me some time).

Naughty sister with her girls

Just kidding, Jess. I am truly thankful that you check the blog excited for updates. Off to look for the cord! :)sbc

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all!

On our way to Christmas Eve services

:) sbc