Happy Holidays

We made it through the holidays in one piece. After Bennet's 1 year check up on Friday we made the trek through the freezing rain and snow to Elk River, MN. We had a crazy couple of days. We were blessed to spend Christmas with both families this year. Unlike last Christmas Eve when I was being discharged from the hospital with a 4 day old.

Saturday

We were able to meet Kari's friend Kelly's 6 week old daughter Meredith. I'd forgot babies came that small.

Kari's cousin Dean came from AZ with his girlfriend Tressa and their 10 week old son Jackson.

I have been participating in an online baby group since I was pregnant with Bennet. All the women were due in December 2005. Kari met up with her online BrrrBaby friend (in town from California) Jeni and her daugther Catherine. It was so nice to meet her in person. A 3D friend!

Nick and Kari even got a date night to the movies. We saw 'Rocky Balboa' and loved every second of it. Kari is a bit of a Rocky freak.

Sunday

There's a WI girl with the Leinie's!

Monday

We were up and on the road back home at 7 a.m. We had a quick Christmas morning at our house and then it was off to Sweeney's. Where we neglected to get a family photo. Oops.

Tuckered on the drive back. In her cool pj's from Aunt Katie and Uncle Matt.

Kari REALLY likes Rocky! She got 2 new tshirts from Nick. Woo hoo!

Where's Bennet? Christmas at G&G Sweeney's house is always mass chaos. And we wouldn't have it any other way.

The entire family at home.

Dec 21 ~ Bennet is 1 year old!

It's hard to believe that a year ago today Bennet was born. We are continually amazed at how fast the year went. It seems like yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital, all swaddled up, taking pictures in front of the Christmas tree. And now you’re climbing into a new tree, nearly walking and turning ONE!

You are such a great gift to us- a bright, smart, vibrant little girl. We love your faces and your ability to make us LAUGH everyday. We hope our home is always filled with laughter. You are growing up so fast, yet we’re trying to remember every moment. We love you!

Cake Face

Here is some video from Bennet's birthday party. Enjoy!


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oooohhhh!!!

Anytime Bennet gets excited she makes this puckers her lips and says, "Ooooohhhh" Whether it's when I make her a waffle for breakfast or when we turn on the Christmas tree it's the same "Ooooooohhhhh!!!" In the case of the photo below I think the "Ooooohhhhh" is in response to the funky post-bath hairdo Grandma Trunnell gave her.

Ho! Ho! Ho! It's Santa!

After Bennet's party guests left on Sunday we put on her special Santa Rocks shirt and her new, stylin' boots (Thanks Nate & Amy) and headed to the mall to meet Santa. We had been showing her pictures of Santa on the computer, etc. for a couple of weeks thinking she may not have a meltdown when she met him. Well- I doubt that was why, but she LOVED Santa. Just loved him.

Now next year will be the year that she will start screaming the second she sees the beard. She told Santa she was a good girl all year long and she wasn't lying. Santa told her he loved the shirt. What a jolly guy!

Here she is looking at Santa on TV. She's sucked in!

Bennet's Video Montage

Here is the video we made for Bennet's first year. Enjoy!

Photo and video editing at onetruemedia.com

Poker Night

After Bennet went to bed we had a rousing game of Texas Hold Em. (Nate & Amy F, Ma & Pa Trunnell, and Megs Pegs) I was the first one out. Imagine that. Big better that I am. And Amy, who said she never played poker before, CLEANED up! I think she was bluffing. Either that or incredible beginners luck. "Oh 4 aces is good?" j/k! But- in the end it came down to Mike and Nick. Who to root for? Dad or husband? Dad or husband? Well- Dad won. Barely. :)

Bennet's 1st Birthday Bash

We celebrated Bennet's 1st birthday a little early this year. We can hardly believe its been nearly a year. Bennet was lucky enough to have alot of friends and family travel long distances to celebrate with her. It was a full house, but we wouldn't have had it any other way.

Thank you to everyone who attended. It was great to see you.

Hey Dad- is that MY cake? Hook me up!

This is soooo good! Here I go. . .

I made this cake with my loving hands and you're going to eat it :)

Birthday Cakes

Nick made the cake's for Bennet's party. Totally over the top. I have no idea where he gets it. I had to laugh- when he was making them the other day he asks "Where are my cake decorating tools?" Wow- put that on the list of things I never thought I'd hear him say. The cake was layered with strawberry jam/whip cream and vanilla pudding.

Bennet's little cake.

Got to keep MOVING!

I sometimes wonder what Nick and Bennet do during the day. They keep each other on their toes that's for sure. Who needs a fancy walker when you have an old crate of toys, wood floors and good tunes? She doesn't like to let go very often, but she sure likes pushing things around. And she's started to climb up everything- boxes, the couch, the dryer and as the video shows- the safe in Nick's office.

The video is about 2 1/2 minutes.

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The finished product

I hung the lights on the tree yesterday morning. Nick usually does that part and he's right, hanging lights is no fun! But last night we poured a glass of wine, brought out the cookies, put on some holiday tunes and hung our ornaments. We commented how wonderfully bizarre it was to be doing it this year with Bennet. This time last year we were anxiously awaiting her arrival. And now she's here- moving around, getting into everything and making us laugh daily!

Bennet hanging her first ornament.

Oh what's in the box (Thanks Grandma T for the stylish outfit!)

Now both Stoli Kitties are together.

The finished product.

O Christmas Tree

We went out to the country to cut down our own Christmas Tree this weekend. I fondly remember our annual trip to chop down our tree as a kid. The shooshing, the hayride, carols and hot cocoa. I must have had the haze of youth, because it was not as magical as I remember. Not to be too bam humbug. It was jsut REALLY cold yesterday and there was no snow, thus no shooshing. Much to Nick's dismay it will be annual tradition. We'll just pick a slightly warmer day next year. It was 2 degrees (16 for our Canadian viewers) with who knows what windchill. It was chi-i-ly!

I cut down the tree myself Paul Bunyan style. Check out my pipes :)

Bennet had rosey cheeks for hours afterwards, but she had fun.

I was trying to capture my breath on film, but it didn't work.