Christmas in Vancouver

Thought I'd try to squeeze in the last entries of 2007. Christmas seemed to last for weeks due to all the celebrations we had. After the Pederson family party, we had another small Christmas with Grammy and Grandpa Pederson before they left for Pennsylvania.

Say CHEESE, everyone!



Here's our best little elf-reindeer, ready to hand out gifts.



Sydney received her very first bowling ball with finger holes. Uncle Ray would be proud.



Oh Wow! Sydney likes her new piano.



Here Sydney is displaying her style with her new slippers, her new piano, and her ability to kick it up a notch while playing.



A few days later, we opened gifts from Uncle Dennis, Auntie Toni , and cousins James and Anna. Here Sydney is posing with all of hers.



We took Sydney to her (and our) first Zoolights at the Oregon Zoo. Very cool displays!







Sydney even saw the elephants at night!



Now let's clean up and go to Arizona! (Broom courtesy of Grammy.)

O Christmas Tree Part 2

Our little girl is getting excited for what Grammy and Grandpa put under our tree!

After decorating our tree, Sydney "oohed" and "wow"ed. As you can see, we placed non-breakables down below (and boy, her reach is getting farther and higher).

Here she is (with her pants off and her shirt partially off, toga-style) pointing to Woody and Bullseye, whom she recognized as her souvenir from Disneyland.



Here we are at the Pederson family Christmas party, where Sydney felt very generous handing out all the gifts to Baba and Aunt Marlys.



Here's Sydney with her buddy, cousin Grayson, who she remembered from bowling. She just came right up to him on the couch and planted herself next to him.



Just couldn't resist cousin Gary with his temporary hair visor. Yes, these are the types of gifts we exchange!



Although this is a bit fuzzy (like us), we finally had our family photo at the annual party.



More to come on the Christmas with Grammy and Grandpa!

O Christmas Tree Part 1

Last Saturday we braved the damp weather and cut down a tree at Glenwood Christmas Tree Farm in Brush Prairie. Sydney was a real trooper, traipsing through the muddy paths between rows and rows of trees. She only started complaining once we got our tree cut and had to haul it back to the car, because Mama and Baba were both carrying the tree and she was walking behind us, and I think she finally realized that she was cold and soaked to the skin.

Hey, you come back here little girl!



Baba gets ready to saw.



This is the one, girls!

Random Acts of Sydney

Here are some more pictures of Sydney in everyday, random occurance.

This was about a month ago at Grammy and Grandpa's.



Here she is playing with Grammy while wearing glasses made for a cat doll.



Sydney used her stool to get on our bed and jump like a monkey.



We finally opened a savings account for Sydney and they gave her a piggy bank for home. This can sometimes keep her occupied for a relatively long period of time, working on her fine motor skills.



One day Sydney decided to put her shoe on Ellie's back. Ellie actually let her do it.



The almost classic messy pasta picture. She didn't pick up the bowl and dump it on her head, though.

My New Friend Susan

As was mentioned in the last entry, Wendy's college friend and most talented glass artist Susan came to visit. Here are some moments of bonding with Sydney and her new auntie Susan.

Here Susan is being taken around by the finger wherever Sydney wants to go. She has been doing this to all of us (Mama, Baba, Grammy and Grandpa) lately. She will also try to lift us up off our chairs, if we're sitting, to move us where she wants.



Sydney loved Susan's digital camera. Susan was quite patient (with two teenage boys she has to be) allowing Sydney to hold it and look at it. Here they are on the floor, looking at the images.



Guacomole time.






Sydney loved everything about Susan, especially her beaded bracelets. She got to keep Susan company in the back seat while riding around in the car, and Susan knew just how to hold her attention.

Here Susan is taking clay imprints of Sydney's hands and feet for a future glass project.



We can't wait to see Susan again! Hopefully it won't be another two years!