Eric and Krystal

I can hardly believe that another year as gone by!

Our December seemed to go by so quickly! Olivia understood more about Christmas this year! She loved doing the Advent calendar, looking at Christmas lights, singing Christmas songs, playing with her Nativity. We had a lot of fun setting up the Christmas tree and decorating the house!

Olivia with some of her friends performed a live Nativity (with the help of her friends’ Grandma). They were so cute! Olivia seemed nervous at first, but she was able to say her line…”Do not be afraid!” She was the angel. Here the angel is talking to a sleeping Joseph.

We also went with Grandma and Papa to historic St. Charles for their Christmas fun! We had never been before so we didn’t really know what to expect. We had a great time! There were many different Christmas characters walking around and they would talk with the children and give them a collectible card. There were several different Santa characters from different time periods. We saw Clara and the Nutcracker Prince, Carolers, Mother Goose, Elves, Bob Cratchet and Tiny Tim. Olivia really had a great time collecting the cards! We even got a free shuttle ride in a carriage! Olivia said that we were just like a princess in a carriage!

We were with Eric’s family on Thanksgiving so we were my family on Christmas day. We had a lot of fun!

Olivia and Nanny got a camera for Christmas!

Helping make Christmas dinner with Papa and Aunt Ray Ray!

After Christmas the Martin family all got together at Mike and Jennie’s house! Olivia really loves spending time with her cousins! There are six cousins ages 8 1/2 to 3! We went bowling one day and to the zoo on another day!

On New Year’s Eve we transitioned Olivia’s crib to a toddler bed! She was so excited! We can hardly believe that our baby is getting so big! (more on that in the next post!)

I turned 30 this year and Eric had TWO surprise parties for me! I don’t know how he got both of them over on me, but he did! The first party was with our friends and Eric’s parents here in St. Louis and it coincided with our annual Fall party. The next day Eric said he got tickets for something in Illinois, but it was a surprise! As we got closer to my parent’s house I thought what is going on! Just as I thought that Eric said that he had already talked to my mom. He said that she knew we would be in the area and that we would stop by to visit for a few minutes especially since my aunt was also visiting my mom. We pulled into the driveway and I asked (jokingly) if there was a party here too! We walked into the house and it was full of my family! I even started crying! I am so thankful for my husband!

At the beginning of November Eric had a day off from school and we wanted to do something fun as a family! We decided on riding the Metr* downtown, we ate at the 0ld Spaghetti Factory and then walked over to the Arch! All of it was a first for Olivia! We had a great time!!!

Here is a picture of Olivia playing in the leaves with Daddy!

I had to work on Thanksgiving, but Eric and Olivia was able to spend the holiday with Grandma and Papa. Eric’s brother Adam and his kids also came to St. Louis for Thanksgiving! We have really loved having family closer. We have really gotten to see everyone a lot more!

October was a busy month for us!

Eric’s grandma was in St. Louis for a visit! She is called Mimi by her great-grandkids! Olivia loved spending time with her Mimi! Mimi even got down and did a Princess puzzle with Olivia!

During Mimi’s visit one of Eric’s brothers and his family came to visit also! Olivia loves spending time with her cousins! We also were able to visit with Eric’s Uncle Jim, Aunt Kylene, his cousin Cindy and her family too! We tried to take family pictures while we were together. Here are a few of our attempts!

Later in October we went to the pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin! We had a lot of fun!

I love the last picture because she is trying to help Daddy carry the heavy pumpkin!

We went to Boo @ the Zoo and trick or treated around our neighborhood this year! Olivia loved looking at all the different costumes! She chose to be Minnie M*use this year!

Helping Daddy get the seeds from the pumpkins! Ready to go! She was too tired to go anymore, but she wanted to hand out candy!

At the beginning of October we had a beautiful day of weather so we decided to go to the park! Our girl loves to go to the park!

Olivia had lots of fun playing music with her Daddy!

Olivia and Mommy took a six week “Mommy and Me” dance class. It started the first week of October. Olivia had such a blast! She asked every week about going to dance class! She had been wanting to go to dance class for over 6 months. I kept telling her she had to wait until she was three, but then a friend told me about this class. I am guessing that we will definitely have to start taking an official dance class in January after she turns three!

During Aunt Ray Ray’s fall break she came for a visit and we went to an apple orchard. We had lots of fun!!!

Ready to pick apples and put them in her bag! (Notice her shirt…”Apple of Daddy’s Eye!) On the shuttle…excited about going out to the orchard! Ray Ray and Olivia having fun in the orchard!

We went to Eurek*a Days with Grandma and Papa and Olivia got her first taste of carnival rides! She loved the little rides! This makes Mommy really excited because I love them too and Daddy cannot do spinning rides! I did take her on a couple of big rides and she was able to go on because she was tall enough, but I have learned that even though she is tall enough doesn’t mean that she is ready for it! I just hope that I haven’t scared her away from rides forever! I hope that she wasn’t scarred forever! It’s a long story! If you really want to know then ask the next time we are all together!

The next night I had to work but Olivia, Daddy, Grandma and Papa were able to go and see fireworks. Olivia is still talking about riding the big yellow bus! They parked the car and then rode the bus up to the fair.

We also made another trip to the zoo! It was a beautiful day! You can’t really see it in this picture, but Olivia was also stung by a bee next to her nose. Poor girl! After the initial sting she didn’t even act like it bothered her!

At the end of September I ran in the ROC Star 5K for Ovarian Cancer with two of my friends! I wouldn’t have been able to finish without them both! Eric and Olivia came to cheer me on! It was a lot of fun!

So we are still here just really busy! I am amazed that it has been over seven months since my last post! I apologize if there is anyone still out there waiting for a post! I have probably lost you by now…haha!

I am still in labor and delivery and Eric now has a full time subing job. Which is nice because he goes to one school everyday and does whatever jobs they need! Olivia is lots of fun and makes me laugh every day! I have loved every age, but this age is amazing as I watch her learn new things and as she starts understanding and asking questions!

I am going to try to bring everyone up to speed! Ok…here goes!