A Year's End Special Treat

We decided that a special year-end treat was in order. Abby announced that we should have M&Ms "because that's a special treat to me!" So, Will went out and found a bag of M&Ms to share!

We even decided to share the M&Ms with the animals!

But the bear got a little bit unruly and we learned that you really shouldn't give chocolate to the camels!

But alas, all was well in the animal kingdom!

$362.24

At the end of each day, Will gives Abby the change from his pockets and she puts it in an orange basset hound bank that I had when I was a little girl. Grandpa Engelhardt also likes to give Abby change. The other night she tried to put some change in it, but it was full to the top, so we took the money out and went to the bank. We put the money in the change machine and watched as the counter tallied the coins. I was shocked to see the final figure -- $362.24!!!

We deposited most of the money in Abby's savings account, but she got to use some of it to pick out a toy at the mall. She chose a fuzzy white kitten and a purple outfit for it.

And she sent some of the money to the World Wildlife Fund http://www.worldwildlife.org/) to help protect a walrus! Not bad for a bunch of spare change!!

Abby's New Hat

Vernetta Cline gave Abby this beautiful hat for Christmas! Abby loves wearing it and uses it as her "helmet" for her new bike!

Abby's New Bike

Grandpa and Grandma Engelhardt gave Abby a bicycle for Christmas. Abby calls it her "motorcycle." Today Abby rode her bike all the way to the park. It was hard work -- especially when she got to a "hill."

But the hard work was worth the end result of playing in the park!

Movie Night

Ever since seeing the old movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Aliya's house earlier this year, Abby has been asking for her own copy of it. So, Aunt Lisa (Tonto) gave her Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for Christmas. Abby was delighted and wanted to have a movie night. She took care of all the preparations -- pillows, stuffed animals and a "snuggly blanket." Will made the popcorn!

The Day After Christmas

Abby had a GREAT Christmas! She loved every gift she received and was so happy to spend time with her family (especially her cousin Jacob)!!

Abby and Jacob work on the world map puzzle that Erin and Tim sent to Abby.



Uncle Pete helps Abby go for a sea turtle ride!


Will and Abby perform "baby bench press!"


Abby takes a quiet moment to reflect upon her Christmas!

Enough with the quiet time! It's time to watch cowboy shows with Daddy and Grandpa! Noni and Granddad sent a special cowboy show watching comforter and it was a BIG hit!

Abby makes a pirate face in the bath and I don't know why!?

And now for a little quiet time with her very own "I Pod."

Movie Theatre Movies

Abby has now seen three movies in a movie theatre (if you don't count the two she went to as a baby with Langston in DC -- see below). She's seen all three movies in Decorah. Will and I took her to see Happy Feet. Grandpa Engelhardt and Will took her to see Nativity and Christmas night Will, cousin Ashley and I took her to see Charlotte's Web.

Aunts Lori and Lisa, Uncle Pete, and cousin Jacob also went to the theatre, but they went to a different movie. Abby still thought it was exciting to be in the lobby with them!

Back from their respective movies, Jacob and Abby debrief on the films!

Below is a picture of Abby and Langston at their first movie -- it may even have been when they met. Amy and I went to a couple "Reel Moms" movies together when we were both on maternity leave.

Merry Christmas!!

Abby got a lot of great gifts for Christmas -- including these goggles from Uncle Alex and Aunt Stephani!

Will found this great sea turtle for Abby and thought she'd love it! He certainly knows his daughter!

Will also knows his wife! I was very excited to find a new SLR digital camera when I opened my gift from him. It's taken me awhile to figure it out -- I'll use that as my excuse for taking so long to get these photos on the blog -- but I LOVE it!

Noni knows her Abby P'Dabby and knew that she'd love some lizards! She did!

Abby loved playing with her family and managed to get A LOT of attention!!

Abby ate A LOT of Grandma's lefse!!

She tried a piece of divinity and liked it well enough, but it was no match for the lefse!

And there was time for a snuggle with Daddy and the sea turtle!

And eventually Abby settled down for a nap with sea turtle and Siberian tiger.

And at the end of the day, Abby relaxed to some sweet tunes on her very own "I Pod" -- a gift from Tonto!

A Christmas Portrait

It looked like the perfect spot for a Christmas portrait -- a pretty girl in a pretty dress, the poinsetia, and the nativity set -- but Abby didn't agree!

I tried every trick in my playbook to get a sweet smile, but it all back fired.

And then finally, Tonto came along and told a knock knock joke about lefse and the portrait was made.

A Treat for Santa and the Reindeer

Abby left a reindeer cookie and a glass of milk out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer!

Speed!

Abby and I were at the mall's play area the other day and I told Abby to run as fast as she could and she did!

Telemarketing Call

Today the phone rang and when I answered a woman said, "Hello, may I speak with Abigail Stott." It was obviously a telemarketing call so I said, "Do you really want to speak with her, she's only three years old?" The woman on the other end said, "Oh my goodness!"

On to the Next Chapter Book

Yesterday we finished reading Charlotte's Web. After reading, "No one was with her [Charlotte] when she died," Abby said, "God was with her!" Last night we started the next chapter book -- Stuart Little, also by E.B. White. It was late when I started reading it to Abby, so I told her we would only read two chapters. After each chapter, Abby made the cutest little face, held up one finger, and said, "How about just one more?" Well, by the time I put the book down, we'd read seven chapters!!!!!

Abby's Beloved Books!

Spend a few minutes with Abby and you'll quickly learn that she LOVES books! This morning Abby told us she was going upstairs to play with her nativity set, but when Will poked his head into her room, this is what he saw!!!

Classical Music

Recently, Abby has been asking to listen to "classical music" as she lies (lays?) down for her nap or bedtime. She's been listening to Bach's Goldberg Variations. I listened to the Variations a lot after Abby was born and I was having problems sleeping (i.e. postpartum depression).

Well, last night we put the Goldberg Variations on, turned on Abby's Santa Claus lights and I laid down with Abby to tell her a story. I told her her story (I think it was about a tree frog who met Santa Claus), but then the music apparently worked its wonders because Will had to wake me up (after he snapped this photo).

Abby's Current Chapter Book

Abby loves chapter books. We are currently reading Charlotte's Web. It's been fun for both Will and me to read this story to Abby!