Visit with Santa

Well, I was so worried that this would be the year that Damien would find the fear that over comes many children...SANTA!!! So, I decided to go with another friend....Vicky and Spencer....to let Damien watch and see that it is not that bad!! Don't know if it worked or if he just isn't scared of him...But we got a picture with Santa and there were no tears!!

Now I know he looks scared but if you were there for the whole thing...You would have seen a very calm child that just wanted to get it over with so he could see the picture after it was taken!! LOL!! Oh and his mommy brided him with a peppermint!! That is what he is holding onto....hehehe!!

Damien and Santa....2008

Our family pic...trying to keep up the tradition

Well, even though we are minus one....I was trying to keep up the tradition and get a "family" photo to go out in our Christmas Cards. So, this is the best that we could do with just Damien and I running back and forth to the camera...lol!! Enjoy and you should be getting these soon!!

Damien by the tree

Damien and Me

Here we are again

Getting into the spirit...

Well, after Thanksgiving...My good friend Cassie came over and put up my christmas lights for the house! And then the following week, she came back and helped me lug my tree into the house and put it in the stand!If it wasn't for her...I wouldn't be all ready for Christmas!!

And these pics are the result of having good friends while your hubby is deployed!!

Our home

Our tree!!

Black Friday...

I will admit...I never went out the day after Thanksgiving to go shopping. I normally would have to work that day! And since I usually saw what it looked like while I was working...I never thought I would be one of those that would get up and go!!

Well, this year...I gave it a try and even brought Damien with me. I know...I know!! Am I crazy...guess so. But I wasn't in the mind frame of...."I GOT TO HAVE IT!" So, I was able to protect my son from the CRAZY's and keep him out of harms way.

He did really great...considering he was up since 4am!! He didn't run away in Toys R Us. He stood in line and played with the toys next to us. He had a few mini meltdowns but all in all...he was a trooper!!

Would I do this again? Probably not for a very long time! Maybe to buy some thing for my house or us. But not for Christmas gifts!! My goal from now on is to have everything bought and wrapped by the 1st of December...lol!! I know...wishful thinking but one day I will be that on top of it!!

So, to all of you that went out and shopped with all the CRAZY's...hope you found what you were looking for!! I know they weren't selling what I wanted most...lol...and that was...SLEEP!! But I did have fun spending time with Cassie and got to check off another life experience....SHOPPING ON BLACK FRIDAY...check!!

Thanksgiving....

some of the yummy food

more of the yummy food
and the last of our spread!!

Damien and Nathan enjoying themselves!!

and of course...my extended family...

Jessica, myself and Cassie!!

went very well. This year, like last year, I was without Barry! So, a few of us....Jessica and Cassie....combined our families and had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner!! The kids enjoyed each other and I know we enjoyed our adult conversation!!

We had so much food between the 3 of us...you would have thought we were trying to feed a family of 10...lol!!!

I am so blessed to have great friends in my life bc without them....I would have been in my house with Damien and the dogs...eating who knows what for Thanksgiving Dinner!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and was able to share it with people they love!!

All our love,
the Sledds

Damien got a new bed....

Well, with us having another baby soon. We felt it was time to transition him into a Big Boy Bed before Lance arrived. He was sleeping in the crib but it was changed to a toddler bed. He did really well in it and I was a bit nervous as to how he would react to the new bed.

He did better than I could have ever imagined....he can get in and out of it with no problem! He had a bit of an issue in the begining bc he was nervous bc he couldn't touch on the very last step but he got over it rather quickly!! I think the only problem we are having is that he is having too much fun in his room now and doesn't like sleeping....ugh!!

I can't believe we have a Big Boy now!! He looks so tiny in his new bed!! And in the pics...I am still working on making it both the boys room...so the decore is slowly getting done. So, don't mind the craziness going on the walls!!

Enjoy the pics....

hugs
Marie and Damien

Damien's Birthday

opening presents

eating the cake

helping mommy cut the cake

wearing his party hat

Standing by his presents

Has come and gone!! We did have a party for him...he got to share it with some friends of his!! Even though it was a small gathering...he still had so much fun with his friends. I am sure the cake and ice cream was the best part!!

He really surprised me this year bc he was really interested in the gifts. He wanted to pick which one was next and he wanted to open it on his own!! He even was very animated everytime he opened a new one!! It was very cute to watch!!


I wish all of our friends and family could have been here to help celebrate but he will have many more!!


Hope you enjoy the pics!!
Love to all,
Marie and Damien