Ahhh...unwinding after the holidays....

Christmas was so wonderful, but the week after topped it in my book! I got to spend lots of time with my two favorite people, Andy and Camryn! All week we took it easy and chilled as a family...a great feeling after two months of coaching, thesis, subbing, party-planning, baking, and the list went on. This week, there was no list, no school, no work...now that's a vacation! Here's a few pictures of Camryn enjoying some of the things she got for Christmas, including her pony and art table.

This week we also introduced Camryn to what we know to be, quite possibly, the most fun video game ever....Karaoke Revolution! One might argue that it's predecessors Guitar Hero or Rock Band would be voted the most fun, but I strongly disagree. Although very entertaining and it's wicked-cool to fake-play an instrument, the most amusing instrument by far is the human vocals. Even someone that might not have fine-tuned chords cannot deny the entertainment value that this game brings (especially after 2:00 am). The best part is, there's an assortment of songs from all genres. And since I know next to no rock songs, Karaoke Revolution gets my vote. Here's Camryn and Andy (sorry honey :) belting a tune over break...

And the fun continues....Reeves Christmas!

And our last visit, but certainly not least, was visiting the Reeves side of the family in Arlington Heights, Chicago. This is Andy's mom's side of the family. Here's annual cousins photo. Of course the highlight of the evening for most was the gift exchange...But for little Camryn and Megan, the highlight was being the official paper-picker-uppers for the evening! They brought every little piece to Uncle Dick for proper disposal. The girls just started picking up the paper on their own too...

They picked up every little piece of paper off the floor. And what a great job they did!

....you did a great job too Uncle Dick!

Kolzow Christmas in Chicago

Wow, what a great looking family! Here's the entire Kolzow group on Christmas Day in Chicago! Although we had a ton of snow in Michigan, it was a pretty good drive around the lake this year. Camryn did wonderful - she slept the whole way and joined right in the party! She was especially excited to see Grandpa and Grandma Kolzow!

Don't you dare smile Camryn! This is Cami and Aunt Rachel (Rakkle, as Camryn says). She also got to see Uncle Jeff (Beff), but missed Uncle Tim (Bim) this year on Christmas day.

A big family means big fun. There was lots of things going on in the house before we all opened presents. Camryn prefered the steps where she soaked in all the activity.

There was lots of catching up to do. All the girls sat together and talked...then they must've got tired of actually talking, so they texted one another instead... still sitting next to each other... Rock band anyone?

How about packman or a game of pool?

Come on Andy, you know you want to join in!

Or should the caption be "You know you're the old cousin when..."

Christmas Morning! Our house

Camryn was so much fun this year on Christmas morning. She got the hang of opening presents really quickly which was a good thing - Andy and I both admitted we went a little overboard on her this year, but it was totally worth it. The big item from Santa this year was a rocking horse. It's perfect size for our little peanut! She's able to hop on and off herself and boy can she rock!

Camryn just loves babies, so of course we had to get her a doll. As soon as she saw the baby doll she got so excited and said 'open pease?' When we got the baby out of the box she immediately pretended to feed, rock and burp her. She'll be a great big sister someday!

(No, we're not pregnant, so don't start spreading any rumors!)

She also got a cute little tutu that was made just for her by a lady I work with. I didn't even know Cami knew how to dance like a little ballerina. That was a fun surprise when we put the tutu on her Christmas morning. Our great friends, the Carvers, also got Cami a tutu this year, so now she has quite the ballet attire whenever she wants to dance - which is quite often!

And Daddy picked out an Elmo laptop for Camryn that teaches shapes, numbers and colors. This generation is going to be so beyond us with all the snazzy learning toys they have now. It's amazing what they have for one-year olds!

Lesiewicz Christmas

The movie 4 Christmas' has nothing on us. We started the family get-togethers the Saturday before Christmas and kept partying until the day after Christmas with all our family. We had such a wonderful time seeing everyone over the holidays. Here are some highlights of the Lesiewicz get-together on Christmas Eve....
Camryn just loved pointing out the snowman, baby Jesus and Santa ornaments on the Christmas tree. It became a fun game for her and a great way to keep her occupied while Mom got food ready for all the Christmas parties.

Grandma and PaPa Lesiewicz with Camryn before the party starts.

Although Cami absolutely adores her Aunt Marisa, she refused to smile in a photo with her.

All the kids played so great together. The house was packed with our huge family and all the kids did so great. And when I mean all the kids, I mean ALL the kids...

Almost all the grandkids and great-grandkids are pictured above. We missed you Michael! Everybody else was able to make it safely with all snow, even the Martins from North Carolina trucked it back to Michigan for Christmas this year with the 4 kids, Brian came from Milwaukee and the Reygaerts came from Detroit. We were so happy to see everyone! Especially John Martin who is back from serving in Africa. We're all so proud of him. Thanks John for your service!Camryn just loved baby cousin Cate. She clobbered her with kisses and hugs.
The night wouldn't have been complete without a visit from Santa. All the kids were so excited and this year he passed the test - none of the kids noticed it was Uncle Ed!Camryn sat tight with Daddy when Santa arrived. We tried to get her to go closer, but she started crying and shaking and ran right back to daddy's lap. And as an excellent finish to the family Christmas party, John and I were the 2008 Lesiewicz Family Pool Tournament Champs. I have a shiny new trophy that proudly sits on my mantle, a few bucks in my pocket from the side bet, and bragging rights for the whole year. Priceless.

Camryn - 18 months!

Wow! It's amazing to me how much Camryn has changed each month since she was born...and in a blink she's a year and a half! Here's what we're enjoying so much now that she's 18 months:

• She has curls in the back of her hair. She hasn't had a haircut yet, which daddy's itching to do, but I'm totally holding off - I can finally put her hair in pigtails. She looks so adorable when her curly pigtails bounce up and down when she runs.
• Camryn loves baby dolls and carries one around the house and out and about wherever she can. She changes, feeds, cuddles and puts her baby to bed. Just this week she started singing to the baby too. Oh, melt my heart!
• She talks (babbles) a lot, and usually repeats one word out of a sentence when we talk. I will say "Cami, do you want to sit on the couch" and she'll say "Ouch" (couch) confirming the question. Or "let's go eat" and she'll say "eat". I think she actually talks quite well for her age.
• She says "Ay" for "yes"...it's hilarious to hear my child talk like a pirate.
• I'm putting money down that she'll be a breeze to potty train. Right now, every time she goes #1 or #2 she announces "poopy" and points to her diaper. Sometimes she'll even bring the diaper pad out of her room, along with her diaper, spread it out on the floor and lay herself down on the pad. I may be a little bias, but I think that's pretty darn amazing!
• Camryn has always been a good sleeper and especially good at going to bed. Our nighttime routine consists of picking up toys and then we tell her it's time for ni-night. She walks into her room, helps me turn off the lights, turn on her CD, we say bedtime prayers and she goes right to sleep.
• She has twelve teeth. 4 on top, 4 on bottom and 4 molors.

I could go on and on. Each day is so amazing. Her personality lights up the room when she's in a good mood or a bad one. Along with all the joys she brings, she's showing us her temper lately too. She's starting to throw some good fits and is starting to test our parenting abilities. Lord, help us with this persistent child! But the fits usually only last a little bit and she's back to her joyful self. She's a social butterfly like her mommy and daddy and definitely makes herself known wherever she is. When we go to the mall, she stops and says "Hell-oo" to everyone she sees. She says hello just like that Seinfeld episode...those of you who know what I'm talking about are chuckling right now. The best for us is when we come into a room and she says "mommy" or "daddy" and happily runs toward our arms. Words can't describe the way that tickles my heart.

Love you Cami! Happy year and a half!