Christmas 2013

The 2013 holiday season was busy but enjoyable for the Ehmann/Losey party of five. We led off the Christmas week with a much overdue neighborhood party that mingled elementary school parents with the older neighbors that we rarely see. We spent Christmas at home and then traveled down to Atlanta to see Grandma Lu (and tick off another state). A much heralded New Year's storm gave us two extra days of vacation, which totaled two full weeks. It is true what they say that it takes one week for work to wash away in order to make the second week pure vacation, even with the craziness of a 1 year-old stumbling around the house.  

Caroline played the elf to distribute the gifts

Tessie wasn't the paper-ripping machine that we thought she'd be. That's a box of Band-Aids in her hand. I don't know what message Santa is sending, but those boxes appear in the girls stockings every year.

Erin got vicarious enjoyment out of "helping" Tessie open her gifts

Thank you so much to all of our family for the truly generous gifts

Tessie was full of smiles during her happy morning hours

You knew there had to be a Christmas outfit!

 We had an easy flight to and from Atlanta. One of the fun things about traveling with a 1 year-old is at that age they are so interactive with strangers. Aside from her nap, Tessie spent the whole time on the plane pointing at people until they smiled at her. Once in Atlanta, while Mom & Grandma Lu went to the doctor, Dad and the girls visited Alabama, a mere 1-hour drive from Atlanta out I-20.

This particular part of Alabama didn't have much to do according to the map. As it turned out, in addition to providing the requisite postcard, the Welcome Center off the Interstate and the relatively balmy air temperature of 45 were all the girls needed to have a blast.

Magnolia leaf bunnies in the Magnolia State

There were actual rose blossoms to be found and Erin used them for her fairy house. I can't remember, are the rights of fairies defended in Alabama?

The girls were a huge hit at Grandma Lu's assisted living facility

While Tessie and Mom stayed with Grandma Lu, Dad and the older girls bunked at a nearby hotel. What is Caroline riding, you ask? Why it's a 6-foot inflatable dolphin that she and Erin each wanted for Christmas and luckily received. How did 2 of these contraptions get transported to Atlanta and wind up in the hotel pool? Don't ask.

Tessie's not loving the earring stickers the girls gave her

One of Tessie's unique behaviors is this version of the cobra pose. She does it at the end of the day when she is literally exhausted. She'll sit there for 5, 10, 15 minutes, completely quiet some nights as we clean up dinner before bed. It's not easy being 1.

Tessie's Christmas

Tessie in Atlanta