Christmas Parties Galore...

Ahhh...we made it to Monday! What a full weekend. Friday night we had a Christmas party in Grand Rapids with some friends that Curt works with. On Saturday, we trekked over to Detroit for another of Curt's work parties. It was fun to put names and faces together of all the people he works with on the east side of the state. And on Sunday, Grace and I drove to Holland to celebrate a friend's 30th birthday (Happy Birthday, Al!) only to hustle back for our small group party back in Kalamazoo. I feel like I've been in the car all weekend, but we did have a great time catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.

I'm busy going over my shopping lists to make sure that we haven't forgotten anyone on our list. I thought I was doing well on wrapping things and organizing them, but there is now a interesting-looking mound of wrapped and unwrapped boxes in the basement. Hmmmm....how did that happen? I'm sure we'll get it all figured out!

Here is a fun picture of Joel and his buddy Brady. They got to hang out together at our place the other night. Joel had so much fun (as you can see in the picture!).

Joel and Grace are really starting to interact more. They love to play together although Joel often gets a little frustrated when she joins him in what he is doing. She tends to steal his toys and that doesn't go over so well! Here are the two buddies snuggling on Joel's new Cars couch watching the Grinch who stole Christmas. (It will be interesting to look back at Grace's baby pictures when she is older. I'm convinced that 80% will have her sucking her thumb and holding her ear!!)

Grace is so busy these days. She turned ten months old today. We can't believe how fast this first year is flying by. She always has a smile on her face and she has lots to say...I can't wait until I can actually understand her! She does say "Mama" and "Dada" and she points to everything and asks "That?" (as in "what is THAT?) She's an inquisitive one. She's starting to repeat more and more of the words and sounds we make for her, and she's still our snuggler. Whenever we leave her with a babysitter or even in the nursery at church, someone is always holding her when we come to pick her up! Today was the first day she figured out how to stand up in her high chair. I turned around to see her jumping up and down in her seat. So...that's great.

We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends!