The Jordans- Cherish, Sean, Autumn and Emelia

As promised, a video of Autumn "walking". At most, Autumn can take four steps, but she is improving all the time. It was 22 below zero today out here. Autumn and I spent the morning at the gym. I worked out, then Autumn played. We had a good time, but we are looking forward to warmer weather (one day). Anyway, here is the video.

Last night Autumn took several more steps. It was so exciting. We are going to try to take a video of it so that others can see. The plan for today, go to the movies. We would like to see Bedtime Stories. After that, we are going to see the ice sculptures being put up for the 2009 Fire and Ice show. Remember Christmas day when I told you that Sean had to shovel the drive? Here are some photos from that. I know that some people think that it isn't so bad here, that there are other places that are colder and all I can say to that is---Try living here!! This is our life six months out of the year, not just a few weeks. I am grateful that the winter solstice has taken place. That means we are catapulting towards more daylight!!!!! Snowy Jeep. Snowy Sean. Today is my Grandmother's 87th Birthday. So to Grandma S. Happy Birthday!!!!!

We got off to a late start. Autumn was up past her bedtime because we went to Christmas Eve service. As I made my way downstairs, I was greeted by: Mr Prince. And: Miss Pepper Annie-looking "festive" as usual. Mr Penelope stayed hidden for most of the day. Sean and I made breakfast from a cookbook Phyllis sent me for my birthday. It was an egg, sausage, cheese, and potato pie. It was delicious and a great way to start the morning. Autumn woke up around 830 and we headed right for opening presents. The main gift Sean and I gave to Autumn was her V-Smile. It was one of two gifts she opened by herself (minus the parts the cats tore off). Autumn and the V-Smile. Checking out the gift from the Brumbergs. Autumn really enjoyed playing with the bows on the packages. Autumn and Ooopsy bear from Aunt Julie. The big hit of the day, BUBBLE WRAP! Blocks from Aunt Devonne. Grandma and Grandpa Jordan sent Autumn a ton of stuff to include: A baby stroller walker complete with a baby

Sean, Autumn and I went to Christmas Eve service here on post. Autumn acted like a savage on the way over to the church and I had half a mind to turn the car around and go home. I almost started crying. Autumn was fussing and carrying on because she hates wearing her coat. Well, the current temperature was 1 degree below zero. Sean informed Autumn that she was grounded for behaving so badly and Autumn responded by screaming louder. Anyway, the service was very nice. Autumn behaved for most of it. At the end they passed out glow sticks instead of candles. Autumn put hers in her mouth--like that needs to be lit up! It was a nice way to remember the service men and women overseas. It made me a little sad thinking about some of the ladies here alone and for the guys over there all alone. It made me think of next year and how I will be wishing Sean home. Then I look at Autumn and the sadness disappears in an instance. Here are some of our Christmas Eve photos. Please enjoy. Beaut

Autumn and I began the day shoveling the driveway. That is much more work than it sounds like. I had to get us both suited up for the ten degree weather, put her in the backpack, then head on out. It took us about an hour to finish the driveway and when we came back in, poor little Autumn's face had frost nip on it. She has now had frost nip twice. Later today, we went to visit Snowzilla. Frosty the Snowzilla man is huge!!! The local government is trying to put a stop to Snowzilla citing a building code violation. Well, I say down with the man!!!! Keep Snowzilla up. He isn't hurting anything. Anyway, here is a photo of Autumn and me with Frosty the Snowzilla man. Here is a related article in the Anchorage Daily News.

Today we finally got our photo done with Santa. As most of you know, this has certainly been a trial! Autumn has cried every time we have gone to see Santa. The first Santa Claus we went to (aka Free Slobby Santa), as soon as Sean set Autumn in Santa's lap, the screaming began. We moved along to the next Santa Claus (aka Not Free Santa, but arm and a leg Santa) and he worked with us. Autumn picked up a toy in the store, we handed it to Santa and the rest is history. Here is the photo (yes I know Autumn is not smiling, but she is not crying either---SUCCESS in my book!!).

I knew eventually it would happen, but I guess I thought my nasty cat, Pepper, would stay clear of Autumn for awhile longer. Yesterday, Autumn was crawling around, following Pepper. Pepper was underneath our dining room table when Autumn put her hand in the kill zone. Pepper growled, then swiped at Autumn. Autumn was so upset by this, that it took a moment for her to let her scream out. Autumn's little arm turned red and started to bleed just a tiny bit. Sean and I comforted her and after a few minutes, all was right with the world. Now what to do with that damn cat!

This year my birthday and Thanksgiving were the same day. We celebrated at my mom's house with about 30 people. We started the cooking process two days before Thanksgiving which turned out to be fortuitous because the oven broke on Tuesday. Dad and Great Grandpa Sam got it working after they took it almost completely apart. On Thanksgiving day itself, there was a fire in the oven. When my mom pulled out some of the foil in the bottom of the oven, she dropped it on the floor and the fire in the oven was now a fire on the kitchen floor. My dad grabbed Autumn and ran outside while my mom, great grandpa Sam and I put the fire out. Overall, it was a wonderful birthday and a great Thanksgiving. The kiddie table.

While in Georgia visiting Grandma and Grandpa Jordan, we had the opportunity to go to the World's largest aquarium. It was an opportunity I just could not pass up. I cannot think of a better way to expand a child's mind then to get them out into the world and experience things for themselves. What Autumn and Cole experienced could never be replaced by watching something on television or even looking at a book. Here are the photos. One of my favorite photos. Autumn and the Jellyfish. Grandpa Jordan and Autumn. I loved the way it felt like we were in the tank with the sea life. My nephew, Cole and his monkey back pack. The touch tank. Autumn's arms were not long enough to reach, but Cole and Devonne got to take the plunge. Grandpa Jordan and Autumn coming off the big slide. Devonne and Cole coming off the big slide. The Georgia Aquarium..

Autumn and I made it home last night around midnight and we are plain tuckered out. I haven't updated my blog in awhile and I have a ton of pictures and other things to share, so I'm going to try and update every few days. Today I would like to share with you our trip to Fantasy in Lights. Grandpa and Grandma Jordan took Autumn, Cole, Devonne and me to the light show. If you live near this attraction in Georgia, I highly recommend you go. We had an absolute blast. Autumn and I were unaffected by the cold-it was just a normal day out for us, but others may have thought it was a bit chilly. We drove around the park and saw all the lights-Autumn wasn't as excited about that as I had hoped she would be, but my nephew Cole loved it!!! Autumn was very interested in all the indoor Christmas displays (minus Santa-he scares her). We walked around and had hot chocolate. Overall, lots of fun. Cherish, Cole and Autumn Fantasy in Lights. Grandpa Jordan, Cole and Autumn.