Merry Christmas, Happy New Year...and Happy Valentines Day (at the rate I'm going, I won't post again until then)

What a joyously busy holiday season we had! It all began with the completion of my fall semester at MACC on December 16. I celebrated by going out to dinner, eating cake and ice cream, and watching my mom open presents...okay, so all of that was really for mom's birthday, but it was a nice way to end the semester.

Grandpa and Grandma Beaverson came from Traverse City for a visit, and met their great granddaughter. They arrived on the 18th, and spent the next 5 days with the Missouri Beaversons/McDonalds. It was great to see them again. I really miss seeing them as often as I did when we lived in the same town! I was tempted to stow away in the back of there car when they left for Michigan, but I knew that Aaron would miss me, so I didn't.

Aaron, Lily, and I opened our presents at home on Christmas Eve when Aaron got home from work. I can't wait until next year when Lily will understand Christmas a little bit more...there's nothing comparable to the excitement and anticipation of a child at Christmas.

On Christmas day we went to church, then headed out to my parents house. We spent the day with dad, mom, and Chris...we opened presents, ate, played games, and simply enjoyed each others company. It was a wonderfully relaxing Christmas day.

Next on our holiday plate was the arrival of my Uncle Sam, Aunt Debbie, cousin Jonathan and his wife Ruth, cousin Lacey, and Grandma Lacey. We always have a fun time when we get together. Every year (actually, these traditions only just started last year) we have a poker tournament (no cash, just chips), and a gingerbread building contest. I am proud to say that I won the poker tournament, but, sadly, I lost my champion status in the gingerbread building contest...oh well. Aaron, Jonathan, and Chris also started a new tradition this year - they blew up all of the gingerbread houses with guns. Just guess whose idea that was.

To sum up our Christmas season, we traveled to South Bend, Indiana. We visited Aaron's parents, brother Chad, his wife Erin, and their almost one-year old daughters, Claire and Elaina, and Aaron's sister Lora, her husband Adrian, and their son, ten-month old Cole. We also saw an assortment of Aaron's other relatives and friends. It was wonderful to see everyone again, and incredible to see how my nieces and nephew have grown! We now know what we will be dealing with in a few months...

As of today, Lily Ann McDonald is four-months old! She spends her time singing, teething (aka screaming), rolling around, reaching for things, grabbing (especially mommy and daddy's faces). She is so much fun! I love play, talk, and snuggle with her...and, for now, she enjoys playing, talking, and snuggling as much as I do. It is amazing to watch her grow, and to see her skills improve. She is learning new things to do and new sounds to make every day...it's really quite inspiring.I apologize for the month and a half that I have sloppily stuffed into this entry. As you can tell, it's been a very hectic month and a half. I hoped to do a strictly Lily entry very soon.

God bless!