The Enzler Family: December 2014

Friday, December 26, 2014

Your First Christmas!

Your first Christmas was with the Enzler side. Mimi, Papa, Thip and Brian came over to have dinner the Friday before Christmas. Your Mimi made a great ham, potatoes, candied nuts. Brian brought over some fantastic appetizers. I made Brussel sprouts and a salad (which we forgot about). We played Christmas music and sat at the table. It was a wonderful dinner. Unfortunately I had a little bit of pink eye myself from…ahem….yours truly. But it appeared that you had made about a 90% recovery. The eye drops were still happening and there was definitely screaming involved. After dinner, we put you to bed because you started to get a little fussy and then we opened presents. Mimi and Papa got me part of our Willow tree nativity collection that they had started for us years ago. I’m so excited about it! They got you some really neat books – one was the Night Before Christmas – that I know you will love. You are getting more interested in books although your favorite part is just to flip to the back.

On Saturday night, you got to Mimi and Papa again while your dad took me out on the town. One of our very favorite play is the Great American Trailer Park Musical that we saw years ago. There was a new Christmas edition and we were SO excited to see it. Your dad spoiled me with front row tickets. We were basically on stage.

On Sunday, Daddy D, Mommy D, Elissa and Don came over for breakfast. Unfortunately you napped through most of it but you were able to say hi. We had Bohemian Café kolaches, coffee, orange juice and breakfast burritos. After breakfast (which was more like lunch), we opened presents. You got an awesome train and remote controlled car. We set your train up and sit you in the middle. You watch it go around and around and at some point you just knock it off the tracks. Afterwards, we drove to Nonnie and Grandad’s for the annual Christmas Cookie extravaganza! This is where we make, decorate and eat a billion Christmas cookies and this year was no different. You got to hang out with Grandad for most of the festivities. You guys watched football and Sprout. It was a pretty awesome day. After cookies, your Nonnie made us beef stew (which was delicious).

I worked from home this week and for the next two days dad took you to school so that I could work but then I picked you up super early so we could hang out together. The weather actually cooperated and we were able to get some runs in before the holiday. On Christmas Eve, we went to church. We got there with 20 minutes before service and the line (like usual) was endless. I was a little nervous we weren’t going to get a seat because you dad refuses to go to over flow seating. Instead we got the front pew in the balcony – which was a little nerve wracking because you have become especially wiggly and grabby lately. You made a friend with the two ladies behind us. You loved her massive wedding ring (of course). You only got a little fussy once during the service but we gave you a bottle and you were great. Then we had the candlelight part where the congregation sings Silent Night and lights candles. During the last verse, we all hoist the candles up. You made a tiger like grab for the candle. Dad, quick on your trail, was able to blow out the candle before you got to it. And the people below had no idea that they almost became victims of the Dylan-meister.

After church, we came home and opened presents. We got you a pretty cool chair that has your name on it. You aren’t big enough for it yet but I know you will love it. Your dad started my Christmas fairy collection. It’s going to be so much fun to collect those wonderful, sparkly little fairies! After presents, we quickly packed up and headed back to McKinney for Christmas. Once we got there, we were treated (and treated is the right word) to your Uncle Brian’s cooking. He had made everything from scratch including 2 types of macaroni and cheese, duck, turkey and homemade apple pie. It was one of the best meals I have ever had. It was hard to get you to go to sleep which probably shouldn’t be surprising. It’s always hard to go to sleep on Christmas night. Once you did, we played Taboo and watched a Christmas Story (which is on 24 hours a day Christmas Eve to Christmas). When we woke up the next morning, there was a message from the Dallas Police / alarm company for your parents and a ton of presents! Around 2 AM something had set off the motion detector inside our house. Come to find out, it was probably your little trouble maker cat sister Missy! But I digress..

We opened started opening presents and then about an hour into it, you little man, had a massive meltdown. So, we skipped your turn and you took a nap through most of presents. Once you woke up, we helped you open your presents. You got some many wonderful toys such as an elephant walker, a barrel full of monkeys, a bear with your name on it, clothes (mom was excited about this), a giant giraffe walker, a rock band and a car seat (Wow. You have some wonderful, thoughtful family members). It was truly a wonderful, very special 1^st Christmas with you. After opening presents, we had brunch and it was delicious. Your Nonnie always makes eggs, bacon and potato casserole. Traditionally I bring the monkey bread. I cannot wait to introduce you to monkey bread. You will love it.

After we left McKinney, we drove back to our house. After investigating the house, everything looked to be in order. Missy was glad we were home but she was not glad when we packed her up to go to Gigi’s. Since we were going to be out of town over the next few weeks and she has to have her medicine, Gigi kindly offered to house her for a bit. Gigi made a delicious dinner with ham and other sides (including her famous strawberry pretzel casserole) and it was perfect. After we ate, we opened presents. I got two more Christmas fairies – woo hoo! Your dad got a Rolling Stones record that Gigi had framed. It was pretty cool. It was a wonderful ending to a wonderful holiday.

As for Dylan happenings... First it was a scoot with one leg out but now you have also perfected “the frog.” I don’t know how you can crawl like this. Your dad and I have tried and we can’t move like you. While sitting you lean over and smack the ground really hard with your hands and then pull your lower body to your upper body. And dear lord, you are a fast little frog! You go after door stops like no one’s business. You are getting stronger and stronger probably because of the frogging. You will be a little Hans and Franz in no time. You high five now! You are fascinated by buttons and brands on appliances. Really anything out of place you like to point out. You LOvvveeee to hang upside down - which is why we call you monkey! You have also learned how to mimic us - everything from chewing to screeching - your dad is especially in trouble when you get a little older :)

You and your Enzler cousins :)

What do you mean you don't like presents?

You LOVE to be picked up. Daddy can make anything better

that's better

Our house

At church

Christmas dinner courtesy of your Uncle Brian

you love Brownie!

and your Aunt Thip

Whoa! Santa was really busy!

You are grandad and lambie

the first present of Christmas

Over the river and through the woods to Gigi's house we go...

Some not Christmas pictures that are just too adorable not to share

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Here Comes Santa Claus

Ah December is here. This is the best time of the year. The tree and decorations are up. You even got to meet Santa – TWICE in one night. This past week we met your dad at his office last Thursday night. There was a holiday party for his campus. You were the only baby / kid there but that just meant you were at the front of the line to meet the Big Man himself. You weren’t really impressed. The party was really festive and even included a guy rolling cigars, not that you cared about this, but your dad thought he was pretty awesome. We talked with your daddy’s coworkers for a while and then we loaded up and drove to Sparkle at the Anatole. This was the inaugural night of the festival and we barely missed the tree lighting but we got to see a band, get some hot chocolate and dinner. There was an ice rink and reindeer barn, Santa’s village and even Mavs cheerleaders. You made the rounds and got a gingerbread tattoo because you are tough like that. Then we saw it. There on top of an ice mountain that looked just like the one from Christmas Story movie sat the man himself and some of his merry elves. We stood in a short line and sat you on Santa’s knee. And then….wait for it….the elves needed to change our printer cartridges or something like that….so we waited and waited. You never made a peep. You just sat on Santa’s knee looking bewildered. No freak outs or tears. I think sitting on Santa’s Lap 2014 was a success.

The next night after I picked you up we went to Company Café for dinner. Your dad dropped us off and then he went way up north to the Texas Exes Christmas party. The next morning we had talked about going to the Children’s parade downtown but you were a temperature (probably from teething) so we decided to just take it easy instead. It was a beautiful day outside. Your dad put up the Christmas lights while you and I sat in the yard. You were having so much fun just basking in the sun. You just love to be outside. That night we went to some of our dear friends (Evan and Natalie’s) wedding in Fair Park. It was a gorgeous wedding – very glam 20s. The next morning, we work up and met Nonnie, Grandad, Laura, Son, Thip, Brian and the Shaheens (Uncle M, Robin, Abby, Celia and Sam) at Cindy’s for brunch. It was great catching up with everyone.

The next weekend consisted of a lot of pink eye, a lot of ear infections, coughing, Christmas parties and a partridge in a pear tree. You do not like to be sick. Not that I blame you. And you Mr. little man were really sick. Your dad was in Austin on that Thursday night. I took you to school Friday morning and worked from home for a little while when I got the call from the director that you were running a temperature and did not feel well. When I picked you up, you looked so sad laying in a boppy. You had this eye goop and you just weren’t your happy little self. It was heartbreaking. I got you into the car and we went immediately to the doctor. Turns out you had some sort of strand of the flu, double eye and double ear infection. We put you on antibiotics and…gasp…had to start you on eye and ear drops. Every time we went to give you the drops, you would cry bloody murder. You did however like the antibiotics…so I made sure to give you those after a good blood curdle. My work Christmas party was that night but there was just no way I was going to leave you, so I informed my team that we wouldn’t be coming (which I heard we missed nothing but cold food and a failed murder mystery. So buddy, you saved us!) You fell asleep on my shoulder for a good 2 hours before I put you to bed. Your dad and I instead played poker and it turns out your mom is kind of a card shark. You are welcome.

You slept until almost 9 AM the next morning but we could see that you were getting better so we decided it would be okay to go to your Dad’s work Christmas party. Some of our friends (Steve and Cheri) came by to see the house and see you before the party, Mimi and Papa came by and then Gigi came over to watch you. Steve and Cheri brought you stacking rings, blocks and an xylophone. It was your very first Christmas present and it came in a bag with a ton of Christmas tissue. You didn’t really know what to think but with a little coaching you were loving the tissue. A good sign – you like presents. We had a great time at your dad’s Christmas party. We got our pictures made, saw a gospel choir (Cheri was picked to be a part of) and toured the library that it was held in. This library has some of the most amazing historical artifacts in it and it’s always a huge delight to go through and see it all. Afterwards, we went driving around with your Mimi and Papa through Highland Park to look at Christmas lights. Boy are we glad that they moved to Dallas and that we can share Christmas traditions with them. The next morning we went to church and went through a baptism class with you. You are on the books to get baptized in January. Your friend Connor Darnell will be baptized on the same day during the earlier service.

Hey hey! Guess what. You have new tooth. Well kind of. It’s come in ½ way. You continue to love to “talk” to us. You say “Ah duh” when you see something that you like. You saw mama and dada (you don’t know what they mean though) and ba. You dance! When a song plays (most likely Twinkle Twinkle or ABCs) you jam. It looks like a head bang. It’s the cutest little thing you ever did see. You still love anything with apples or bananas in it. I found this really great food that blends apples and bananas with green beans and kale and green stuff that you have hated. I haven’t found a pouch of food that you didn’t like. You are so ticklish on your thighs. You crack up every time I grab them. You are becoming so much more active and wiggly. You want to know how everything works.

A day at school (that's you next to Miss Jordan)