Turn, Turn, Turn Aida....

Here she is with her friend Annie practicing her driving.  Good thing she has a few years....



We love you Aida!

Dancing Queen Take 2!!!

So after stopping our first dance classes because we started school and the time conflicted - we started in a new dance studio last week.  Many of you do not know that I was so into dancing all throughout my childhood and most of college.  I LOVED to dance -- I taught dance, I was on drill team in HS, I danced in College and never thought there would be a day that I wouldn't dance and I have always dreamed of the day when I would help my daughter at her busy recitals and dance competitions the same way my mom did for me. At some point in college I got serious about my future and gave up dancing...I shouldn't of...I miss it all the time.  But the point to all of this is that I really never imagined a day when my daughter wouldn't love dancing.  It just could not be that she hated it.  So we tried it last week.....

And here she is with her jacket in hand ready to get the heck out of there...she cried and sat in my lap the entire time.  I wanted to cry too...and really I did when class was over...but we were going to tough it out and watch the class the entire time even if we were not going to participate willingly....my heart was broken

Here we are before our class last week...trying it again....

And here she is...not in her ballet shoes...jacket still on because she isn't sure yet...but she is joining in with the teacher...I was crossing my fingers...

And here she is trying it...yeah!

And loving the tumbling part....she had a huge smile on her face....at the end of the video...

I was so relieved....More updates next week....

Aida's Very First Cousin....

On  December 29th, 2009 Aida's very first cousin Carolyn Reese was born to Alex's sister ReAnna and her husband Ryan. While our hearts were broken for a few days that we missed the baby's big debut, we love her more and more each day.  Aida is very excited to have a cousin and Alex and I could not be more thrilled to have our very first neice.  We are already planning all the fun things the girls will do together and pray that Aida is a great role model for her new cousin and that we teach the girls how to be "close as sisters" even though they dont live in the same town.  I know we can do this once we teach them how to text, use the phone and to use facebook :)  I am confident by the time each of them is 5 we can have this mastered :)

Alex and I went to go see the new baby once we got home from Vermont.  Here are some pictures from our great day visiting with Reese.  She is just beautiful, and Re and Ryan you are blessed. 

The "girls" have not met yet because Aida was sick when we went to visit Reese.  But she is already saying her name and asking for her "Reesie." 

Reese we love you and cant wait to make a lifetime of memories with you and Aida -- Welcome to the family sweet girl. 

Love

Your Aunt Christina, Your Uncle Alex and Your Cousin Aida

NYE 2010....

So this New Years was a quiet one for the Alford's.  Mommy and Daddy both worked and then spent their non-working time during the day at the Dr. with Aida -- who had an ear infection and a terrible cough.  This was the third trip to the Dr's office in the month long illness drama.  We had a few more visits after that.  But now we are doing much better, so all is well.

Aida loves to toast with real wine glasses.  Maybe she is getting too much practice at home :)  So we geared her up with her very own real glass poured it full of ginger ale and "toasted" to a happy and healthy 2010 at 9:00 pm on NYE.  Seriously-- I think we were all asleep by 9:30.  Aida loves to say "cheers" and cling the glasses so here she is -- sick and all -- toasting to a New Year. 

Cheers...

We were practicing our New Years kiss...

Going in for the toast...we did this about 50 times and she never got tired of it.  It was a miracle none of the glasses broke :)

Aida -- you have been our biggest joy and blessing in 2009 and we are so looking forward to even more wonderful experiences with you as we watch you grow and experience new things in 2010.  You are a kind, thoughtful, strong, and beautiful little girl and Mommy and Daddy love you to pieces.  We love you Angel Face...

Mommy and Daddy

Santa Stopped in Texas....

Santa stopped in Texas at Grandma and Paw Paw's house.  Aida had so much fun opening her gifts and visiting with my mom and Chuck.  Here are some highlights from the action. 

Sitting in my moms chair that my mom used when she was a little girl.  I used it too and now there are three generations of ladies using this pretty chair.

Opening the strawberry shortcake bat and ball from when my Aunt Noreen and family.  A pink bat, glove and basketball net and balls are going to be too much fun this spring!  Daddy will be in heaven teaching her the moves :)

Really concentrating...opening gifts is hard. 

Grandma helps out....

Doing a great job opening....

What does Grandma have?

Getting a fun stuffed puppy for Christmas in it's own silver and pink bag.  This puppy looked just like Bella from Vermont!  She loved it. 

Thank You Grandma and Paw Paws for a really great night opening presents and spending time with us.  Aida missed you and we had such a great time visiting with you. 

We Love You!

Christmas In Vermont....

This Christmas was a magical time with my family.  We went to Vermont for a week to spend time with my Dad and Donna at their beautiful county home.  Aida gets to see them only a few times a year and each time is so special.  This Christmas we played in the snow, went sledding, made snowmen, toasted marshmallows in the fireplace, attempted to go on a horse drawn carriage ride (2x), played with Uncle Michael and Courtney and loved every minute of opening all the gifts that Santa brought all the way to Vermont for Aida.  We had so many special  memories -- I will remember them forever.  I have some very cute videos coming too that I took on my new flip video recorder.  I don't know how to upload them yet to the blog so more to come on that...for now enjoy the pics of our winter vacation with the Flora Family.

Christmas Eve...we went to the Church in the mountains at the Chapel of the Snows...

Winston was one of three doggies we had to entertain Aida all week.  Our 4 legged friends were Winston, and two Maltesse puppies named Frankie and Bella (who were lucky they survived a two year old all week.)

Grandpa's favorite cookie is Oreo's and here she is trying her very first Oreo cookie and the cute messy face afterwards.  She would say "Owerooroo"

More Oreo pictures hanging out with my dad and having some relaxing time.

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What Santa left for Aida.  Someone must of been a really good girl :)

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Opening her presents with Donna.  Santa bought her this great princess outfit from the Plaza Hotel in NY.  Aida especially loved the wand. 

Getting ready to go on our first horse drawn carriage attempt.  This was such a cool thing but the weather was too warm on this day for the horses to cross over the fields and ponds.  The next time we tried to go we missed out appiontment by 30 minutes.  Better luck next year!

This is at the farm where the horses were.  They had a real dairy farm, fresh milk, fresh ice cream and fresh smells!  The smell was terrible but Aida was fascinated by what she called the "MOO COWS"  Here she is upclose and personal with Bessy.  Kuddos to Donna for holding her hand or Aida would have been trying to ride the cow I think :)

More sledding with Daddy in the front yard. 

Aida with her snowman that Daddy and Courtney helped her build. 

The day the snow really came in.  They played out side for a while but were frozen.  Here is the outside picture. 

And here they are inside right after....defrosting....

Christmas 2009 was a great time.  My brother cooked too much yummy food.  He is a great cook and everyone eats such yummy things when we are with him.  I miss my family so much, that it is hard to leave them.  Thank you Dad, Donna, Courtney and Michael for a wonderful Christmas experience for Aida.  We love you all so much!

Love,

The Alford's