Santa came last night!

Christmas Eve
Daddy spent the night before Santa's visit putting together Lorelai's big present, a baby nursery.

Lorelai was careful to cut the ribbon from her packages with her new "cutters". She was given a pair of sissors to make Christmas cards to send out this year.



Here she is with the new tent. After we put this together she didn't want to open any more until the next day when Santa came.

Daddy spent the night before Santa's visit putting together Lorelai's big present, a baby nursery.




Christmas Day
Lorelai had to wait for mom and dad to get out of bed before she could go into the living room to find what the big man had brought for her. She thought Santa was coming to see her tree, so she was excited to see he brought her more presents.

Lorelai has her own nursery now, like the one her baby brother will have soon.

Christmas Letter

Family and Friends,

This last year feels like it has been busy and we are looking forward to an even busier next year. Our Christmas letters are late again this year, but this time we have a good excuse!

Our year started with a trip to Texas in February. Cherish and Lorelai arrived a couple of weeks earlier than Loren, but arrived with the Flu. By the time Loren joined them in Texas, mom and baby were getting the second round. Our time there felt like a big blur due to all the medications we had to take. Thanks to everyone who had to take us in and take care of us. It was a nice visit anyway and we had a great time when the DayQuil was working.

In September Cherish and Lorelai headed to Colorado for a couple of weddings of very good friends. We stayed with the Woodman’s for a week and let all the kids play together - busy bunch at their house! We also stayed at the Power’s home in the Springs. “Uncle Cliff” is now one of Lorelai’s favorite people, she didn’t want to leave his side and still talks about him. In Denver we stayed with the Elrod’s and what a wonderful week we had there. Lorelai and Sabrina were fast friends and we look forward to them being friends for a long time to come.

As both weddings were on the same day we were overwhelmed seeing so many people we miss. We also met new friends and hope to get to know everyone better. The weddings were beautiful and it was very heartwarming to see our friends so incredibly happy.

Cherish’s Dad, TJ, visited in the beginning of December to see Lorelai. It was nice to have time to let granddaughter and grandpa get to know each other without any interruptions. Grandpa TJ helped her decorate the Christmas tree and Lorelai showed him her skills building with Legos and playing her piano.

Loren has orders that will move us back to Colorado in June. We are working out where we want to live, but before we can think of anything else we need to have our baby boy. He is due at the end of January, but we expect him early. He is going to be a very big baby and Cherish is feeling every new ounce!

Because we are on travel restrictions, due to the baby’s due date, we will be spending a quiet Christmas at home. This is the first Christmas Lorelai really understands that Santa will be visiting the house, but right now believes he is coming to see the Christmas tree. Next year of course will be different, as she will know that Santa brings gifts and leaves them under the tree on Christmas Day. We are trying to make this a special holiday as it is her last before becoming a big sister and no longer the only child.

We hope to see lots of friends this next year to catch up. If you are interested, we keep a little running journal online for Lorelai, and soon her brother. It can be found at http://LorelaiSchaffer.blogspot.com.

Lots of love,

Loren, Cherish & Lorelai Schaffer

Lorelai Meets Santa

Lorelai had the chance to meet Santa at a Christmas party at Parker's house. At first she was a little scared and she and Emma Grace stayed on the steps.


Eventually she came around and came down the stairs on her own. Santa had to talk her down, but he did a good job.












She wasn't so sure about sitting on his lap but she did it so we could take a few pictures!

Grandpa TJ's visit

Grandpa TJ recently visited NC to see Lorelai for Christmas. As Cherish can hardly move most days, Loren got to spend a lot of time with his father-in-law. When we were not eating out, we were Christmas shopping.

We decorated a Christmas tree and Lorelai had a fantasitc time. She loves to hang the ornaments, so the bottom of the tree looks much different than the top of the tree. We let Lorelai put the 1st ball on the tree. She keeps telling us that Santa is coming to visit us to see her Christmas tree. We guess after her "Santa visit" this year she will know why Santa really comes to visit!

We have created another Lorelai original ornament to be sent to the family. I hope someone in our family appreciates the gift every year as it is special to us when we make them.




Lorelai posed for us and I had to include a few pictures.

New Jammies from Mima

A box arrived for Lorelai - it had new jams from Mima! Here she is posing with her new puppy too.

Thanks Mima!!

My New Brother

On Halloween we went to the doctor and got to see the new baby with 3D/4D. Here are a few pictures.

The technology to make these is incredible. I was worried about the "dent" in his nose and was assured it has something to do with the umbilical cord creating a shadow. There was no way to get away from it distorting his nose as it is right in front of him. How it is we don't see the cord at all is confusing to me - but they promise that is what it is.

He is in the 78th percentile - totally oppisit from Lorelai. He has the really chunky cheeks to prove his size.

Trick or Treating

Piglet

Halloween started with a playgroup party on Saturday. There were lots of tricks and treats at Goss Farms including an Hayride.












Piglet & the Pirate

On Halloween, Lorelai and Joey set out in costume to do a little Trick or Treating. They returned to the house only to hand out their Treats to the others knocking on our door. We didn't have to worry about having lots of candy left over for the kids to eat, but we didn't get any either!

Pumpkins

Getting Ready for Hallow's Eve

Sarah and Joey joined us on Friday night to get ready for Halloween. We carved pumpkins, this was the first time Lorelai was to see the inside of one up close.

The kids didn't seem to mind digging the seeds out with their bare hands.

But they were soon bored with cutting the fancy patterns into the pumpkins. Sarah and Loren worked for several hours to make the cutouts just right.

See the pictures of the lit pumpkins. These should really impress the trick or treaters!

Flea Market Trip

The Power's Girls and Lorelai and I went to the Flea Market in Colorado Springs. We had a jolly good time. Lorelai ended up bringing home (the Power's home - didn't really fit in the luggage) a little scooter. You wouldn't think they would sell many in that tiny size!

Hayley was a good sport and road on the boats even though Lorelai wouldn't get in.

Power's Visit

While we were visiting Colorado, we spent a lot of time at the Power's house. Lorelai had a very nice time with her "uncle"! She couldn't leave him alone.

Lorlelai also had fun with Haley and Leigha. In the pictures she is catching grasshoppers.

Dress-Up

Cinderella

Lorelai got a box full of dress-up clothes and she can't get enough of it. Everyday she dresses up and normally wears a crown and high heels. Here she is pictured close to bedtime so she has lost the shoes and crown.

Here she is helping mom mop the kitchen floor. While cleaning, Lorelai knows that it is important to wear rubber gloves to protect her manicure.







Joey came over for a playdate. He wanted to play dress up and found a lovely matching purple tutu and fairy wings.


Joey had a great time until he needed to use the bathroom. He realized then that holding the skirt up was too much trouble and took it off.