Christmas with The Freijs

It's the most wonderful time of year! Christmas is special to us for so many reasons, and each year brings more memories and more blessings! We spent Christmas Eve with the entire Freij family at Amo Jack and Auntie Georgette's home. Helaina had fun playing with the cousins and grazing on the delicious food spread. It was a great evening spent with family.

Helaina's Christmas picture by the tree

Family Christmas picture

Helaina stole the show. She's the only baby in the family, and everybody is so generous to us and her. She had so many gifts to open. She climbed up in her chair, presents scattered around, and opened them all like it was her birthday.

On Christmas Eve, we tried to explain to her that while she was sleeping, Santa would bring the presents down the chimney and then eat the cookies and milk that we had left for him. So Christmas morning, we made a big deal about checking on the cookies and milk to see if Santa had come. Helaina didn't quite grasp the whole concept, but what she did notice, was that Santa had left a few bites of the cookie. Helaina said, "Santa left cookie for Helaina!" So Helaina started her Christmas morning with a sugar cookie for breakfast.

One of her presents from Santa, a Dora tent

Another present, her first bike with training wheels from Seedy, Teta and Omar

On Christmas day, we stayed home and had dinner with Randy's parents and brother.

Randy's parents ready to have some dinner

Randy, his brother Omar, and me

From our family to yours, we hope you had a very special holiday and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas Card

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Sage Snowflakes Christmas Card

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More Winter Fun

On Friday, Randy and Jeff celebrated their office Christmas party in the festive city of Frankenmuth. Since I work part-time at the office, I was more than happy to join in the fun. We did some Christmas shopping at Bronner's and enjoyed a traditional German Christmas at the Bavarian Restaurant.

Saturday was Seedy's Birthday! Helaina spent most of the day with him and Teta, while Randy and I finished up our last minute Christmas shopping and errands. In the evening, we had dinner and cake together.

Helaina is an expert at blowing out the candles. One time was not enough though, Helaina insisted we light the candle AND sing Happy Birthday another time!

On Sunday, Helaina attended her second Red Wings Hockey game! I was happy to sport my early Christmas present from Randy and Helaina, the "Rookie" maternity shirt.
We were so glad that Seedy and Teta could join us for the fun! Helaina is one lucky girl!

This Week

We're right smack dab in the middle of the Christmas season and loving every minute of it. So many things to do, but making a conscious effort to enjoy the process and give thanks for these precious moments in our life. We've done a little bit of everything this week...Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, church, extra hours at work (busy time of year for us), hockey games, shoveling through our first snow storm of the season, and lovin' some family time

Helaina giving Roscoe a ride in her baby's stroller

23 weeks, moving right along. Feeling good still, but I have had a few more pregnancy symptoms this time around...first ever bloody nose (during Helaina's swim class-errr), occasional back pain, and those lovely things called varicose veins.

Friday evening I enjoyed a wonderful night out with my boss Dr. Grant and our office staff. Northville Dental Associates Christmas Party 2010

Picture with Santa

Today Helaina took her picture with Santa. We were hopeful that she would be able to sit on his lap by herself, but no such luck! No crying, no meltdowns, just a firm "No! No!" She loves anything Santa, except for the "real" one. Standing about 2 feet away from him, she shouted "Dora backpack!" Guess she thought Santa would still be willing to listen to her Christmas request!

So for Christmas 2010, we have a family picture with Santa.

McGinley Thanksgiving

On Friday, we traveled to Valpo to continue the Thanksgiving festivities. Friday evening, I attended my 10 year high school reunion. With a graduating class of just 52 students, 12 of us met to reminisce and update our classmates on the happenings in the last 10 years.
Earlier in the day, Helaina was able to have a play date with Jon and Erin's daughter, Grace. Grace turned one earlier this week and is as cute as a button. They live in Maryland, and we enjoy every chance we get to spend with their family.

Sharing cheerios

Early Saturday morning, we visited with my mom's side of the family, Helaina's Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Walter. We played for a couple hours, had too many sweets, and stopped to see Great-Grandpa plowing the field in his tractor.

Then, we spent the afternoon/evening at the Snook residence, celebrating the McGinley Thanksgiving. We feel very blessed to be able to share quality time with both sides of our families for the holidays. Helaina loves each and every grandparent, aunt, uncle, and cousin. There were plenty of "kids" (as Helaina refers to them) to keep her entertained.

Cousin Haley, Amber, Charlie

Uncle Nathan and Helaina

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Freij Family! We hope that you enjoyed your day as much as we did ours.

We spent the afternoon at Randy's parents' home, devouring the delicious meal prepared by Randy's mom and aunt Georgette.

Hard at work

Helaina couldn't keep her hands off our cousin Alex. He just turned 13 and there is something about him that keeps Helaina right by his side. Hugs and wrestling all at the same time.