Shameless Christmas cute baby photo spread

On Christmas Eve we all got dressed up for midnight mass. Since we don't do that very often up here in Alaska, we took copious pictures.

Of course Isabel is still enjoying her new found independence as an ambulatory being, so we had to literally chase her with the camera.

This photo looks like we commissioned someone to take her photo or paint her portrait.

Doesn't she look like we lifted her right out of a Renoir painting here, somber expression and all?

Christmas photo spread

Christmas day morning the three of us opened our presents together as a family. Isabel loved her gifts and finally got the hang of opening them. Of course she wanted to stop and play with each item as she opened it so the whole process took a very long time.

Grandma Priscilla sent this book which has a bluebird building a nest and adding real fibers, increasing the nest size with every page. The last page is a pop up with baby birds and Isabel makes this funny face in reaction every time.

Christmas evening, we went to Matt and Jaime's house for dinner. They gave Isabel another present and by now she is a gutty veteran at the art of opening presents.

Family trip to Seward

As always seems to be the case when we travel to Seward, the sun busted through the clouds and we had beautiful weather. This time blizzards raged behind us, but we kept ahead of them.

Here we are in front of the Sealife Center which is free for Alaskans on Wednesdays in winter. We practically had the place to ourselves. Isabel got to touch sea creatures, like anenomes, and to see sea lions, octopuses, and many fish. Her favorite part was stepping outside to view sea birds up close. They splashed her and made funny calls and made her laugh. I think she'll be birding with mommy in her future.

I guess I'm a sucker for pretty mountain scenery.

Isabel in a new outfit from Grandma Karen. She looks like such a little lady.

Christmas activities

Isabel opened a gift from Aunt Kristin a bit early and felt she needed to try the clothes on immediately.

Jenny made the cookies her mom always made around Christmas and Isabel helped with the sprinkles, but proved to be a bit over zealous with the shaker.

Isabel squatting in intense contemplation....should I grab a present, tear off an ornament, or turn and play with my nativity set? She does each of these things several times a day.

While visiting family in MN Isabel fell in love with uncle Jonny's taxidermied deer, so Jon and Christa sent this whitetail backpack and Isabel loves it and hugs it all throughout the day.

Winter Wonderland

Isabel has been enjoying her new table and chairs from Grandma Priscilla, to draw on her fish chalk board. She is moving around quite good now! One of her favorite pastimes is removing everything from the cupboards.

We still try to get outside as much as we can in the cold temps.

She likes to test her new walking skills to get to the tree and pull off the ornaments before mom and dad realize what she is up to!

More MN trip pics from Fall 2009

In all the years I have deer hunted, we traditionally go to Grandpa Aloysius's house first. This year was no exception. I wanted Isabel to see her Great Grandpa again. He couldn't get over how big Isabel is or rather how heavy. He also thinks Isabel inherited his hairline. Grandpa always makes us laugh. Isabel with her Grandpa and Great Grandpa.

Isabel modeling the new hat Grandma bought her. She was checking herself out in the mirror.

Scotty with the nice buck he shot on MN opening deer hunting morning on our land near Staples MN.

The 3 guys who were lucky enough to see deer opening morning. Shane, Jeffy, and Scotty.

Isabel turns 1

Isabel turned 1 on Nov. 4th. She enjoyed birthday celebrations with both the Pariseau and the Sobiech-Pyka sides. Great Grandma made an angel food cake, mommy spread cool whip and strawberries on it, and Grandma supplied the balloons and candles.

Naturally the bright red berries immediately caught Isabel's eyes and she started plucking them off, as soon as the cake was within her reach.

While mommy was busy picking up a berry off of the floor, Isabel decided to decorate her hair.

Isabel enjoyed her gifts once they were open but she doesn't understand that presents need to be opened. She seems to think the pretty box is the present.