Patches One Year Anniversary!

A year ago this past July, a kitten was living in our backyard. We were content feeding her there and having her visit us as we ventured outside. But last winter that attitude changed. In December, we had a HUGE snowstorm the week of Christmas. After we returned from our holiday trip to NEPA, we did not see her for 2 days and were beside ourselves thinking that she had not made it through the storm. Well she did and as soon as we saw her we knew what we had to do. So the next morning-December 28, 2009 we caught her(which was as simple as picking her up and putting her into a cat carrier) took her to the vet where she wrapped the staff around her paws as well. After a troublesome start, (Bear and Cali weren't exactly thrilled with our addition) she made herself at home. Even Bear and Calianne are do more than just tolerate her, they love her too!

Making herself at home.

Pretty sure she likes her indoor digs MUCH better than the backyard.

Patches and Claire were FAST friends!

Here they are watching tv together.

Back when she would wear her collar and bell.

Utilizing Claire's baby bed for an afternoon nap.

We came home one day to find that she had unraveled

an ENTIRE ball of yarn all over the first floor.

She has grown up alot over the past year.

Checking out her first Christmas tree.

We are so happy we brought this little stray into our home and our hearts!!

Christmas!!

Oh what a wonderful holiday season it has been! Claire enjoyed several dinner parties and Christmas celebrations! But for us, her most special one was our early Christmas before we hit the road to the Atherton household. All Claire had been asking for was self-named "Pajama Baby". We thought she had forgotten about her until early this past Tuesday when she told me, in stunning detail, what Pajama Baby came with. Until this point, we thought that we would be able to get away with getting a different baby doll for her that came with less paraphernalia. Well after a frantic call to Brian and a stress filled, empty shelf trip to Target, pj baby was located and Santa was able to deliver her(thank goodness, right?)

After that, we journeyed to NEPA to celebrate the season with the Atherton family. Claire LOVED hanging out with her cousins. She practically worships Rhys and loves to "show" (tell) Anya how to do things. Her explanation of course is that Anya is still a baby and doesn't know. LOL Too cute!!

Her excitement after opening "Pajama Baby"

She could not wait to play with her!

She also got an AWESOME art easel with dry erase AND chalk sides!

"I didn't touch any chocolate Mommy!"

Listening to the Polar Express.

Surrounded by junk our little healthy eaters wanted apples :-)

Enjoying Uncle Jim's FAMOUS Pumpkin roll!

Cousins chillin before Church

The Atherton Clan!

A great family picture

we don't often get these!

Uncle Jim reading "The Night Before Christmas"

before bed.

The beauty before the chaos!

Great action shot of Jingles jumping over Mac!

Stocking time!

Don't worry, be happy!

Love the matching jammies!!

Thanks Santa!

Anya loving her baby doll!

Super cute Mommy and Me picture!

Claire loved playing with Anya!

Beautiful Princess blanket from Grams and Poppy!

By request, it has already been washed and put on her bed :-)

Little People Farm, also a HUGE hit!

YAY more Jammies!!

December Dinner Parties

This has been a great month, our family celebrated a wonderful Hanukkah and now we are onto Christmas and all its festivities! The decorating is done, the cookies are baking, the presents are wrapped and the house smells WONDERFUL!! We hosted two holiday dinner parties this weekend celebrating the season with The Bonsalls' and Pribulas'. I have also included odds and ends from decorating, with pictures of Patches discovering her first Christmas tree. We took all the decorations down last year before we rescued her, so the tree and all its glory is a new found playground for our little darling. She actually tried climbing it. Something that her older and slightly more rotund fur-siblings haven't tried in YEARS! But alas the tree has been up for a week and it is still standing, only the occasional snowman or bulb is found on the floor in the morning.

Our festive abode`

Claire picked out the snowman and reindeer sitting on the porch.

From the mind of Patches:

"Hmm, I wonder why there is a tree sitting here.....?"

Our Princess, tree and all the presents!!

Claire and "baby" Emma hanging out before dinner.

She still does not call her "Emma"

Emma opening her baby doll.

Although, we had to hide it from Claire because she

was close to hijacking Emma's gift.

Opening her gift from Uncle Nick and Aunt Stacey.

She LOVED her Princess dress-up shoes and crown!

An after dinner snack!

"Here baby Emma, you sit here!"

TAKE DOWN!!

Emma was so excited to see our cats.

She talked to them and tried to get to them but

our stuffed Christmas kitty is the only one who actually stuck around.

Saturday night Aunt Chelle, Uncle Eric and Nick came over.

Claire is "helping" Nick open his present.

Aunt Chelle hit the JACKPOT on Claire's gift.

It was a set of baby items: pack-n-play,

stroller, high chair and baby seat!

Claire LOVES it!!

Nick trying on his Toy Story dress-up clothes!

"To infinity and BEYOND!"

Patiently waiting for Daddy to finish putting together her loot.

"Come on Daddy, sleepy baby is waiting for you..."

How many Dad's does it take to assemble some baby stuff??

This was ADORABLE! Claire brought her baby to Uncle Eric

and asked him to hold her "boo boo" ice on her head cause she fell.

A female Buzz Lightyear!!

No that's not Woody....It's Jessie!

Watching Sleepy Baby sleep in the new pack-n-play.

Strollin', strollin', strollin', get that baby strollin'!