Ward Christmas Party

On December 17th, we had our ward Christmas party. It seems like some people have certain expectations that a ward Christmas party should meet. Some people expect ham and funeral potatoes to be served. Others want something nontraditional. Some expect Santa Claus to pay a visit; whilst others think it should focus more on Christ. In my opinion, a ward party should entice the members of the ward to get to know one another in a less sacred setting and share talents. That is exactly what our ward Christmas party did this year. (I guess it was actually last year)


before we left for the party

The Saturday before the ward Christmas party, auxiliary leaders and elders quorum members went to the homes of all the less active and nonactive members of our ward with a plate of cookies and a paper and personal invitation to attend the party.
It was a brilliant idea, and it actually brought out a lot of people. The gym was packed with people - I never knew our ward was that big.

The theme this year was Christmas around the world. Each table was decorated with artifacts from various countries around the world. After the traditional dinner of ham and funeral potatoes, different groups of people sang Christmas songs from various foreign countries. This included an amazing piano performance from a 10 year old Korean boy, and Rudolph the red nosed reindeer in Korean.

After the performances, the bishopric members dressed up as the three wise men and retold the Christmas story. We all joined in singing Silent Night, then Jingle Bells. At the end of Jingle Bells, Santa Claus made his appearance. I was really impressed with how quickly everyone moved through the line. Baby cakes and I were at the end, but we only waited for 15 minutes. Unlike the two babies before her, Eliza didn't mind Santa Claus at all. She didn't smile, but she didn't scream. She seemed content. It could have been because she was dressed as Santa's little helper.

New Tricks

In the long time it's been since I have posted, Eliza has learned some new tricks.




One of her favorite things to do is suck on her toes. She especially likes her big toe. During a diaper change or bath time, her toes go instantly to her mouth. When she is sitting on my lap, she will bend over until her mouth can reach her toes. If she has socks on, she has learned how to pull them off in order to access her toes. In all actuality, she has been doing this for the greater part of two months. (I'm just slow at documenting things).



She can also roll over super well. When we put her on her stomach, it is almost instantaneous. It takes her a bit longer to roll from back to stomach, but she certainly can do it - quite regularly too. The other afternoon, she rolled across the living room. She has finally figured out that if she wants something that is out of her immediate reach, she can still get to it by rolling over. What a cutie.





She loves to blow raspberries - it's so cute when she does it too. Her tongue comes out, she squeals with delight, then blows some raspberries. Adorable.


Last but not least, she can pretty much sit up on her own. She still topples occasionally so I never leave her alone when she is sitting. She topples when there is something just out of her reach that she wants.



Aren't these pictures so cute. Eliza and daddy reading scriptures together as part of the regular morning routine. So Cute!

Baby Cakes turns 5 months

Let me think...

What new things can I do?



My cheeks have gotten a bit chubbier.

I am good at eating off a spoon. In all actuality, I will eat (or try to eat) anything that comes within close proximity of my mouth - this includes mommy's hair.

I decided that I only want mommy to rock me to sleep. Mommy has to rock me to sleep, because I have a much harder time falling asleep on my own when laid in my crib than I did a month ago. I usually take 2 naps a day, and extended my bedtime to 8:30 or 9:00. Way too easy!!

I don't take a binky anymore. I was pretty fickle about it before, but now I outright refuse. Mommy tries to give me one to help me fall asleep. Binkies make good chew toys, and excellent rockets. I launch them pretty far when I grab them out of my mouth and propel them across the room.

I love my car seat. Something about it just makes me plain sleepy. I like sitting in it, but I don't like getting buckled in.



I play with toys. Here I am with my friend Cookie Monster. My favorite toys are my crazy bird and my stuffed giraffe, Georgina. Mommy finds Georgina's voice a bit annoying when it sings the ABC song, but I'm pretty fond of it.



I give excellent hugs, and awesome, wet, slobbery kisses. I am still wiggly, but will snuggle with mommy every once in a while.

I love to dance - when mommy and daddy dance with me, I just can't stop giggling. I like to smile, laugh, smile some more, and watch mommy.

I like to sit on daddy's lap and listen to him read scriptures. I like to sit on mommy's lap while she reads me stories.

I love to talk, babble, and sing. I talk the most when I am chewing on my index finger, chewing on my bird, or chewing on a binky.

I like to roll onto my side, and look at the lights on the Christmas tree.
I love to suck on my toes - they are so tasty. I don't know why daddy has a hard time touching his toes - it's pretty easy for me. I can get them all the way into my mouth. I sometimes belly dance in the bathtub and on the changing table.

I like to smile at strangers, and laugh at kids. Primary is a hoot. Mommy takes me there and I spend most of the time squealing with delight, giggling, and laughing. I like to steal the kids attention - who needs to listen to sharing time anyway, right?


Most of all, I like to be happy. I like to make mommy and daddy happy, and I love all the attention I get from complete strangers who all say I'm beautiful.
Keep Smiling!

Peddler's Village - Christmas Festival

On December 3rd, Eliza and I, plus the Whipples headed over to Peddler's Village. It's a small village north of Doylestown that has a lot of small specialty shops and a festival for every occasion. Unfortunately, we didn't get there in time to see the Christmas parade, but the carolers dressed like they came right out of Dickens's A Christmas Carol, made their rounds serenading us with cheerful Christmas carols.
Peddlers village is a quaint, Victorian type setting with lots of unique things to see. The shops are a bit pricey, but if you are really into ornate collectibles, it is the place for you. There is still plenty to do and you can have a good time without spending any money. I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get any pictures of the elf on stilts

We did see the amazing gingerbread house display. Some people are way too crafty and creative for me. I wouldn't spend near as much time making a gingerbread house as these enthusiasts. However, I appreciate that some people pay attention to detail so that I can be amazed.

Baby Cakes and I in front of some amazing gingerbread houses. I particularly like the one above Eliza's head. True Victorian style - that rounded wall with the candy stain glass windows is particularly pleasing to the eye.

The Wonderful World of Disney - I'm guessing that the trees are made of fondant.

This one I like because of the pretzel fence and green house built on the side.

And my personal favorite...


How awesome that someone (a child actually) recognizes the reason for the season. They had competitions ranging from different age levels (from seniors to kids). Winners were awarded prizes. Although the nativity gingerbread didn't win any awards, it certainly stood out as one of the more simple, yet beautiful houses.

We stayed until it got dark so we could see the thousands of Christmas lights. Alternating colors through a candy cane tunnel and snowflake lights hanging from the trees - it was pretty to see. I didn't take any pictures though because as soon as the sun went down - it got COLD!! I didn't want to take my hands out of my pockets since I didn't bring any gloves.

Maybe next year we can see the parade, and bring Bruce with us too.

First Rice Cereal Feeding

Baby Cakes, you are supposed to eat what is inside the box, not the box itself.



The first rice cereal feeding was successful. I think the novelty of the spoon and sitting in her own chair played a big part of it. I'm not sure if she actually likes the cereal, or likes the idea of getting a spoon. She prefers it runny - mostly milk. I suppose the reason is that is what she is used to.

Baby Cakes has spent many meals sitting on our laps and sticking her hand in our food. I thought she would really relish eating her own, but she almost seems too impatient for it. I'm still trying to figure out the right consistency and timing it with her regular feedings.


Yummy food off a real spoon.

Some nights she does well eating it. Other times she just spits it out and cries. It's either because she is too tired to eat, it's too thick, or she just doesn't like it. She will eat it better if I sing her a silly song about how yummy it is between every bite. I know that at this point, it is mostly for fun and not a major source of nutrition, but eventually she will have to stop nursing and eat real food.



Happy girl! With that little tongue again - it pops up in almost all of her smiles now days.

Thanksgiving and Crystal Cave

For Thanksgiving this year, we traveled to Harrisburg area and had Thanksgiving dinner with some friends and their family. Christie's mom graciously invited us to her beautiful home for a couple of days to spend Thanksgiving. This is the first Thanksgiving in 5 years that I haven't cooked the turkey. (Although if you ask Bruce, he will take credit for cooking the turkey last year). Instead, I was put in charge of tying the napkins with festive ribbon, and helping create the party favor cornucopia's Eliza's hand is touching.



I'm not sure why I was put in charge of table decorating or favor crafts since it is not my forte. However, it was nice to have some table decorations since they always gets overlooked when dinner is at my house.

The food was delicious: turkey, green bean casserole, stuffing, yams, mashed potatoes, gravy, broccoli casserole, dry corn, rolls, cornbread, cranberry salad, fruit salad, pumpkin roll, and a veggie tray. Bruce was disappointed that he didn't get any pie - considering he grew up in a family that throws a pie party every year. (We are talking ~20 pies). However, we did make caramel apples complete with genuine Twix caramel.

Eliza thought she might want some turkey too. We may fight over the turkey legs when she gets older. :)



I did learn some new vocabulary words at this Thanksgiving dinner.

1) I asked our hostess if she needed any more help with anything. She told me that she didn't need any help until it was time to lift. When it was time, I told Bruce that she needs help lifting things. I thought it might be a heavy object she needed help with. Nope!! In old Pennsylvania Dutch vocabulary, to lift means to put the food on the table.
2) After we were finished eating, Christie said that we need to red (or read) the table. I asked, "how do we red the table?" Come to find out, in old Pennsylvania Dutch vocabulary, to red the table means to clear off the dishes.
3) Christie's grandma told me that when she was a kid before they could eat dinner, they had to coordinate their room up. In old Pennsylvania Dutch vocabulary to coordinate your room up means to clean your room.

Unfortunately, we didn't participate in any turkey bowl or football watching (first time in I don't know how many years), but Eliza did try to ride the donkey Otis.


Otis wasn't very cooperative. Eliza rode him long enough to snap the picture.

We crashed Erin's unsuccessful photo shoot because of above mentioned uncooperative donkey.


Neither one of them particularly enjoyed sitting in the straw filled wagon in the chilly air. It's a completely different story if you lay down in the wagon.



Yes, I know Eliza is wearing a coat and no socks. She kicked her socks off right before the picture, and her laying position hiked her pants up. We wrapped her up again before we went on our post Thanksgiving dinner walk. I'm not that terrible of a mother.

Eliza also got to enjoy a bath in this awesome tub.

We've got to get a tub like that. That is a bona fide Bruce Richards approved tub. I love how you can see her little feet poking up.



And we enjoyed some family togetherness in this family sized rocking chair.


We celebrated Black Friday by exploring the underground in a damp, dark cave. We stopped off at Crystal Cave in Kutztown, Pennsylvania.



Bruce and Eliza walking up the pathway that leads to the entrance of the cave.



This picture shows evidence that there was once water in the cave. The tour guide showed us three different proofs of water. Although it is difficult to see in the picture, this one is a little whirlpool.


Baby Cakes was pretty fascinated by the cave. She kept looking around at all the stalactites and stalagmites. Some of them were even in the shape of animals.



Eliza liked spelunking so much, she burst out into random bits of laughter throughout the entire cave. She was either enjoying the scenery or the way her mother had to maneuver through the low ceilings and jagged, wet stairs with her in the front carrier.



When the tour guide turned out all the lights and it was so pitch black that you couldn't see the hand in front of your face, I thought Eliza might get scared. Instead, she burst out into giggles, and tried taking over the tour with all her knowledge and baby babble.

We went on a nice nature trail just outside the grounds of the cave. The weather was nice - not too hot and not too cold. Eliza really liked walking through the trees - she loves being outside.



Even though it was November, Bruce brought a little souvenir home with him though he didn't find it for a couple of days. It was attached in a place he doesn't look very often. Fortunately the little tick didn't give him lymes disease.



I'm glad Eliza loves hiking just as much as her parents do.



We have so many things to be grateful for this year. Happy Holidays to everyone!

Delaware and Dupont

Our friends, The Whipples, who we met in Illinois, recently moved to Wilmington Delaware. It's only an hour drive from where we live in Lansdale so we try to get together once a month. On November 19th, we went with the Whipples to Haggley museum which is all about the DuPont company.



We walked around the river exploring the ins and outs of the museum. We saw a demonstration with old machinery of how gears were made in the early 1800's.

I was really surprised at how informative, yet kid friendly this museum was. I also had no idea how much of an impact DuPont and his chemistry discoveries have on our daily lives.
I can thank that company for many different types of material including the Spandex shorts I had to wear while playing volleyball, the knee high nylons I wear to church every Sunday, the awesome non stick frying pans (made with Teflon) I use to cook, and the coolant that keeps my food cold in the refrigerator. Not to mention the thousands of other things his polymers are found in.


From their website, Dupont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people. Chemists that work for his company developed things like gun powder, Mylar (film is made of this), Cellophane which revolutionized food packaging and marketing world wide, synthetic rubber, synthetic fiber, Lycra, Dacron (the roots for Polyester), and stain resistant carpet to name a few.

The DuPont company is responsible for shatterproof glass, the flame resistant suits and material the Nascar drivers wear.





Cutest Nascar driver around!

The material for the space suit.

Perfect for my little space explorer.




If you want to know what a magnified strand of cotton, polyester, nylon, etc. looks like, you can find out at the mini-scientist center.

Here we are sitting on a giant polymer.


I'm glad so many smart people invented so many wonderful things that make our lives a lot easier. I never knew that it used to take nearly 2.5 years to make the perfect animal hide coat. I'm sure that with today's technologies, it doesn't take near as long.



They also had a portion of the museum all about simple machines like levers, pulleys, and gears. There were hands on demonstrations of common uses of simple machines. I used a pulley to "lift" myself by pulling on a chain. Here is Eliza helping me learn about how the steering on your car works.


It's interesting to see how far we've come. Olden day blacksmiths are taken over by modern day engineers. Objects that were once made by hand and took months to complete can now be made in mass production in hours by modern machines. I would like to live in the early 1700's for a month to see if I could survive. I'd like to think that I could and for longer than a month, but maybe I couldn't - I like my dish washer and washing machine a bit too much.