Oh the weather outside is frightful.........

We endured a huge snowstorm this weekend and cabin fever has set in! We got over 20 inches of snow at the house and Brent spent all day Saturday shoveling at intervals. He would shovel for a little bit, it would quickly collect and then he was back out shoveling again. Allison and I decided to brave the elements and join in on some fun with Daddy. We made snow angels, sprayed the snow with food coloring and had buggy rides. Then we ventured to the back yard and played on the swingset. That by far was the most fun since going down the slide resulted in a big pile of snow! We came back in and drank our hot chocolate and dried off and then spent the rest of the day watching the snow collect.



Sunday, we dug out and played some more. We also met our friends Tony and Aubry for lunch at Allison's favorite place! It was nice to get outside and actually leave our house. Monday the government was closed so Brent stayed home with us and we played some more. This time we stayed exclusively in the backyard and played on the swingset and even Bailey was acting like a younger version of himself and playing in the snow. So fun. I venture to think that by Christmas, it will just be a big mess. Although I imagine the surgeons I work with are very excited to start treating a variety of fractures, dislocations and tears!

Tumble Track

Here is her tumble track "routine"

Tumble Track at Gymnastics from Katie Booker on Vimeo.

Seat drops

Allison took another session of gymnastics at Cardinal gym in Burke this fall. She did fantastic! By far her greatest achievement was mastering her seat drops on the trampoline. She just all of a sudden got it! Below is the video of her achievement and you can hear Miss Elena saying "very gooood" in the background :)

Allison masters seat drops at gymnastics

Untitled from Katie Booker on Vimeo.

Red Robin Serenade

Allison's Serenade at Red Robin from Katie Booker on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday Allison!

Really, really, really, my baby is three. I can't believe it! I am really having a hard time with the three year milestone. It makes me sad for sure. I am reminded by it when I hold her and her legs extend down past my knees. I can remember when she was born she was as long as my torso. The old saying that the days are long and the years are short is so true.

Allison was full strength into Cinderella this year and after going to Disney World I knew it was going to be a princess birthday party.
The birthday celebration started that Friday when Brent and I went to Allison's school for cupcakes and a party at school. It was also one of Allison's friends Mikayla's birthday so we did a double party! The girls were so thrilled!<
The next morning was the actual day of the party. I had done most of the party decorating and preparation earlier in the week so this morning was basically spent getting organized and getting things out. We were a little nervous because it was snowing! Ironically last year on Allison's birthday it was also snowing. When she was born it didn't snow, but it was ridiculously cold! Gigi and Nana came early to help set up and they also brought food. They were a huge help!

I made our basement into a castle. I made towers with each of the princesses' names on them and had a red carpet runner going down the stairs. Notes were left on the walls from Cinderella and Prince Charming that I read to the princesses. For craft, we made crowns and magic wands and for games we played Cinderella's chores and the girls needed to find Cinderella's glass slipper. The girls all had a lot of fun. Allison still walks down into the basement and talks about her friends being there.
I worked tirelessly on Allison's cakes. I made her a Cinderella cake and a castle cake. The cakes really weren't hard to make but man that decorating was not a lot of fun. The most frustrating thing is the icing would get too warm in the bag and then would come out runny. I then would put it in the freezer only to have the tip freeze and then it was back in warm water and the process started all over again. It was worth it when Allison came down and saw her cakes and asked me if I made them. When I told her I did, she said, "Wow, Mommy!" In that instant it was worth it!




The next morning, Sunday was Allison's actual birthday. We went out to brunch with Stephanie and Dave and then made a snowman when we got home. We spent the day cleaning up and playing with our new toys and then headed out to dinner at Red Robin. Which is of course, Allison's favorite. She went dressed as Cinderella. It was so cute. I told the waiter it was her birthday so they serendaded her with happy birthday.

Thanksgiving 2009

We are in the midst of a snowstorm here in VA and I decided it was finally time to get caught up on the Booker events. I'm in denial that I still have a TON of wrapping to do, lucky for me I have a wonderful husband who loves to wrap.
Thanksgiving this year was a little different than previous. Brent woke up that morning not feeling too well and slowly but surely starting breaking out in hives. This was eerily similar to our trip to Boston when we spent the weekend in the ER, wasn't looking forward to that possibility so we loaded him up on Benadryl and sent him to bed. Allison and I then headed to Jeff and Debbie's house in Woodbridge for the feast Ferlazzo-style. It really didn't feel like Thanksgiving since Brent wasn't there but I got to spend time with family and hold some babies, so it was good. <
The next day was the Booker fest. I worked on the day after Thanksgiving, I usually do and I usually don't like it, but this year every patient that I treated actually said thanks and expressed their gratitude for us being there and working. I think we were the only office open! That kind of makes it worth it...
We did our usual kid crazy Thanksgiving and it was chaos for sure. Brent and his brothers were highly entertained with the water resistant tablecloth. I think we spent about an hour chasing water beads around the table cloth. It of course became a competition in true Booker style. Andrew was Andrew when he found Gigi's hiding spot for presents. Fortunately for us they were all for Allison's birthday.
We had a lot to be thankful this year. Brent's brother Michael made it safely home from Afghanistan. We spent our first year in our new forever home. Allison continues to thrive. Brent is greatly enjoying his shorter commute to work and me too! I am thankful to work for a boss that helps me balance my profession with my family. We are eternally grateful for family that are there for us at a moments notice. And we are thankful for friends. 2009 was a bittersweet year but we have a lot to be thankful for and we are definitely looking forward to 2010.