Christmas In Lee's Summit

Ashlyn has met with several news outlets over the past few months. Most recently with Terra Hall of Fox 4 News. After finishing our last interview on November 14th, she was invited by Terra to help Mayor Rhoads light up downtown Lee's Summit on November 18. This our hometown so we were super excited. I work for the City, so Ashlyn had met the Mayor before, but this time it was going to be for something more fun than just going to my work.

I thought Ashlyn might actually get a bit shy as we approached the stage that evening. There was a large crowd gathered around the stage for the lighting and to see Santa Claus. Oh yeah, that was an extra bonus. She would get to see Santa FIRST! My worry was for nothing. She didn't get shy at all. She loved the attention. Go figure.

As Terra introduced her on stage and explained that Ashlyn was born missing her left arm from the elbow down, Ashlyn proudly held up her little arm and grinned from ear to ear. As she finished the introduction Ashlyn said "Merry Christmas!" loudly into the microphone and resounding "Ahhhhhhh!!!" came from the crowd. *proud mommy smiles*

She did a most excellent job of helping Mayor Rhoads and his grandson turn on all the Christmas lights downtown. She enjoyed every single minute of it.

She's so going to be in the movies someday. Hee hee!

Holidays in full swing!

Wow! I keep promising myself to be a better blogger and then...I fail miserably. Maybe I will attempt to make that my New Year's Resolution. (That's a great idea Trish!)

Well, we have jumped from Halloween to 2 weeks before Christmas in a flash. Where did the time go? I guess my other resolution should be to stop being so busy all the time. It seems I do nothing, yet I never have any real "free" time. How does that happen?

So, on to Christmas cheer then. Ashlyn has been so very good the past few weeks. Not that she's a bad kid anyway, but she just seems to be caught up in the Christmas cheer that surrounds our home, family and friends this time of year.

We visited Santa last week and this year she wasn't scared at all. She ran right up and hugged him. He loaded her up with lots of toys, of which, she has chosen her favorite and it hasn't left her side since she got it. This is the first time she has really latched on to a toy, so I'm hopeful that it doesn't get lost in her journeys to school, to her Papa and Nana's or to her weekend visits to her dads.

Please enjoy the pictures below of my gorgeous little girl...and I PROMISE to try to post a few more times by years end. PROMISE!!

Visiting the best Santa EVER!

Holding her new toys from Santa.

(A bright yellow poodle, a princess mouse and a reindeer!)

My beautiful girl with her beautiful smile!!

She absolutely LOVES this dog!!

The fireplace awaits Santas arrival.

(Looks a little like E.T. doesn't it?)