Bailey's 9th Christmas

Lots of great pictures of Bailey throughout the Christmas holiday. Here are some of my favorites.

The children's Christmas program ended with a Christian version of the 12 Days of Christmas. Bailey got to raise her card a lot since it was 2 candles burning.

Bailey helps decorate the tree.

Alex from Wizards of Waverly Place: One of 6 new Barbies received for Christmas

Before Church Christmas Program

Bailey's annual visit to Coral Ridge Mall to see Santa

Presents from Santa: Must have been on the nice list this year

Holidays With The Family

It was so wonderful to have the family together again for both Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. I'm a traditionalist so one of the most special parts of the holiday season is preserving those memories that I've been doing since I was little. The whole family was able to make the trip to Wapsie Pines again this year to find a real Christmas tree. Thanksgiving and Christmas basically consisted of eating, relaxing and enjoying the kids. Here are some highlights from the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday.

Alli and Austin play Playdough before Thanksgiving dinner

Austin takes lessons from Heath on chopping down the tree

Aunt Hope with Bailey and Alli

Graham's 1st Christmas

Holiday Letter 2009

'Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it'--Ferris Bueller's Day Off

This quote from the 1986 classic movie seems to sum up the year of 2009 pretty well for Bailey and me. Here are some classic highlights from our year.



Now in 2nd grade, Bailey has shown great academic growth over the past 2 1/2 years. Last year she was placed in Van Allen Elementary's Enrichment Program in the spring and has been placed in the program again this year. Although you will often find Bailey with her nose in a book, she also continues to be very active, participating in a number of activities throughout the year. Her athletic skills were developed in Little Dunkers, Soccer Camp, Tennis Camp and Softball. But she definitely developed her artistic skills as well in Pom Pon Clinic and Dance Fever through Mount Pleasant Parks and Rec and Cooking, Going Green and Inventions and Legos Camps through the Iowa State Extension. This fall she decided she would like to get involved with Girl Scouts and has enjoyed that as well. Cookie sales are right around the corner.

Although it may seem that all I do is run Bailey to activities, I have found some time to enjoy myself as well. I've gotten involved with a women's book club at Faith Lutheran Church and developed a new passion and hobby to go along with my scrapbooking...stamping and card making. I got to experience some fun and relaxation at a scrapbook retreat in October with my sister-in-law, Amy. The following weekend I retreated to UNI to get together with friends for UNI's Homecoming. This past August marked the beginning of my 4th year at Iowa Wesleyan College where I continue to serve as the Director of Career Services and also teach a freshman seminar class in the fall. 2009 marked the 4th year I raised money for the March of Dimes fundraiser, March for Babies. You can check out our personal page at http://www.marchforbabies.org/seegers if you would like to donate or walk with us in April 2010.

My family also experienced some changes this year. On June 24th we welcomed Graham Hilton Wood to the family. 2 months later, we said good-bye to my Grandma Matthias whose health had been declining for the past year. And in 2010 we will welcome another addition to the family as Heath and Amy are expecting #4.

You can see what else we have been up to this year by checking out our other posts on Bails 'n Me.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Love, Heidi and Bailey

Fun With Photography

If you step into Bailey's room, it will be no surprise to you that Bailey LOVES stuffed animals. She saves her money for one of her favorite stores, Build-a-Bear. When we were cleaning Grandma's house a couple weeks ago, my cousin Bridget discovered a huge Rubbermaid tote with beanie babies, which she gladly donated to Bailey. These pictures may not end up in a photo gallery someday, but they will be some of my favorites in my scrapbooks.

Halloween 2009

For Halloween, the town of Mount Pleasant provides a couple different opportunities for kids's to wear their Halloween costumes. Trick or Treat on Main is an evening where downtown merchants pass out candy and other treats. Even though the weather was rainy and cold, we could not pass up the opportunity to trick-or-treat around The Square. Not to mention, Bailey could not wait to wear her costume, the 60's girl (or Sharpay from High School Musical as she liked to call herself). The traditionalist in me could not pass up carving pumpkins so we carved our pumpkins the afternoon of Halloween. That evening Bailey and I trick-or-treated with her friend, Lilly and mom, Tiffany. We went to a couple neighborhoods before heading indoors to the E3 Center where Faith Christian Outreach Church has a carnival for kids.

Ready to trick-or-treat on Main

Pumpkin Carving

Decided to be a redhead at the carnival

It's The Great Pumpkin Hike Charlie Brown

Healthy Henry County Communities is a wonderful organization in Mount Pleasant that organizes free family activities. This hike around East Lake Park provided a great opportunity for Bailey and me to get some exercise, learn about Halloween safety, participate in fun activities and snap some great photos.

Learning the grapevine with Snoopy

Lucy's Lemonade Stand

Pumpkin Bean Bag Toss

Family Celebrations

On October 18th, Austin Nicholas Joel Seegers became a child of God through the waters of baptism. It was a wonderful service and a special time for the family to be together. Following church, we went to Heath and Amy's house to celebrate Austin's baptism, as well as big sister Alli's 4th birthday.