Days with the Dorans

The stockings were hung, the presents were wrapped and Christmas morning 2007 was the best yet! Although mom forgot her camera at the Christmas celebrations in Saginaw and at 4132 Vanstone... she did take a moment after the presents were unwrapped at home on Christmas morning to snap a few pics of the kids in their Christmas flannel (and of course mommy and daddy have sleeper pants of the same pattern as well...). Joey & Zach woke up first with a sleepy Ali Jane following. Their eyes were wide to see all of the presents that Santa left for them including gifts in their stockings. Ali Jane did get the white dog she'd hoped for and Jonasen his giant truck! (There was no doubt that he was nice) The giant cookie that they had made Santa and the glass of milk was also gone... We think that Pele' may have heard Santa's sleigh or seen the reindeer or something, because he started barking shortly after one in the morning to go out, but all of the Doran kids were too busy dream...

Christmas Eve is also Mommy's birthday. It was great to wake up in Saginaw and have everyone sing to her! It is a busy day which began with a drive home after a wonderful visit with family up north, dinner, presents, church & then cake. It is always nice when people remember her birthday since it is such a busy time of year! Mommy was shocked at dinner when the waitress brought out her wine in a cute, hand-painted, "birthday girl" glass. At first she thought it was a gift from the restuarant until she learned that it was really a gift from her mom and was her's to take home. What a great surprise! Is it obvious that Zach is not the first? Not only would Jonasen NEVER have had table food at eight months- he certainly wouldn't have been able to shove birthday cake into his mouth. Mommy and Daddy paid for it- with a very awake Zachy- who crashed hard... sugar will do that- if there is a "Baby E"- I don't think mommy and daddy will allow all that ...

One of the highlights of December was the Christmas Program that Joey and Ali Jane were in through their school, "Hearts & Hands" which is a preschool/daycare that is an extension of their church. They go there two times a week and love it! On this night Joey wore his suit, and Ali Jane her black velvet Christmas dress to sing. Mommy and Daddy and Zach were there of course- but Nana, Great-Nan, Uncle Dan, and Auntie Steph were also able to come and watch us sing! Besides being the best-dressed little boy in the whole program, Jonasen proved himself to be quite the peformer. While most of the kids knew none of the verses to the songs but belted out the choruses at the tops of their lungs, Jonasen knew the words to almost all of the songs and sang everything in one volume... LOUD! He made all of the adults so proud singing up there and smiling at everyone who was watching. He also waved the blue angel that he made high into the air as he sang. This tugged at mom's hear...

The second Thursday in December you will find us at the hospital making ornaments for Andrew, Jonasen's twin who spends Christmas each year with the real angels. This year Jonasen, Ali Jane, Mommy and Nana got to paint ornaments to add to the trees. After the painting, there is a nice ceremony out in the memory garden for all of the babies who spend Christmas in heaven. We have yet to make it to that part of the memorial because mommy has always had little ones who need to get to bed- Joey's ornament took a lllooooong time to dry because he had A LOT of paint on it. Here is Ali Jane working on her ornament. Ali Jane loves to paint, stamp, color and do anything "Artsie" so this was right up her alley! When Joe and Al were done with their ornaments, they ate cookies that were as big as their heads (literally). Joe almost finished his. We had a lot of fun adding our special ornaments to the tree and remembering our big brother, who mommy still blows kisses to each and ev...

The Monday after Thanksgiving, Mommy didn't have to work, so her Nana and the three kids piled up in the van to go see SANTA! They were so excited and couldn't wait to see him. We all had fun walking through the mall and the two "big kids" got to ride the escalator a couple of times which was second only to meeting the one and only Mr. Claus. Ali Jane and Joey both know all of the words to Santa Claus is coming to town and have been singing it non-stop. Mommy and Daddy also have a direct number for Santa which had to be used only a couple of times to give updates on whether they were being naughty or nice... Joey began his chat with Santa telling him that he would again like a blue present for Christmas. He didn't know quite what he wanted in the blue present, but Santa suggested a few things and "truck" stuck- and ever since the visit, Jonasen has been hoping that the elves at the North Pole are busy working on his big truck. After Ali Jane told Sant...