Look who can unroll a toilet paper roll!

These photos were taken in our hotel room on Christmas Eve. Alexa refused to sleep, but she had a ball with the toilet paper. So I grabbed my camera! Very thankful that this discovery happened in a hotel and not at home. Unroll, baby, unroll!

THEN and NOW: Alexa and the Christmas tree

In honor of taking down our tree... Here is Alexa staring at the Christmas tree in 2009 vs 2010. Can't believe how much she has grown! Last year, she couldn't sit on her own and was just learning how to roll over. This year, she's running and talking. Amazing!

Christmas on New Year's Day!

Since we were away for Christmas and didn't want to pack all our gifts, we decided to celebrate it on New Year's Day, when we got home. So as soon as Alexa was awake, I made some cookies and we tore into the gifts under the tree! Alexa LOVED tearing the wrapping paper. That was her favorite part! Until she saw the cookies... Then she decided that she wanted to eat them ALL! By the time she was done opening gifts and pounding the cookies, she was nearly passed out on the trash bag full of wrapping paper... Whew!

The Christmas lights of Tucson!

There is a neighborhood in Tucson that is known for nearly every house putting up over-the-top Christmas lights. You can either drive through the neighborhood or walk. With the wonderful weather, we decided to walk! There were so many amazing houses. Our favorites were the gingerbread house and a light how that one house put on. Amazing! (Oh, check out whose names are on the Naughty List!)

And, of course, no day would be complete with out some more fun with Tommy Toot! Alexa loves her toy. Here she is decked out in her Christmas lights outfit. Cute and warm!

Christmas in Tucson again!

This is Alexa's 2nd Christmas in Tucson. Sort of. Last time we were here, Alexa was just a ball of cells! And we didn't even know that she was preparing to join our family. Look how big she is now! It was a tad easier traveling with her last time, especially since she's now so squirmy! Luckily, she slept for the last hour of our 4-hour flight. She wore her Christmas PJs from Grandma and was soooo cute!

After a nap, Alexa helped Aunt Kelly open presents she got for Lorenzo and Moondoggie!

And after another nap, Aunt Kelly helped Alexa open a present the dogs (and Aunt Kelly and Uncle Ben) got for her! Yay, some cool wooden stacking blocks!

Alexa trims the tree, then spins the dreidel and eats potato latkes!

Another merry day of Chrismukkah! We started off by decorating our beautiful tree! Grandpa hung the lights and then Grandma and I unwrapped all of the ornaments and put them on the tree. Alexa helped us out! We hung birds and flowers made of felt on the bottom branches. We also hung a set of felt Sesame Street characters that Grandma made for Alexa, just like the set she made me when I was a kid. But Alexa's favorite ornament is a DOG, from Grandma!

Later, when Alexa went down for her nap, I made potato latkes! It was my first time, but I followed Grandma Fritzie's recipe and the instructions on the Modern Jewish Mom site. It was easy! And they passed three important taste tests... Daddy loved them! Grandpa loved them! And Alexa did too! Alexa even mastered the art of dipping them in applesauce. So proud. So proud!

After stuffing ourselves silly with latkes, we lit the Hanukkah candles and Alexa got another gift: A Noah's Arc shape sorter, Tzedakah Box and two dreidels! In the photo above, Daddy is showing her how to spin the dreidel while she waits for her potato latkes. Below, she's playing with all her toys (and watching football with Grandpa)! Fun!

Alexa picks out a Christmas tree, then lights Hanukkah candles

Yes, Chrismukkah has begun in our house! And begun in earnest. Daddy and I took the day off and we all bundled up and headed out to a farm to cut down a Christmas tree! This was a big adventure for my family. Since I grew up in Hawaii, we always BOUGHT our tree. We never cut one down! Grandpa Tom was over the moon excited.

Here we are checking out the trees... Alexa liked a small one her size. But we wanted a big one for our living room! We finally found one and before I had time to change my mind, Daddy and Grandpa chopped it down! Way to go!

Back at home, we lit the Hanukkah candles, lit Shabbat candle and enjoyed some yummy Challah. Check out our beautiful menorah. Thanks, Aunt Missy!

Finally, after dinner, Alexa got a Hanukkah gift from Grandma E and Pop! She immediately dumped out the books and wanted Daddy to read one. How cute! She also got a piano from Grandma E and Pop. Stay tuned for some photos of her playing it... She loves it!

Relaxing the day after Christmas...

Alexa still enjoys looking at the lights on the tree! A view of our beautiful tree, from Alexa's POV.

And a view of Alexa, from my POV.

Alexa's first Christmas!

After a nice breakfast and a nap for Alexa, we got ready for Alexa to open her presents! Not surprisingly, she had the MOST gifts under the tree!

Mommy and Daddy with Alexa on Christmas morning.

Alexa's first present...

A Bumbo chair from Mommy & Daddy!

Alexa's second present...

A stocking from Aunt Kelly -- with Alexa's name on it!

Another present -- Pink bunny booties from Aunt Jen and Tio Dani!

Look at all these presents!

What's next?

Aunt Kelly helps Alexa open a gift... A pink hat and princess footie!

Yes, Alexa, girls can wear blue too!

Oooh, check out this hair bow!

It came in a cute pink suitcase with other hair bows, a polka dot bird bib, burp cloth and blankie! Thanks Aunt Chimmy!

Yum, bibs are good for eating!

Wait, I'm not supposed to EAT the bib?

I'll just find something else to eat! Like... this rattle!

Look at all these things I can eat!

Click HERE for a video of Alexa's first Christmas!

But the best part of Christmas is seeing my family, like Aunt Jen!

What a great first Christmas!

Earlier in the day, while Alexa was napping... The adults opened gifts!

Here is Daddy opening his gift from Alexa!

And here is Daddy and Grandpa with footprint mugs that Alexa made for them!

And here I am opening the best gift ever...

A adult sized footie! Of course I had to try it on...

It came with a matching footie for Alexa! Holy cozy!

Later in the day...

We enjoyed Christmas dinner!

And took more pictures. Here is Alexa with Mommy and Aunt Jen!

And her is your final Christmas picture... Alexa with her stocking!

Alexa's first Christmas Eve!

Alexa with her mommy and two aunts... All ready for Christmas Eve!

Our family's tradition is to trim the tree together. Since my sister and her husband and my mom just arrived late yesterday, we waited and decorated the tree together Christmas Eve. Look at our nice tree!

Alexa with Mommy & Daddy in front of our fabulous tree!

Alexa with her Mommy, aunts and grandma!

Alexa with Auntie Kelly and Uncle Ben!

Another family tradition is our Christmas Eve poker game! Here is Alexa giving Daddy some advice on how to play his first hand. It must have given him good luck because long after she had gone to bed, Daddy won!