"Just Because"

The other day Eric came home from work, and as he came in he presented me with some brilliant red tulips. I was of course touched and asked "why the flowers honey?" and His response was "Just because. You have been doing such a great job on projects, and working hard that I just thought it would be nice." I appreciate the unexpected gesture. I like getting flowers on a day when it is least expected. I wanted to share with everyone how nice my honey is to me.

Christmas Letter 2007

Dear Family and Friends,

Another year has passed and we are busily preparing for Christmas and all the fun times with celebrations of the holiday season. At this time of year I always like to take a look back and thank God for the many blessings He has given to our family.

So much has changed for the Krelle family this year. The passing of our Grandma, Marion Krelle, this past June was a sad time for our family. So often we find ourselves saying "Grandma would have said..." or "she would have loved...". We feel a pain in our hearts that we know only time can heal, but we have so many treasured memories of time spent with her that put smiles on our faces.

Tatum is now seventeen months old. She is such a different little girl compared to the baby she was a year ago. A true girl who loves to talk. When the gals in the church nursery hand her back to us they say "boy she has a lot to say". I am not sure where she gets her love of conversation from :) Her favorite time of day is when Daddy gets home. She waits at the top of the stairs for him to come and get her. she loves to play at the kitchen sink with bubbles. We put her up on a chair and she is happy for quite some time. She loves to chase after Normandy, who she lovingly calls "Nomee". Hiding in corners, reading books, coloring, playing in her ball pit and being outside are just a few of her favorite pastimes. Bath time is also a big hit. Her shirt comes off and a squeal of delight follows. The fun just doesn't end till her head hits the pillow so to speak.

Eric has had great changes and opportunity for personal growth at work. He is on his eighth year at Oriental Trading company, and his 4th year in Product Design. Recently he has been using his talents on a new specialized team that works on new product concepts. He enjoys his work and that makes for a happy home life. Eric also continues to be involved with his WWII hobby. He has rejoined his former unit, the 2nd Infantry Division, and is so happy to once again have a large group of guys to share in his love of all things history.

This past year I have stayed active. I continue to do freelance work for Oriental Trading Company. It keeps me busy and I really like the creative outlet that it adds to my life. I continue to serve on the the Early Head Start Policy Council at The Salvation Army. I love being able to stay connected to a program that has meant so much to me over the years. This fall I started Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) at our church, where I am a table leader. I have loved getting to know so many great gals and look forward to each time we get together. I still get together with the gals from my birthing class once a month or so, for lunches and outings with the kids. The greatest joy in ,my life is being married to Eric and being Tatum's Mommy.

Eric and I find ourselves wondering what we did with all of our time before we had Tatum. It is hard to remember. I must say that we are still able to do lots of the things we did before. These include: Jazz on the Green, the Taste of Omaha, Summer Arts Festivals, going to church, time out with friends and so on.

In closing, we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior this holiday season and that He is what Christmas is truly about. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Love,
Eric, Tracy and Tatum

Best Dawgs West of Chicago

Just this past weekend Eric and I went to a new Hot Dog place called Chicago Dawg House. Eric is a self proclaimed connoisseur of hot dogs & this place is awesome. It is on 108th and Maple on the south east side. It has the best "Chicago Style" hot dogs this side of the Windy City. I talked to the owner and he is from Chicago and gets all of his products directly from Chicago. I tell you the seeded bun, the all beef Vienna dog, the mustard, onions, the zippy peppers, greener than green relish, the pickle and tomato with a shake of celery salt. It is a true Chicago Dog! You should all go there and check em out! Happy Eating!

Sensless Act

What a tragic day December 5th was for Omaha. When I heard there was somone in Westroads shooting at people, my pulse began to quicken. Eric was out shopping for work that day & I had just gotten back from the Mall. I turned on my T.V. and just watched in horror as the news started breaking into local programing. Our phone began to ring...flooded with calls from family and friends.

I prayed to God and thanked Him. Thanked Him that Tatum was just a little cranky that day, leading me t believe that we should just go home for her nap, thanked Him for Eric's safe return to work, and I thanked Him for the rest of my family and friends safety.

I then found myself saying the "please" prayer. please don't let any of my friends, or their families be in there. Please don't let any children be hurt or killed, please protect the people there and please help the police and responders and watch over them.

I ended up not knowing anyone, personally, who was in Von Maur that day. This does not make me feel much better. Anyone of the people who lost their life so suddenly could have been myself, my family members or my friends. The fact of the matter is that they were someones family member or friend.

In the end my prayer is the God will sustain these families thru this most horrible and difficult time.

Refrigerator Art

This past Saturday night Eric and I went downtown to the Hot Shops Art Gallery Winter Open House. It's a type of artist co-op here in Omaha. We had a great time with our friends, looking around at the various types of art offered.

While we were walking the halls I saw these two young girls, they were sitting in the hallway drawing each other. It made me feel warm & fuzzy and put a smile on my face to imagine that some day that would/could be Tatum.

Now let me just say that Tatum does draw her own "masterpieces". I like to showcase them on the refrigerator. I love her use of color and bold lines. she is a budding artist like her Daddy for sure.

Now to get back to the Hot Shops...There was this one piece of artwork that I just loved. It was a bit out of my price range. I will say that it would have been worth every penny. But for that night I ended up buying the $3 magnet of it instead.

In the end, I guess you could say that my great masterpieces end up on my refrigerator!

Pinnacle of Cuteness

Last night Eric and I were talking about how right now we love the age that Tatum is in. He said he thinks she has reached her "Pinnacle" of cuteness. Here are some of the things we just can't get enough of, when it comes to Tatum:

*She squeals so loudly when we come thru the doors from being gone

*She will wake up and call out "Ma Ma" or "Da Da"

*She likes to play on our bed and make tents out of sheets

*She likes to get Nome (Normandy) out of her kennel in the morning

*She will read to her dolly

*she will say "milk please"

*She likes to play in the sink with bubbles

*When something makes her happy she will look at us and say "happy"

I am of course in love with her right now, but I believe (as I am sure that Eric does too), that the cuteness will just go on and on and on!

A Time of Wonderment

Putting up the Tree at my parents house on Thanksgiving has been a tradition now for quite a few years now. Tatum did want to look and touch and feel. She seemed to know what the limits would be and did quite well for her age. We had a great Thanksgiving spent with my Grandma Ryan, Aunt Audrey, cousin Mindy and Mike, my sister Alisa and my Parents.

Tatum had a weekend filled with Daddy. Eric took some time off from work and we had a great weekend. On Friday morning we brought Tatum in our bed and did our "ritual" of making a tent with the sheets at Tatum's request. Tatum got a new baby doll and tried to feed it from her sippy cup. It was so cute to see her playing like that. She liked to bounce on Daddy and go for horsey rides on him. The fun never stopped.

She also has this fascination with "Bubbles". We would put her at the sink and fill it up with bubbles and let her play...this could go on for hours if we let it I think.