Waiting for Izzy to get out of school. Took advantage of the nice weather and played on the play ground.
What this child is all about...that face!
For the past couple of years we have been getting together with the ladies of the Mulligan family and Snodgrass family. It's so much fun to get the girls together and let them play. They usually put on a little Christmas pageant for us and us moms get to have some nice adult conversation and maybe a beverage. This year after their performance, the girls decided to watch Malifacent.
I brought Christmas coloring books and stickers for the girls and they did that for a while too.
iPhones are always near for added entertainment.
This little lady looks great after having strabismus surgery.
Pizza is always a favorite.
My beautiful girls right before Addie's Christmas pageant for Small Miracles.
Love these moments when they are overwhelmed by all the people in front of them. Addie had a great time. She even hopped and jumped during her song more than anyone else.
The last day of that busy weekend we had Addie's third birthday party.
Miss Brittany helping Addie with her ginger bread house so mommy could take pictures of the birthday girl.
Izzy and Maia.
Izzy and Ella.
Ella and her daddy making it pretty.
Courtney and Avery Snodgrass.
Liz and her boys. Love them.
I couldn't have been blessed with any better neighbors.
Our little friend Finn. Doing a great job.
Miss Livie and her mommy. Graham stayed home with daddy. Great girls' time.
Love you to the moon and back my little birthday girl.
Addie's finished house.
Izzy's finished house.
Addie eating what she made. That's what you're suppose to do, right?
Ginger bread birthday cake.
The girls loved getting up every morning and finding our elf, Snowflake. After the girls made their houses, Snowflake tried to make them her home.
We saw Santa the following Friday. This sure put Mark in the spirit.
My beautiful neighbors. We had a wine exchange and just enjoyed the company.
Hanging at home. Why the pouty face Addie?
Date night. This never happens.
Ginger bread houses at Fire Ridge Elementary.
Hudson and Izzy with their finished houses. Liz, Hudson's mom, accidentally bought green frosting so we said it was a Ninja Turtle house.
Neighborhood white elephant exchange. So much fun.
Christmas Eve.
Aunt Cindy playing Cooties with Izzy.
Kya and Addie.
All the great grand kids. My Grandma and Grandpa would be so proud.
These were snowflakes the kids put outside so Santa could find them. Jack and Dylan live in New York and so that wanted to make sure he knew where to go.
All the grand girls. Again, Grandma and Grandpa would be so proud.
Santa came to pay a visit on Christmas Eve. This is Dylan sitting on his lap.
Jack and Santa.
Izzy and Santa.
Addie and Santa.
PopPop and Santa.
Uncle Karlye and Santa.
Gamma and Santa.
Me and Izzy and Santa.
The Browns.
Aunt Cindy and Uncle George.
Dave and Jenny
Present time.
Dylan as Jordy.
Kashy
Daddy and Doc McStuffens.
PopPop
Gamma
Doc McStuffens getting a little crazy.
Great Grandma Ruby getting some Husker gear.
Uncle Karlye, Jess, and momma to be, Annie.
Great Uncle Karlye was squirting whipped cream in Izzy's mouth.
Waiting for Great Grandma Ruby to come so they can open Santa gifts. It's killing them.
Spoiled rotten.
Christmas Day at Great Aunt Julie and Uncle Steve's. Beautiful weather.
Breath taking.
Learning to cast a rod and reel it back in.
Uncle Dave and Caden
Dessa and Nora.
Christmas the following Sunday at Grandma and Grandpa D.'s.
Reading books with Ladelle.
Caden having some BBQ.
Izzy went to a birthday party and had her face painted and came home with Olaf's girlfriend.
Boy, December seemed to just fly by. Between Christmas get togethers and school activities and everyday life, my head was spinning. Also trying to shop in between all that. I do get to catch up every other Friday afternoon. Then at 3 pm I get to pick the girls up from school. Addie went with me to get Izzy one Friday and it was a beautiful day so we spent a little time on the play ground waiting for Izzy. Picking Izzy up is one of my favorite things to do. Seeing the smile on her face when I'm there is priceless.
Addie's birthday party always gets pushed into December. Her birthday is so close to Thanksgiving that there is too much going on. So this year we just had a couple of friends come and make ginger bread houses. It was a success. The kids were quite good at it. I did buy pre-assembled houses, so that made it a bit easier. Addie was eating it more than she was decorating. I also got to make a special trip to Izzy's school to make a ginger bread house with all the Kindergartners. It was fun meeting new kiddos and parents. The following week I also got to volunteer in Izzy's class. It was so much fun to put faces with the names she often talks about. I had a few kids ask me what the thing was by my eye. It cracks me up how they just stare at it and, when I explain it's a mole, they want to know what that is. I usually answer with something I was born with.
Since Addie has turned three she tells me she's a big girl and she doesn't need a paci. Yet, every night before bed she is standing at the cupboard asking for one. Hopefully she won't be going to college having to hit the cici before she goes out with her friends. She is still my funny and witty child. We were talking about taking the girls ice skating. I had said maybe next year, as Addie is still too little.
Addie's reply was, "I can just hang on to your pants, mom." She is so smart. How can she come up with this when she doesn't even really know what ice skating is. School has been tough at drop off but once she's there I think she does great. I asked her one day how her day was and she told me," It was good, no one bite me or pinch me." I guess that does make for a good day. She has been learning letters and the letter G was a favorite. She kept telling me, " You go round and round and then park in the garage." That's how you make a G.
Izzy is her typical self. Becoming more and more responsible every day. I can't believe how much she has grown since she started kindergarten. I can't wait to see the girl she becomes. We are taking a break from swim lessons. It has been good for my sanity. This is the one place I struggle with Izzy. I want to make sure I am exposing her to everything she wants to do. She is very artsy. She wants to take voice lessons. So, I'm on the hunt for voice lessons. She still enjoys gymnastics, but sometimes getting there is hard.
Can't wait for the new year to come and see what it brings with it.
Ariann
