Friday, February 26, 2016

Life Lately...Part 1

We have been busy and most days I grab my phone real quick to catch a picture of what is going on around here. Here is what has been happening around here the past couple months!

 This little lady took ice skating lessons! We bought her ice skated for her birthday last year and haven't skated much. We wanted her to take lessons for something fun for us to be able to do together and to give her confidence when she is skating on the ice. It is very likely that she will be asked to go ice skating with friends or invited to an ice skating party when living here and we want her to always be able to say yes and feel confident that she can go and have a good time. And Daddy wanted to make sure she always had a buddy to go skating with, so guess who got skates for Christmas...that's right, Mommy! I actually like ice skating and can hold my own out there, so we have been together once and had a great time!



 Life of siblings! Mia stayed home with Ben each night and went to bed as the lessons were after dinner, but Quinny was determined to come to each practice and watch Ellie and color, of course.
 I was so proud of her! Our girls are exposed to many things and when they find the one that is of the most interest we will pursue that. Ellie was brave and tough! The first night she landed on her backside many times, but she persevered. I told her she would have to be tough and not cry or the rules stated that parents would have to remove them from the ice and she was tough. I was so proud of her! She has recently decided, however, that she would like to pursue swimming, maybe some of those falls weren't so great! :) She is good at swimming and it seems to be what she has enjoyed most, so we will focus there and see where it takes us!
 Such a sweet and feisty little girl! Love all her sugar and spice mixed up in one!
 50's Day at school!
 Mommy School! This girl is rocking it! Here you are tested at around 3 1/2 for kindergarten readiness and she got 9 more points than was needed, so she is set! At almost 4, she is really starting to enjoy school time and is really absorbing so much more!
 It snowed! This happens all the time here and slows nothing down. Ellie still goes to school and Ben goes to work and all our activities are still happening. The girls enjoy the first couple snowfalls and then snow is like grass, it is everywhere and is just part of the landscape. Now we get excited that the grass is peeking through as opposed to the snow is falling down! ;)

 Third mantle in 3 years these little stockings have enjoyed!
 Mommy and Ellie time!!
 It snowed!


 Mia joined in on this snow!
 Maggie is sleeping with Quinn! This is Quinn's dream as Maggie usually sleeps with Ellie. Quinn tries to lure her often and this time it worked!
 Our elf, Buddy, was a couple days late, but made it here to still keep an eye on the girls for Santa!

 The girls and I went to a Christmas light parade. It was about an hour and a half from here, but I love road trips and adventures and the girls are always up for it. Ben had to work, but the girls and I braved the cold. We made it most of the parade (cookies help), before we headed back to the car. We are already looking forward to next year and Daddy is taking off to come with us!
 A little peek at what Daddy has been up to!
 Ellie loves to play school and sets up her room much like her classroom!
 Sweet Mia wearing a dress my GrannyFranny made for me when I was little! She is my last little one, so I am making sure to have her wear all my little dresses! I love this one, it even has a tag stitched inside that says, "Made by Love by Granny".
 Daddy has been busy! Two down, one to go, and he is very happy about that!
 Macy's Christmas Display
 "Mom, I can help cook too!"
 She loves climbing and sitting on things! You have to watch this one like a hawk!
 Wearing another Granny dress!
 Added Mia's hand print tree to the collection! She wasn't as cooperative as her sisters were at that age, but it is a creation all her own!
 Mia got a baby and stroller for Christmas and can hang with her sisters now! You can clip them all together and they were loving every minute of it!
 Craft time!
 Lounging in her Florida State Chair!!
 It snowed!
 Again!

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

December 2015

December is always a full month for us. We enjoy continuing old traditions and starting new ones and this year was extra special as it was the first Christmas we celebrated in our new home!

 We started the season by visiting the Santa's Workshop display at Macy's and visiting Santa.
 The line was pretty long this year, but this year Ellie decided she wanted to meet him!

 And when we got in that room, 1 out of 3 were willing to sit next to him without crying and without Mommy! Ironic that Quinn loved him last year and this year screamed!
 We made lots of fun treats!

 And of course licked the bowl after every treat made!

 We made sugar cookies...
 ...made sure to have the quality checked...
 ...and decorated them just right!


 Thanks to Kindergarten, Ellie requested Gingerbread Men be added to our list of treats!

 Then we packaged them up and delivered them to lots of friends near and far! (I grew up making treats with my Mom and delivering them to friends and neighbors and I love passing this tradition on to my own girls!)
 We also made a gingerbread village this year!

 We got in our Christmas outfits and went to church!


 Once we were home, we read the Christmas story and opened up our yearly pajamas!

 Most pictures end up in madness...
 like this!
 Opening the family present!
 Cookie for Santa and carrots for the reindeer!
 Christmas Morning!



 Who needs new toys, when you can just enjoy the old!
We had a wonderful and relaxing day celebrating with each other! It was wonderful to be home and in our p.j.'s all day. We had a great meal and ended our evening celebrating Jesus's birthday! We are constantly directing our kids to the real reason for Christmas and they our the first to remind me in the beginning of December that we can not forget to have a birthday party for Jesus! I pray that our girls not only know the real reason for celebrating this time of year in the middle of all the fun, but also continue the traditions with their own children one day.