Decorating

We LOVE decorating for Christmas.  As soon as the turkey is put away from our Thanksgiving feast, we pull out the Christmas decorations.

 

This year, Audrey and Addison were great helpers.

 

 

I decided that we would create handmade ornaments throughout the season to hang on our tree this year.  So very few store bought ornaments hung from our tree this year.

 

Each year the girls get ornaments to represent something about them and/or their likes that year.  This year they both got ballerina ornaments to hang on their trees.  They both love to dance and this was Addison's first year to take lessons.

 

 

 

The outdoor decorations were also put out.  Sadly, two of our inflatables bit the dust but the girls were still content with the few decorations we had out.

 

I love sharing these memories with my family.

Pilgrims and Indians

 

I do believe these are the cutest Indians ever!  They decorated their costumes at preschool.  So cute!

 

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Corey was actually off this Thanksgiving so he was able to join us at my parents' house for Thanksgiving dinner.  My poor mom had been sick for a week and still wasn't feeling her best, but toughed it out enough to make some of her delicious dressing and gravy.  Nana was able to leave the nursing home for a bit to share the meal with us.  She was hurting and tired by the time the meal was over, but I'm so glad that she got to come.

 

I love this time of year!  Thanksgiving is a special time for me, especially the older I get.  I realize more and more each year how much I have to be thankful for.  This year I had such a long list of blessings. 

 

These are two of the biggest blessing in my life...

 

These precious pilgrims (children) are my heart and soul. 

Thank you, Lord, for blessing me and my family!

First Sleepover

These two little sweeties had their first "sleepover" together last night.  I made them pallets in Audrey's room.  They were beyond thrilled. Audrey lasted about 10 minutes before she was snoring.  Addison wanted to have a little more fun at the sleepover so she just played by herself for another hour before calling it a night.

I'm sure this was just the first of many fun, giggly, sleepovers that these two will share. 

Halloween 2012

Audrey and Addison enjoyed making these rice krispie pumpkins.  Well, I had to help the out A LOT!  Those little pumpkins were much more messy and difficult than they looked!  But the girls had fun and they turned out pretty yummy.

 

 

Then they enjoyed decorating their pumpkins they picked from the pumpkin patch. I found these cute stickers at Target and thought they would have a blast decorating the pumpkins on their own.

 

We also carved one.  The girls loved the cool color-changing light we put inside.

 

On the day of Halloween, the girls had dance class so they got to dress up in their costumes and dance. This is Audrey's class. I didn't get a chance to take a picture of Addison's class.

 

This is Nice Witch Audrey and Little Ladybug Addison with their dance teacher, Miss Molly Brooke.

 

Nice Witch Audrey and Little Ladybug Addison were preparing for their first Trick-or-Treat stop at Mrs. Becky's house (Audrey's preschool teacher).

After that stop, we went to the Fall Festival hosted by the church where Audrey and Addison attend preschool.

Pumpkin Patch

Every October, we look forward to our trip to the pumpkin patch.  Grammy usually meets us there so we get to have such a fun time together.

I love that we get to take such wonderful photos here.  It is such a lovely backdrop.  These are some of my favorite pictures from the entire year.

Audrey- Age 5 1/2

Addison- Age 2 1/2

Love my family!

 

Grammy and her girls

Audrey and Addison had fun checking out the teepees.

 

Their favorite part is riding the horses.  Both girls LOVE riding them.

 

Getting to feed the animals is a big hit, too!

 

Big smiles while riding on the Tractor Train.

It is serious business searching for the perfect pumpkin.  Audrey took a long time checking out all of the pumpkins before selecting her favorite.

 

Addison was content with the first one she came upon.

 

 

 

Finally...found the perfect ones!

 

 

We had an excellent time, once again, at the pumpkin patch.  Our only disappointment was that the food trailer closed before we got ready to leave so the girls didn't get their cotton candy.  (Mommy was a little disappointed about that too ;)  )

 

Addison- 2 1/2 years old

 

Oh my precious Little Bit!  As you remind me often, you are "gettin' a big girl".  And indeed you are!!  It seems like I blinked and you are no longer my baby.

 

At 2 1/2 years old, you:

* weigh 26 pounds (such a tiny thing)

* are 36.5 inches tall

* wear size 2 T shirts and 24 month pants (and those are too big in the waist)

* wear size 6 toddler shoes

* always say the funniest things. Your daddy and I are always laughing at you.

* have perfected the terrible 2 tantrums and defiant/strong-willed behavior

* are scared of EVERYTHING- the dark, sleeping with your door closed, "mean" people in movies, fireworks, just to name a few

* are a little daredevil even though you are scared of other things

*ALWAYS have a song in your heart.  I love to stand just outside of whatever room you are in and listen to you sing. Many times you add your own words. 

*make my day when you put your little arms around my neck and say "I love you".

* LOVE playing with your baby dolls

*always carry around blankie, baby doll, and Care Bear

* are not a fan of chocolate (milk, cocoa, etc)

* enjoy eating all fruits, popcorn, chips but you don't eat very much of anything.  You aren't all that picky, you are just a very light eater.

 

* like to watch Doc McStuffins, Bubble Guppies, Blues Clues, and Barney

* are learning to be such a big helper to mommy

* know all of your colors and shapes

* are learning to identify letters and numbers

* remember EVERYTHING

* are potty trained- you picked up on that very quickly!

* show all your emotions with your eyes, they are so expressive

* love going to preschool. You never cry when I leave you and are such a good helper to your teachers.

 

Precious one, I love you!  You are the apple of my eye!  I'm so glad that I get to be your mommy.

Audrey- Age 5 1/2

 

This little lady is growing up in a flash!  Somehow, it seems that overnight my "preschooler" lost that baby look and is now a beautiful young girl. 

 

Not only in looks, but also in personality and quirks this precious child reminds me so much of myself.  Sometimes that makes me smile and other times that makes me worry.  (yes, a trait she got from me, too!)

 

Since I will always want to be able to reflect back on these times, I wanted to update and the 1/2 year mark, also. 

 

About Audrey:

 

* Weighs 36 pounds

* Is 42.5 inches tall

*Wears size 5/6 girl clothes

* Wears size 9 toddler shoe

* Still loves Lambie and Doggie- they go everywhere with her

*Loves to swing

*Loves dancing around and is really enjoying her ballet and tap class

* Has learned to like coloring and art

* Can read some sight words and 3-4 letter words

* Knows all letter sounds

*Can count to 100 with very little assistance

*Does simple addition and subtraction

*Can have quite the sassy mouth

*Loves to eat spaghetti, fruit, candy, chips

*Hates eating cheese (except mexican cheese dip), and any pasta other than spaghetti

 

*Is a tenderhearted child and easily gets her feelings hurt

* Worries about everyone and everything

* Loves listening to me read to her...especially Junie B. Jones books

* Watches Bubble Guppies and Doc McStuffins

*Is a great helper

*Is a daddy's girl

*Enjoys going to Grammy and Grandaddy's house

*Always asks to go eat at Logan's or Fantail

*Has fun visiting Bass Pro Shop

 

This sweet girl is teaching us many things about being parents.  I adore her and love every minute that we get to spend together.