Christmas Merriment

Christmas and all that surrounds the holiday were exceptionally fun this year. Having a 4-year-old who is full of excitement, for a month, makes things magical for all. Carli wasn't quite sure about the whole thing, but soon got into the swing of things and loved every minute of it. We had a full three days and are blessed to have a wonderful family to share it all with.

CHRISTMAS EVE:

The day started out relatively normal - well, except for AnLi screaming from her bed as soon as she woke, "It's Christmas Eve! It's Christmas Eve!" She had waited for this day for soooo long.

Doing a puzzle on the computer

Making cookies for SantaWe went out to look at Christmas lights and get some pizza. We left Santa's cookies and milk "just in case". On the way home, AnLi was sure she saw Santa's sleigh in the sky. When we pulled into our subdivision she saw reindeer tracks in the snow. She couldn't wait to get inside. They both stopped dead in their tracks when they saw Santa had visited and brought them each the dolls they had asked for. They played with those dolls for a good half hour before they asked if they could open the rest of the gifts.

CHRISTMAS DAY:

We went to Nana and Papa's Christmas day, to celebrate with Greg, Beth, Steven, and Buster & Rocco. The girls especially love playing with Beth, and she's a willing participant.

The girls got Hannah Montana wigs. Carli wore that thing through all of Christmas and LOVED it! AnLi would have nothing to do with it. :)

Day after Christmas:

Friday we went to Kolene and Jeff's for my family Christmas. Things are always crazy with my six nieces and nephew, and all of the spouses/boyfriends, and then five littles running around. We had a great time.

Thanks to everyone for hosting the get-togethers this year, for the yummy food and the wonderful presents! We have the greatest families and love them all dearly.

Mommy's trying to sort through all of her gazillion Christmas pictures before she posts anything, but in the meantime we're having fun playing with all of our new toys and enjoying some down time. Hope everyone enjoyed Christmas as much as we did!!

Merry Christmas to All

Wishing everyone a safe and warm Christmas holiday!

Love Brian, Kayla, AnLi & Carli

Snow!!

Winter Smiles

Carli had her school program on Friday. She had stage fright. She mostly played with her construction paper mittens and spent a lot of time watching the people behind her sing. :)) I'm not even going to post pics of the event because her hair had fallen out of her hair clips and was just hanging in her face. Why couldn't her teachers clip it back?

(I really cannot figure out this camera. The settings are all messed up and I haven't had a chance to sit down and play around with it, so excuse the poor quality shots. I better figure it out before Christmas.)

We went to Village Pointe for the Christmas tree lighting, complete with Santa's parade. They had a marching band and Santa delivered in a horse-drawn Cinderella carriage. Before the parade and lighting, the girls got to dance to The String Beans, a HUGE hit. Again, sad, sad shots with this camera.

How cute would this have been? Oh, this camera!

Carli's First School Picture

Isn't this just the cutest picture ever? Oh, she's so adorable!Carli was VERY excited to show AnLi her picture, so as soon as AnLi got in the car after preschool, Carli yelled, "Ook, A-ee!" And AnLi in some high-pitched voice, "Oh, that's soooo cute, Carli! That's the cutest picture EVER!" Took the words right out of my mouth. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

School Days

AnLi got her school pictures back. She smiled so good! (My scanner REALLY stinks, so sorry for the poor quality.) I can't believe how much she has changed. Where's my little baby?

2008

2007

2006

A cute story - Yesterday AnLi had a field trip to the pet store. They toured the store, saw and petted lots of animals, talked about what animals need, etc. At the end they got to actually go into a surgical room where a dog was getting stiches on her leg. I didn't go in because I was sure that was something I couldn't stomach, but AnLi marched right in there about four or five times, explaining it to me in great detail every time she'd emerge from the surgical room - "There's thread and a needle and the doctor goes snip, snip with scissors," on and on.

So on the way home I asked her what her favorite part of the field trip was. She said, "When the dog was getting scratches." I said, "What dog was getting scratches?" AnLi, "You know, when the dog was getting itches." And then she goes on to explain the needle and thread and snip, snip all over again. Stiches sounds like itches which means scratches to a 4-year-old. (HA HA HA!)

Happy Halloween!

Carving Pumpkins on Halloween EveNot sure what's going on, but is sure she doesn't want to touch it!

AnLi telling Daddy that the face is too scary and will scare the trick or treaters away. He needs to make it "happy"

Before school, admiring their new "happy face" pumpkin

Daddy came home from work with a scary mask and crazy voice-changing microphone, but the girls weren't scared at all! He chased them around with his dust-buster. They kept saying, "Oh, Monster, come get us," and then they'd take off running and screaming.

Ready to go hit the neighbors up for candy

Crowding the door, looking for their loot

One neighbor always has a haunted house. The girls did not want to go inside, but loved the talking skelton driving the Jeep around the driveway

AnLi, Kiya, Avery and Carli

I think everyone's tired of pictures. :)

The girls had a great Halloween. Carli had her school party in the a.m. AnLi had her first real field trip, complete with a bus ride and sack lunch. They spent the majority of the day at the Children's Museum. They ate way too much candy and stayed up way too late. Carli slept until 10:30a on Saturday, AnLi until noon!