Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning

Breleigh is enjoying one of her Nana's wonderful homemade cinnamon rolls! YUMMY! She was a little bit young to really enjoy one last year but she didn't have any problem this year!
When Helaina opened her Turbo Snake from her daddy she exclaimed "I have been dying for one of these". She has seen this on many commercials and knows exactly what it does! (it unclogs drains)
Helaina and her doll Lanie

Breleigh made a bee line for her new baby from Santa. She loves babies!
Coming up the stairs to see what Santa brought!

Jim thought it was cruel and unusual punishment that the girls had their hair done prior to getting to see what Santa brought. I figured this might be the last year that they will sleep in on Christmas Day and be patient enough to let me do their hair.



Helaina asked Santa for a stocking a dog toy for her Wolfie. Isn't that cute!
Santa came to visit Breleigh
Santa came to visit Helaina
Christmas Eve with the family Up North! A rousing game of "Who Spilled the Beans" and enjoying Nana's homemade cookies.
Mmmmmmm..... cookies!
Reagan enjoys her first Christmas cookie! yummy!
I just loved this shot. Doesn't she look angelic? In truth she was watching TV
Helaina with her cousin Karen
Jim and I in our "Griswald" finest!
My sister Heather and our Niece Karen.
My mom with two of her granddaughters. Breleigh and Reagan are five months apart in age!
I love this picture. Can you see the little bit of "trouble" in those beautiful eyes? He was sword fighting with me. Unfortunately, I didn't have a sword! hehehehehehe
My parents looking great in their "finest" Christmas clothes. We had a " tacky" Christmas Eve. It was so so much fun! My mom even wore leggings!
Jim was a good sport and wore what I asked him to wear!
The ladies!
My mom and Heather.... don't they look great!
My brother Matt and his youngest daughter Mia!
She Rocks!
Reagan and Breleigh sitting together. Aren't they cute?

Messiah Preschool Christmas Program

I am sure that Helaina is filling Santa's ear with all sorts of wonderful information. Including asking for a little something for her Wolfie!
The kids made birthday cake for Jesus and then sang Happy Birthday!
Ringing those bells up high!
Rock a by Jesus!
Helaina played a goat in the first part of the program. She made a very good goat!

Happy Birthday Helaina

This is what a Birthday Girl looks like after the presents have been opened and the cake eaten. She wears her presents and plays her new Leapster while chewing gum!
Helaina loves the book "Lady Bug Girl and Bumble Bee Boy" and for her birthday her Nana and Papa helped her become "Ladey Bug Girl! Here is one bug that I don't find creepy! I rather like this one!
Helaina and her cake! I can still hardly believe that she is four! Amazing!
"Borrowed" a Casey's box to complete the look! I thought it turned out great! I am always proud of my work.
Just a cute shot of Helaina. This is the game she got to go with her Leapster! She really liked it!
The donut Cake! YEAH!
Hehehehehehe! From the back through the window of the donut box!
I like this shot. I call it the money shot! hehehehehehe
A rare moment between sisters. They are actually playing together more and more. I now know why the second does things sooner than the first. Helaina talks and treats Breleigh like she is her peer instead of "little". Sometimes this is a GREAT thing and sometimes it isn't! Over all it is a blessing!
Ready to open presents!
The best we could do to get her fingers up to show that she is 4. It is a strange angle! I still can't believe we have a four year old. Where on earth does the time go? We are pretty sure she had a GREAT day. She went to preschool where she got to show off her "I am 4" badge and share donuts with her class for snack. Then daddy surprised her by taking the afternoon off and treating us to lunch out. Helaina picked "Zebras" (Steak and Shake for those of you who don't speak Helaina). Then we came home and opened presents and had cake. She got to skip her nap and play with her Leapster! Her biggest thrill of the day came when we presented her with an entire pencil pouch full of gum! We made a rule (after she swallowed the first piece immediately) that she could have gum when she was 4! She did swallow the first piece again today rather quickly but after LOTS of practice today she got the hang of it. I am sure it is going to be let down tomorrow when she can't chew gum non stop! She didn't go anywhere today without her bag of gum! She was also thrilled this morning that she could take a whole vitamin instead of just half. She is so funny.
She went to bed tired but happy! It was a great, great day!

Harry Potter

I stole this collage from my sister's blog! She made this after our "girls night out" to see Harry Potter. We are a trio of Potter heads! We went to the 10:10 showing on the Saturday after it opened. It also happened to be Nov. 20 so at midnight when it changed to Nov. 21 (our birthday) Heather and I were not only together and with our mom but we were also watching Harry Potter. I mean seriously... how much better can it get? (oh, and did I mention there was popcorn too!?!)
Heather's friend brought her the "house" socks from the Harry Potter theme park and she shared them with us so we could get into the spirit of the movie. I was feeling both good and evil so I wore a Gryffindor and Slytherin sock. It was SO MUCH fun!!!!! What a fantastic treat to be able to go to this movie with my sister and my mom. I am one lucky girl! Thanks to our husbands for staying home and watching the kids. But, to be completely honest both of my kids were in bed before I left for the movie and Heather's eldest was in bed and her youngest wasn't too far behind. But will give them a little credit!

Finally a New Post!

These are the pictures that I am going to use on my wall (if Sam's Club will EVER be ready to print them) for the winter. My brother and my sister in law gave me the beautiful dress that Helaina is wearing last year and it was just a touch too big so I saved it for this year. I was lucky enough to find the EXACT same dress (slightly different color red) for Breleigh this year. I was so excited to get them dressed up. I am not usually one to get into the whole "Christmas Dress" thing but I just couldn't resist this opportunity! I am not a great photographer but I think these are good enough for my wall.
Jim and the girls enjoying a cookie and cider at the Christmas Walk at the Walnut Grove Pioneer Village in Scott County Park. It was a fun time. The girls got to wave to Santa (not interested in actually visiting him yet) make Reindeer food to sprinkle on the lawn to attract Rudolph, watch the Black Smith and write a letter to Santa. It was a very good time!
This is Jim working on his flip charts on a Sunday night as he prepares for a Weight Watchers Meeting the next evening. I like this pic for two reasons. The first is because it reminds me of the many nights I spent preparing lesson plans to teach my second graders and how he never really understood. ( I think he gets it now) and I also like his outfit! What can I say? He's my husband I can appreciate that to me he looks great!
Helaina and her cookie and cider at the Soda Shop in Pioneer Village
Breleigh and her cookie and cider. This was moment before I tried to help her drink some cider and she squeezed the cup and spilled some on her lip and then cried and didn't want anything to do with the cookie or the cider! ([poor baby)
In the train at the Pioneer Village
In the Engine part of the train
Silly girl!

My mom suggested that Helaina make a chain to help her count down the days until her birthday. She had a lot of fun putting together the loops to make the chain and was very proud of the end result. She rips a loop off every night before bed and her chain is getting shorter and shorter. Which also means it is getting closer and closer to Christmas! YIKES!!! Time to end this post and get some decorating done!
This season is going to go very fast and I am very excited for the actual day of Christmas but I am going to try desperately not to rush the season and enjoy all the small things!