Tis The Season...Part 2

We continued to stink it up for the rest of December as far as Christmas activities go.  I did not do what we normally would do, and I do feel bad about that, but I also think we did get enough fun activities in and know we can always try again next year!  One of the fun things we actually did was go see The Polar Express in the theater.  We each got special golden tickets, just like in the book, and there were even conductors there to punch our tickets for the "train".  This was Lilly's first movie in the theater, and she did great!  We were pleasantly surprised!  After the movie, Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, and a gingerbread man came to take pictures and talk.  It was a great morning!

After the movie, Jovan took the girls to the Children's Museum so I could get a little shopping done.  In the "Santa's Magic" show, they were finally able to meet Elsa!  They were SO excited!

It was our turn to host Christmas this year, so my family was all in town for the holidays.  We had a great time hanging out, shopping, and having my mom cook for us. :)  Christmas was so much fun this year!

Ready to head to Christmas Eve service

Cookies for Santa

Mom and I in our matching Christmas jammies

Gifts from Santa

Lainey left some very specific directions for where Santa should leave her present, haha!

Cousins in their matching jammies

Lainey reading the Christmas story to the family

Lainey's reaction to us getting a new Wii

Our sweet nephew, Hudson

The girls with Great Grandma Ginger

The girls with Great Granddad

We can add another successful Christmas to the books!  Now on to celebrate mine and Jovan's birthdays and get ready for a new year!

Tis The Season...Part 1

This year we spent Thanksgiving at my parents' house.  The weather was super cold when we first got there, but then we were blessed with some uncharacteristically warmer weather for the long weekend.  Jake, Megan, and Hudson were up for the weekend too, and it was wonderful to just get to hang out and not think about anything for a few days!

Lilly & Aunt Megan trying to find a Christmas tree

The tree the grandkids picked out for Nana & Papa

Running at my parents' house is a BEAST!  Not only do they live in the middle of nowhere on gravel roads...they are also extremely hilly roads.  I didn't care though because I was just thrilled to run outside after the ridiculously cold November we had.  

We had my dad take pictures so we could snap a quick Christmas card pic. This was quite the undertaking, but we at least got one decent one!

PHOTO BOMB!

Her true feelings about taking pictures

 We haven't really been doing too hot with our December advent calendar activities, but we've gotten a few of them in!  One of the things was to go see Santa's real reindeer!  The girls LOVED it and thought is was so cool that they got to see real live reindeer!

Another item we've crossed off the list is seeing Santa.  We've had the same Santa now for five years, and we just love him!

Painting a Christmas canvas is also on our monthly activities, so Lainey and I went to a Mommy and Me paint class.  We had a great time, and I love that we will have these canvases to remember this fun night!  I may have also decided while I was there that I need to quit my job and teach these art classes myself. :)

And last, but not least...Jovan's work holiday party.  Unfortunately, it was an ugly sweater themed party, but I think we successfully rocked it out!  Since Jovan has a new job, we're not terribly familiar with everyone yet, but we did have a good time and, as always, adult beverages make everyone a little more "bonded"! ;)

December has been a GREAT month so far, and I can't wait for the rest!

Lilly is 3!

So this year we had a very small party for Lainey, and I loved it so much that we decided to do a repeat performance for Lilly's third birthday.  We decided to go with the oh so popular "Pancakes and Pajamas" theme and invited two families over.  The kiddos were all in their pajamas, and it gave us adults an excuse to be in ours too, haha!  I made pancakes and bacon, the kids all played, and the adults just got to sit around enjoying mimosas.  All in all it was a perfect night!

Enjoying a birthday doughnut with Mommy before school

Their pancake creations...complete with LOTS of sprinkles!

Lilly and her bff, Hadley.  These girls have been together since they were teeny-tiny babies.  Can't believe they're three!

We were matching totally by coincidence!

A few things we want to remember at this age:

• At her check up, Lilly weighed 33 lbs and is 37.2 inches tall.
• She LOVES to talk on the "phone".  She calls her Nana, Papa, and Crunkle constantly!
• She is potty trained...and has been for quite some time!!!
• She will call you immediately if she hears you saying "Oh my God" or "Oh my goodness".  She will promptly correct you and tell you to say "oh my stars!"
• She likes to twerk...she just doesn't know that's what she's doing, haha!
• She is a cuddler, unlike her sister.  She loves to give hugs and will cuddle for hours.  We tend to still hold her A LOT, not necessarily because she wants it, but we sure do!
• She loves to "read."  She is constantly reading to anyone who will listen.

Superheroes, Halloween, and a little Fall Fun

We celebrated Red Ribbon Week this week at school which is always a teacher's favorite week...it basically means I get to wear jeans or better for the week!  We had some pretty lame dress up days, but we did have a Superhero day, so of course I was all over that!  

Some of my kiddos in their Superhero gear

Teachers are such dorks!

All three of us are wearing Wonder Woman shirts that belong to me...I may have a slight addiction...

We spent the night before Halloween at the pumpkin patch for our last time of the season.  It was FREEZING!  Being as we buy the season pass, we only spent about an hour and a half there and headed home.  It was nice because there were still a ton of people there, but it wasn't as overwhelming as it usually is.  We had a great final night and look forward to next year!

Family selfie before sliding down the huge slides

Me being a complete dork jumping on the giant pillows

Apparently Halloween is kind of a big deal at my new school.  We have a huge parade around the school, and I have never seen so many parents before in my life!  That being said, we had to figure out some sort of costume, so of course we went with the most popular theme--Minions!  

Gru and a minion (or just another day for the 5th grade teachers!)

On the night of Halloween we had my parents, brother and family, and our good friends over for the evening's festivities.  We took the kids out trick or treating and then headed back to the house for chili and cinnamon rolls.  Such a fun and successful night!

Ready to Trick or Treat!

Cruella and Elsa

Cruelle DeVille and her dalmatians

 And because we have to take a trip down memory lane...

Halloween 2013

Halloween 2012

On Saturday my parents and Jake and Megan headed to the Husker game, so we got to spend the day with Baby Hudson.  We took him to the Children's Museum, and they all had a blast!

And Lainey and I have been twinning a lot lately.  For now I will just be thankful every time she allows us to dress alike.  Love this girl!