Our Secret Adventure

Yesterday, we told the girls we were going on a secret adventure. Before we left, we read them "The Polar Express", put them in their new jammies, watched "The Polar Express" in the car and then asked them what they thought we were doing....they hadn't gotten any of the hints, I guess, so we had to tell them...we were going on the SANTA EXPRESS! Lizzie's reply was, "That's not very exciting." :)

But then we pulled into the train station and saw the train all lit up and the inside of all the cars were decorated AND we were served hot chocolate, cookies, and the girls got their favorite fast food...corn dogs! Then Lizzie said, "This is FUN!" The train went for a little ways and then the conductor yelled, "Look we're in the North Pole and there is Santa!" Santa got on our train and gave all the kids silver bells! Ali hugged hers tight and said, "It's just like the book! The book must be real!"

Then Santa's elves sang songs with the kids, read a story, and we even saw Rudolph's Red Nose shining in the distance! Oh, I love the ages that my kids are right now...it's SO fun!

Neighbor Christmas Party

We don't know too many neighbors by our new house yet but the ones right around us have kids that are our kids' ages. It was really nice to have a little gathering and be included in some neighborhood festivities! Thanks, Liz, for inviting us over!

Here is Chris at his best! He is really good at entertaining the kids...and here he set a record for the most number of kids getting a horsey ride at once! Thanks, Chris, for helping with the kids and giving the other adults a chance to talk!

The girls are wearing the Christmas tree shirts I made....I copied Susan's idea and found a sample to look at on Etsy's website....I have no original ideas!! But it was fun to make, even though I had to bribe Lizzie to wear hers!!

Nutcracker Ballet

Toothless Darling!

Unfortunately, Chris was out of town but the girls and I got to go to the Ballet with some friends from Ali's school. It was fun to go out with my sweet girls!

First day of VACATION

The girls were both READY for a school vacation! They have been playing together (Without ANY fights) ALL morning long! It's now almost 2pm and they are doing great! They were just ready to have a day where we did NOTHING. Last night Ali had a friend sleep over and they all played together so great. It makes me happy that Ali includes Lizzie...I hope they continue that for a long time!

Here they are playing that Ali is a reindeer and Lizzie is Santa (see their wardrobe color choices).

Now the reindeer is tired and sleeping on Santa's lap! I love it when they are so good to each other! What a good start to our 2 week break!

Decorating a new house

It's always fun to figure out where things should go in a new house...but we have moved too much...so this is the last time to decide where Christmas decorations should go!! But I love bringing everything out and how the girls get so excited to see their ornaments, their Christmas books, Christmas movies, music, and the Christmas music box is always a hit! This year they have 8 advent calendars to count down the days! A couple chocolate ones, picture ones, the Christmas tree one and one on the computer! Our neighbor and friend from Missouri, Jeni, sent us the Jacquie Lawson advent calendar on the computer last year and we bought it again this year (it's only $3) and it is SOOO cute! Every day the girls like to click on the London scene and watch the cutest Christmas animation come alive. I would totally recommend it! Just google Jacquie Lawson. It's adorable!

Our Elf on the Shelf also found us this year in our new home. "Little" is a big hit again and continues to move around the house at night. I love this tradition...and hope it continues to delight the girls at least for a few more years!

The first gifts of Christmas

The girls got an early Christmas present...a CAT!! We went to the shelter and we were just going to LOOK...but then we ended up taking one home as an early present to the girls! Here is MIDNIGHT...another black male cat (just like our lost Ty Ty in Missouri). The shelter said he was good with kids and didn't have any bathroom problems. SOLD! He is 4 years old and SO mellow...he is the perfect cat. He lets the girls put blankies on him, pet him lots, and he just purrs and purrs. Yay! Even I like him!!

The other early Christmas present! Lizzie couldn't wait for me to open her present she made in school (Sorry, Chris, that you were out of town...she just couldn't wait!) She was so proud!! What a sweetie!

All I want for Christmas...

I can't believe it!! i just wrote that prior post about her snaggle tooth and not 20 minutes later we were eating lunch (peanut butter must be the key) and it fell out!! Doesn't she look SO cute??

Office Christmas Party

I didn't care that I didn't know anyone at Chris' work party...it was FUN! I love to get dressed up and go out with my cute husband! It was a really nice night and I got to meet some of his friends who were fun to talk to. We stayed out until 1:30am and I made Chris dance a bit to "Livin on a Prayer!" He'll be really happy that I wrote that here!

Uncle Pete's bday

Yes, Finn did like chewing on that bottle...he has good taste...it was New Belgium beer! Happy Birthday, Pete! We were happy to have you guys come over and hang out for the day! You were good at keeping Chris company!

Here is Chris who had to be on the couch all weekend long after his, "I don't want any more kids" surgery! I tried to be sympathetic but it was very hard...I kept comparing his surgery to say...my 2 C-sections but he wasn't very appreciative of my comments!! :) Well done, Chris. You're a trooper!

Babysitting Finn...he is just SOOO cute and happy! I kept asking Chris...didn't he want a little boy of his own?? His answer was a definitive NO! Finn is fun during the day but we're happy to give him back to his loving parents!! :)

Sheila's niece, Tiare, is now our new "cousin" and we love seeing her! She is SO sweet and good with our girls!

Thadeus, our other new "cousin", is a great guy! He and Ali had a long rousing game of Monopoly!

Fun at Oma's & Opa's

The band's back together!! Introducing...Opa on the guitar! Daddy on drums! Ali on the harmonica! Lizzie on drums! Wow...let me tell you...they make amazing music!

Decorating Oma and Opa's little tree just for the kids!

We are Thankful for Family

Thank you, Oma & Opa, for hosting a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving! It was fun to be back at your house for the holiday! We ended up staying ALL weekend long at their house since it was so relaxing and yummy to eat left overs!

Cute cousins! It was fun to have baby Finn with us this year!!

It's so nice to be closer to Pete, Sheila & Finn. I'm so thankful to live close to family now! I've gotten to babysit Finn a couple times now and he is a REALLY good baby! He doesn't like to sleep much but he is really happy!

Almost there...

She's half way to be able to say, "All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth." That other front tooth just won't fall out and Ali WILL NOT pull on it and WILL NOT let me pull on it. I shouldn't care so much...I just think it will be so cute when she's missing both front teeth especially by Christmas time!! :) Right now that other front tooth is seriously DANGLING...she's got a bit of a snaggle tooth look!! :) Ah, but we still think you are cute, Ali! Good thing parents ALWAYS love you!!

Costume Changes

The real night of Halloween, our 2 neighbors that have kids the same ages as ours came over for dinner and then they trick or treated up and down our street. After that, we drove to another friends' neighborhood and got MORE candy! Although Elizabeth got cold and said, "I have ENOUGH candy!" (Costumes: Cats)

Boo at the Zoo: It was really fun to be back at the Denver Zoo. We used to take Ali there all the time when she was one and two years old. It was fun to go this time with Sheila, Finn, Tiare, and Thadeus. (Costumes: Dorothy and a witch!)

Trunk or Treat at School: We got to take Lauren the Ladybug (Chris' HS friend Aaron and Mandie's little girl) with us. It's been fun to see a few old friends around Denver. (Costumes: Cat and Rapunzel)

We also were invited to a friend's Halloween party and the girls dressed up as Snow White and a Queen! We had a lot of variety this year inour costumes but it was all fun! I love this time of year!

I'm thankful for...

my two daughters' new friends. I worried most about leaving all of our friends in Missouri when we moved and I was so sad that our girls were leaving some great, close, sweet friends. We just LOVED that neighborhood. But THANKFULLY they have both found some really nice friends here in Colorado. Ali had tons of playdates while we had our fall break and Lizzie LOVES her friends in preschool. I am also thankful that Ali and her friends include Elizabeth in their sleep overs and play dates.

Sweet moments like these...

I am so thankful that I get to stay home and enjoy these sweet girls while they LIKE it that I'm home! We've gone to eat lunch with Ali at school a few days and it's so nice that she gets excited to see Lizzie and I. One day I know she will be embarrassed and will want to be very far from me...I'm glad those days aren't here yet! :) And I love being able to let them relax and have slow days when possible and not have to rush around. They can be SOOO sweet to each other and snuggle and....those times are just precious.

Thanksgiving Outfits

One new way I've come up to discover a "hobby"...make ribbon skirts and shirts! Thanks for the idea, Susan! :) I have 2 other projects in the works...Christmas shirts and Valentine outfits. It's fun and keeps me busy on those days when there isn't too much to do. I try to remind myself that one day I'll go back to work and won't have the luxury of slow days. Chris tells me not to glorify the idea of work in my head...so I try to cherish all these lovely moments I have with my little girls!

Date Night

Thank you SO much Oma and Opa for babysitting!!

Oh, I missed these Rio margaritas!! YUM! YUM! We also got to go to a play at the performing arts center and stay at the cutest hotel in Denver. Loved just walking around all night!

We had the nicest night out in Denver...so nice to be married to such a great guy!