Santa Came!

The letters and cookies must have worked because Santa came to our house! It's just a good thing that Audrey is still too young to notice that her pile of presents is a bit smaller than Julia's.

Obviously she didn't mind too much because all she did was eat the packaging. She enjoyed the wrapping paper a great deal as well. It dissolves in your mouth which adds a little excitement.

I have never seen anyone (other than my sister Carli) open presents so quickly. Julia dug right in and didn't stop until the job was done.

Oh and the result was sweet. The favorite gift? Her Ponyville amusement park. It plays the same music over and over as the ponies spin round and round. This wasn't necessarily her daddy's favorite gift. It was such a wonderful and relaxing Christmas and the girls had such a great time.

Away In a Manger

Behold the Angel and the baby Jesus. For Christmas Eve we decided to make a "birthday cake" to celebrate the Savior's birth and to act out the nativity. Julia was very excited to be a beautiful angel, Audrey got to be the baby Jesus and Bryan and I were Mary and Joseph. The manger is actually the toy box and I was impressed that Audrey laid in there for as long as she did. Julia appears to be casting a spell on Audrey. I'm not sure why the angel required a magic wand.

The angel and Joseph. I bet Bryan's mom will recognize the old pillow case used as Joseph's head dress.

Here are the girls Christmas Eve in their matching jammies. Julia is playing with the Polly Pocket her Grandma got her. She wouldn't put it down all night.

Julia is frosting the cookies for Santa. She had to leave carrots for the reindeer as well. We also wrote Santa a note letting him know all the last minute items she just couldn't live without. Julia seriously didn't fall asleep until 11:00pm that night. It was SO exciting!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Some last minute Christmas pictures that I especially want those to see that don't get to see these two little ones on Christmas Eve. We miss you and love you.

This one has been bouncing around the house all night long in anticipation of what tomorrow brings. She has made the day so magical.

We can hardly wait for Santa to come!

We can't get enough of the Christmas songs. Much to Bryan's absolute torture I bought a Chimpmunk's Christmas CD and Julia could listen to it over and over. Now, the chipmunks once or twice is delightful but a million times over and over may result in desires to shove toothpicks in your ears. But one good thing is Julia has loved singing all the Christmas songs for us. I had to really beg to get her to do the actions to this song...

Since It's Christmas Eve Eve Eve

I hope you are all enjoying the Christmas season!

My girls in their cute Christmas shirts and Bryan and I want to wish you Merry Christmas and hope that you have lots of joy and happiness. We have been so blessed this year.

Don't mind the sheen of sweet potatoes on Audrey's face. Just look at the cute smile instead.

Merry Christmas!

Don't Let a Tumble Down the Stairs Stop You

Julia had a little party at our house for our playgroup friends. I will have to say it wasn't just a party for her, but a party for me too. Not only is Julia great friends with these two but I am great friends with their moms as well. So it was an excuse to get together, eat lunch and let the kids exchange some gifts. We had yummy soup, bread and fruit salad and even better company. The only downer was that poor little Jansen took a tumble down my stairs and split his head open. If you look closely you can see the bandaid covering up the damage. Poor Jansen hasn't had the best luck lately with wounds. Luckily he was somewhat distracted by the new little cars he received.

Julia was in heaven with all of the princess supplies.

And little Alici loved her new Christmas book.

What great kids! We love having these two around and I love having an excuse to hang out with their moms.

Baby It's Cold Outside

We crazies went for a walk the other night. We had to take a picture of the cute little pink cheeked Audrey.

Julia is taking dance class. She loves it and I will get a cuter picture here in the future. The leotard is a hand me down from a friend and she is without ballet slippers or tights. Her cheapo mom will have to do something about that. She is always asking people if they want to see her dance moves (her teacher is the cutest girl.) And because I have been rather distracted by all things Christmas and the craziness that is associated with it I forgot to give the latest updates on how my girls are growing. They both visited the doctor earlier this month and are growing like weeds. Julia is 32 lbs (65%) and 39 1/2 inches (93%). Audrey is 17 lbs (75%) and 27 1/2 inches (96%). I wonder if the height comes from the Palmer side because HELLO? Tall girls. It's always so great to see that they are healthy and strong. Julia even braved a flu shot (only if the nurse would give her two stickers.) Audrey had a sinus infection that has been treated and she is her happy baby self once again. Now we are just getting excited for Santa and all the joy Christmas time brings us. I for one couldn't feel more blessed than to have these two cute girls to celebrate it with.

Too Tempting

Short bread cookies are a family tradition in our home. My Grandma Florence used to make them when my dad was growing up and I am carrying on the tradition. They are so easy to make and especially delightful when topped with snow (powdered sugar) and red sprinkles.
Take a good look at the snow and sprinkles because they are the first to go. Sometimes we decide to eat the cookie but sometimes the snow and sprinkles are all we need.
While daddy was reading Julia Christmas stories...
This little innocent wild haired child just..
couldn't...
help herself. That tree is so bright and pretty. SO glad that she isn't crawling yet!

You Better Watch Out!

Christmas time is quickly approaching and I feel that I have neglected to post many of the happenings at our house during this exciting season. Julia is so excited for Christmas she can hardly breathe. She asks me daily if this is the day Santa is coming. It consumes all of her thoughts. Audrey was screaming yesterday and Julia went up to her and said, "Audrey, the elves are watching you." This has worked as a great tactic on Julia and was quite effective in getting her to take her nap today (I may have even evily threatened a phone call to the North Pole). Bryan gave her a toy catalog and told her to circle all of the items she wished Santa to bring her. Each page was littered with SEVERAL circles and some were double circled because those were the ones she REALLY wanted. We have decorated our house and we have glittered ornaments that have glittered the carpet as well because Julia is under the tree with the Nativity Scene playing all day. I think we hit a low point when the ponies were wondering If the baby Jesus wanted to come to Pinkie Pie's Birthday. It has really made this year so fun. It has been delightful to talk about Santa and his reindeer but even more special to talk about the birth of the Savior and what it means. I have indulged her in playing with the nativity scene to her heart's content if just to give her little three year old heart a glimpse of what the Christmas season is all about. Though when I mention that she needs to get Audrey a present because Christmas is about giving, we quickly revert to what she needs Santa to bring her for Christmas. Oh, well. At least we are trying.

So after that long bit. We attended our ward Christmas party yesterday which was such a fun evening of music and food and best of all (for a very excited Julia) a visit from Santa.
I must thank my mom for getting the girls their adorable matching dresses. They looked like two little Christmas princesses. Julia was particularly pleased with the color choice. Cute little Audrey. She actually started clapping this week. And she's figured out that if she yells enough and holds her arms up her mommy will ALWAYS pick her up. Bryan thinks that I'm spoiling her. That's probably true, but look at that face! I cannot resist her.
Cute Julia making a weird face. I must take another picture of her in this dress on a later date with a cute smile, not a "I think I'm gonna be sick" smile.

And the moment we have all been waiting for...

SANTA! When the big moment arrived all of the little kids gathered right around Santa without forming any type of line. Julia was absolutely and completely tortured when Santa put a child other than her on his lap. Every time he picked one of the eager children out of the massive crowd she would cry out and look at me with panic in her eyes. She was sure that he was going to forget her. She was so close and yet so far away. But lo and behold her turn finally came and she didn't even choke. She proudly told him that she wanted a the "big big big present." Those were her exact words.

Upon arriving home Julia informed me that when Santa comes to our house and leaves her this big big present, she is going to leave him cookies and leave carrots for the reindeer. Then she is going to take a ride on a great big reindeer and Audrey can ride a little tiny reindeer. They are going to ride high in the sky with Santa and Jesus (Can you picture this in your head?) Hmmmm.... I suppose we get a little confused with heaven and reindeer and such. But her excitement truly is contagious and she makes me want to enjoy every minute of this Christmas season.

Thanksgiving in Cincy

This year we got to go to Cincinnati to see our very very good friends the Gaileys for Thanksgiving. It was so great to get away and to see our good friends again. Their house is so nice and the company was even better. The food was yummy and it was just such a great and relaxing Thanksgiving. Thanks Gaileys for such a great time!

I had to document my very first fruit pie that I have ever made. I think it turned out pretty good.
Here we are stuffing our faces with as much food as we could. Kristi made the most delicious and moist turkey and it was her first time cooking one. I must say I was very impressed.
There is a beautiful park right near the Gailey's house and we went on a walk. Here is Julia and Zach. They are such good little buddies.

Kristi and little Connor. I can't believe how much he has grown up since that last time we saw him. He's walking and talking. Such a cute little guy.
The "hurricaine" hit in Cincinnati as well and lots of trees were uprooted.
No one will be surprised that Bryan had to find a tree to climb. He did make it almost all the way to the top. Julia had to get up there with him (who do you think she takes after?)
Here we are about ten pounds heavier after our wonderful turkey dinner.
The walk lead to an outlook of the Ohio River. It was spectacular. The river is so huge and these large cargo boats go floating by. We enjoyed getting outside for a little bit and enjoying the sun we don't always get to see here in Ohio winters.
Thank you Dave and Kristi for such a wonderful time! We are so glad that you didn't move too far away so that we can still get together. You guys are the best.