We Love Bamma and Papa!

The night before my Mom and Dad left, we decided to try to get a picture with them and all the grandkids. Do you know how hard it is to get 4 kids to look at the camera all at the same time?!?

Needless to say, it never happened. But these are the pictures we ended up with.

Sara and Blake didn't want to be held.

Andie tried to escape.

Blake REALLY didn't want to be held.

Kate and Sara lovin' on each other, Blake trying to get down, and Andie decided she was tired.

I love the look on Mom's face in this one.

Blake finally escaped.

Guess these are better than nothin'!

Kind of Dear

Andie. What can I say. How can you not love her?!? She is so sweet and fun to have around. Most of the time. She is growing to be quite the opinionated little girl. She knows what she wants and will settle for nothing less.

I just wanted to share this small gem about her.

Andie loves to sing, almost as much as her big sister. Her favorite performance pieces now include "Honey, Honey," "Mamma Mia," and a plethora of Primary Songs. However, she often substitutes words for parts she doesn't quite know the words to.

Case in point.

One such Primary Song is called "I am a Child of God."

The correct version goes like this:

I am a Child of God, and He as sent me here. Has given me an earthly home, with parents
kind and dear.

Andie's version goes like this:

I am a Child of God, and He has sent me here. Has given me an earf-ly home,
with parents kind of dear.


For now, being "kind of dear" is okay by me!

Bamma and Papa Come for Christmas

My mom and dad drove in from Indiana to spend Christmas out here. Kate and Andie were so excited that Bamma and Papa were coming. Once they were here, Andie wanted nothing to do with me. She wanted Papa!

She wanted Papa when she was hurt, she wanted Papa to snuggle with, and she even wanted Papa to change her bum. It took awhile to convince her that Papa doesn't change bums! She and Papa were best buds while he was here.

In the mornings whien the girls would wake up, they would go into Bamma and Papa's room and snuggle for awhile. Kate would snuggle with Bamma and Andie, of course, wanted Papa. It was great! This allowed me to get a little extra, much needed, beauty sleep!

My mom did get a little time with Andie, but only when reading stories.

Then it was back to Papa!

Sledding Shenanigans

After one of the big snow storms we decided to take the girls sledding. It was quite the feat getting both girls bundled up in snow gear. We realized that we have no mittens or gloves that fit them. We also didn't have a sled. So Kate and Rob went off in search of the perfect sled. As soon as they returned we headed to the hill.

Kate was so excited.

Andie wasn't so sure.

So we put her to work pushing us instead. (Just kidding...kind of.)

Kate thought it was "awesome!" (Did you catch it?)

She even got pretty daring (who, Kate?) after seeing Daddy ride the sled down the hill standing up. This was her version.

All in all it was a good day. We headed home for some hot chocolate and yummy soup for lunch. We basically had to drag Kate away from the hill. She would have stayed for another hour or two if we had let her.

Who would've guessed she's a die hard?!?!?

Preschool Christmas Program

Kate is the "W"

Kate's preschool put on a Christmas program. It was cute. They sang all the Christmas songs they'd learned, and then each child had a two line speaking part. Kate was the very first to go. Her part was, "Merry Christmas, is a phrase that everyone's saying now a-days." She did an awesome job and didn't even get nervous.

What party in December is complete without a visit from the Big Guy himself?!? Kate was so excited to see Santa and told him that she wanted a trampoline for Christmas. Santa wasn't so sure he'd be able to fit a trampoline in his sleigh.

After Kate visited with Santa for awhile, we headed to Macey's (the grocery store) for some scrumptious soft serve. Kate and Andie were in heaven, and Rob and I got to deal with kids on a sugar high. Ahhh, don't you love December?!?

Do you know Francer and Dixon?

Kate's Version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer goes something like this...

You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Francer, and Dixen. Dommet,

and Cupid, and Donner, and Blitzen. But do you recall

the most famous reindeer of all?

She then goes on to sing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer almost perfectly. I just love asking her to sing the beginning of this song over and over and over. For now, I'm going to let the reindeer be named Francer and Dixen.

I'm sure by next year she'll have all the names right, but for now, Francer and Dixen are fine with me!

We Need a Little Christmas, right this very minute!

It's been fun this year decorating the new house. Trying to figure out where to put the tree, which decorations to put where. Purchasing some new things to add to the Christmas decor.

The Nativity with my Magic of Christmas board above it.

It reads, "The magic of Christmas is not in the presents, but in His presence."

The mantle and new purchases stocking hangers and stockings.

The ledge. Glass "Believe" brick, stackable hat box snowman, berry trees on candle sticks, and santas.

The banister.
It's almost done. Just imagine some red bows.

And who can forget Andie and Kate modeling their Chrismas dresses?!?

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS!!!