Big Night

Last night was Grace's preschool Christmas program. She was very excited about going, singing, she had practiced her songs all week and she was in her Christmas best. But as soon as I dropped her off in her classroom she had a little meltdown... but she did such a good job. She got on stage,with NO tears and she didn't run off to us. There was not much singing coming out of her mouth just the nervous bite of her fingers. My favorite part was the smile and wave when she saw us in the audience. I have the preformance on my camcorder if anyone wants to come watch home video, hehehe.

Olivia was awesome the whole time! I actually think she enjoyed the music.

I love this picture below! TOO SWEET!

Thank you Maw Maw and Paw Paw for coming!

Here is Grace singing parts of the three songs she learned at school:

Never a dull moment...

Olivia is all over the place. She went from pushing herself around a few feet to crawling around the whole house. She is pulling up of furniture and letting go as well. She will stand for a few seconds on her own and then fall forward. It's like her top half of her body moves before her feet even think about it. Of course since we have Christmas decorations up she is into EVERYTHING!

Grace came out of my bathroom the other day grinning from ear to ear. She found my lipstick. The picture does not do her any justice b/c it was ALL over her face. A nice friend from Chad's soccer team gave her chap stick and that is her new bestfriend.
Poor Olivia! Why did Grace find it so funny to put her panties on Olivia's head? Watch out Grace, she will get you back one day.

I love this picture below, it is from Thanksgiving at Maw Maw and Paw Paw's house. Both girls absolutely loved it!

Grandmimi and Pops

Thanks for our red Christmas shirts and socks. (I think Grace has worn her socks every day since she opened the box!)

Night Out

Thanks to Maw Maw, Chad and I were able to go to a Christmas party tonight with NO kids! What fun!

Me and Mary Ellen

Melissa, Jennifer, me and Mary Ellen

I am so blessed to have such great friends!

Holidays are here

The Sunday after Thanksgiving was spent decorating for Christmas. As soon as the girls went down for naps Chad pulled boxes out of the attic. Grace woke and was so excited to see "Christmas" in the house. She helped us decorate the tree by places all her ornaments in one branch. Don't worry...Chad fixed it.

Yes, Aunt KK I think this is your hat from about four years ago. We found it in a box and Grace thinks it's the greatest thing.

Grace loves carrying around these two stuffed Santas. They have been pushed in strollers, rode on her scooter, sat in all types of chairs and had books read to them.

Maw Maw bought us this book set last year. We didn't really do much with it last year but this year it is a BIG hit. After reading it once to Grace she understands the the elf watches her all day and flies to tell Santa about her good or bad behavior after she goes to bed. The next morning it is back at our house, in a new place, to watch again. Every day Grace searches for Elfy (that is the name she gave him) and is excited to see him back. We have told her he will keep coming back until the night Santa comes to bring gifts. She is very nervous about that night, she wants the gifts but not Santa to visit.

Olivia's Nine Months Old

Olivia turned nine months old this past weekend. She is such a sweet content girl! She is a little talker and squealer. We have heard her say "mama" and "dada" very clearly. But we have also thought we have heard "doggie", "Grace" and "Paw Paw". She adores her sister and is tolerating more from her. I am waiting for the day that she tackles Grace. She is moving around the room but only in her six foot diameter on her bottom or inch worming it. She has pulled up to her feet a couple times but she loves pulling up on her knees with her toys. She likes standing holding on to toys, boxes, etc. She waves bye bye appropriately and claps her hands. I am just starting sign language with her. Olivia can give the best open mouth kisses. She is on almost all table foods. If she hears a bag of anything being open her mouth starts smacking. Most evening she eats two dinners. THE GIRL LOVES TO EAT! She is taking two good naps a day and is finally starting to sleep through the night. We have had three nights in a row. She went to her well baby check up today. She weighs in at 18 lbs 11oz and is 28 1/2 inches tall. She is in the 90th percentile for her height and 70th for weight. We also discovered that she has an ear infection. Bless her heart! I kind of had a feeling she did but I knew we were coming to the doctor this week so I put off going and siting the sick child room. So we are on antibiotics and hoping for no reactions with this kind.

The snake

While at the lake this past week Chad and I were trying to take some family photos. Chad was going to walk on the dock to get some pictures when I noticed him taking some back steps. A SNAKE!!! At first we thought it might be dead because of the hook in his neck. Chad decided to walk up closer when the thing flew in the water and swam away. We all four took off running to find Paw Paw to rescue us. Paw Paw was upset that we scared it off. BUT the stupid thing came back that afternoon.
This time Paw Paw made sure it wouldn't come back. One shot...not bad!

Gingerbread Cookies

***I added several post tonight. Make sure to check them all out.***



We decided to decorate cookies with Gracie on Saturday to continue to get into the Christmas spirit. Grace was in love this project. I think she would of made a dozen of them if we would of let her .

Breakfast with Santa

Maw Maw took mommy and the girls to have breakfast with Santa at the Ritz at Lake Oconee. We had a great time, great food, great Santa and great company! The girls both wore their new Christmas pajamas. Grace still does not like the man in the red suit. We talked about seeing him for a couple days. I would explain that we tell Santa what we want for Christmas. We watched videos on YouTube of happy children seeing Santa but each time she would tell me that she wanted mommy to tell Santa what she wants or that Olivia could sit on his lap. Santa came and talked to us at the breakfast table and Grace made eye contact with him. We visited him at his chair but she wouldn't sit on his lap. Olivia did! We got a family picture with the photographer of the three of us with Santa (Olivia on this lap and mommy holding Gracie). The picture below is of Santa kneeling beside our table. The expression on her face sums up her feelings about him.

Gracie drinking hot chocolate or "coffee" like her daddy!

Other then Santa, Gracie had a GREAT time. Thank you Maw Maw!!!

Gingerbread House

On Thanksgiving evening we all went to the Ritz up at Lake Oconee to see the lights and Gingerbread house. The house is huge and it is really neat to see all the candy it is made out of. And the lights are absolutely beautiful. Grace had a fun time running through several trees full of lights!

My Aunt Kathy and Uncle John

Our attempt of a family picture taken by ourselves. It makes me laugh!