Visit to Santa

So after so much talk and anticipation, Hadley and Gweny went to see Santa tonight!! They were so excited and had so many things to ask Santa for...UNTIL, we got in front of Santa. Hadley stayed back, pushing Gweny forward and starting to slowly melt down. So I put Gweny up on his lap, where she froze. Hadley starts screaming, "after Gweny, after Gweny." So I tell Santa Hadley's request, make-up and games...all the while she is crying. So the photographer gets all worried, "Is this okay." Mark and I look at each other and say, "Heck yeah, this is priceless- take it quick!!!!!!!!!!!!!" So here is our experience with Santa. After the picture was taken, Gweny didn't want off of Santa's lap, even though she's terrified and Hadley had to have a twenty minute debriefing because she was so traumatized he didn't hear what she wanted. It was actually fantastic, and I love my husband for helping with the chaos and just rolling with it. He tried so hard to make Hadley feel better afterward, it was so sweet. Enjoy:

PS- A great Santa, all was natural!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dada's Birthday

For Mark's birthday his family took us out to dinner. I can't believe another year as come and gone. Seems like just yesterday we had his surprise 30th birthday party?!?! He got to go shopping in the morning for tools, after he let me sleep in, then had the afternoon in the woodshop while the girls and I played. Next was dinner with his family, dropping the girls off at his mom's for the night. We headed to his sister's house to play kinect. It was a blast and I believe he enjoyed his birthday :) The girls didn't know or understand, but they got him business cards for his woodturning. My hubby, the professional!

Not sure what the dorky face on Hadley is about...

Gweny is getting too grown up. I see her in her older version and it terrifies me...she can't be that grown up.

Hadley is becoming a grown up too. Starting to thin down, if that is possible for how thin she was anyways. She has her opinions, which she shares often. She knows how she is supposed to behave and often makes choices to do so, sometimes. She is getting smarter and smarter everyday- writing her name, completing puzzles, playing Mommy's game (apps on the kindle fire). She can't stop talking about her baby sister Parker who is coming for her birthday :)

My girls LOVE "helping" me while I cook and clean in the kitchen...one day I'll have enough counter space to make this much safer, but for now it works. The stove is off, I promise I'm not that bad of a mom.

 This face is AWESOME. Gweny is at that age where her "cheese" is a scary smile. I can't get enough of it!

"I see it" she says as she poses...everyday she is talking more and more. 4-5 word sentences. I remember talking to Mark before Thanksgiving and sharing that she would be communicating by Christmas and she definitely is!! I love her little froggy voice, it is precious!!

 Diva Hadley...


                                   

Hadley believes she is old enough to take pictures...with my camera (even though she has a kid camera). Her angles are always interesting...

 Self portrait...

On Saturday night we celebrated Lili's 2nd birthday....the girls were so excited to be at the party!!!!

Just so you know that is not all Gweny's hair. Her hair is definitely long, but the girl behind her makes a great optical illusion....hers is in a pony tail actually : )

Holiday Time

As most people know, Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I LOVE decorating the house and have to force myself to wait (if I had my way it'd be up all year round!!!) I did good, waiting until the week before Thanksgiving. Hadley REALLY, really wanted to help mommy, which resulted in eight hours of headache and bickering with the girls, attempting to decorate the house. This year was rough but next year it should be better with some actual help happening. I forsee it being a great tradition since, thus far my kids love lights as much as I do : ) I'm not sure how or why but Hadley decided to use the stockings as socks??

The girls and I went home for our annual Chicago trip. We made it in town early because I had to take the day off with Gweny having a fever so we hit the road early. We made it in time to go to the Santa parade, leaving Gweny at home with Pawpaw to cool off.

Aunt Jess and bubba. Mason had no clue what we were waiting on or why we were in the cold but he hung in there like a trooper.

Then, Hadley saw the beginning of the parade and was soooo excited!!!

Too grown up...

Santa made his arrival on a horse drawn carriage...I love small town life :)

My husbands first Christmas ornament, which is of course mine and it is made out of wood from my grandpas tree.

A few of the sights around our house...

We luckily have five stocking hooks and four stockings up which frustrates Hadley because she thinks we are missing one for Parker -I of course always planned on a family of five so we have an extra, matching stocking downstairs for next year :)

The girls "helped" decorate their trees. For some reason their strategy was to put as many on one branch as they could. We decorated them before they went up on the dressers so when they are up and lite it is harder to "play" with the pretties!!!

For some reason my children love these Nutcrackers...they talk to them, dance with them, and of course break them but as long as they are having fun!!!!

I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chicago, Lions, and Frogs!

So this weekend Jessica and I went with Mom on her annual day bus trip to Chicago. Grandpa was in charge of my kiddos for the day which is always adventurous. We were gone from 6a to midnite so it was an entire day with them :) I felt compelled to buy them something from the Disney store since I purchased so many things for myself :) I got Gweny a Simba doll which she has not STOPPED carrying around or talking with. Hadley got a set of figurines from Princess and the Frog which she has shared with Gweny like a good big sister. Just tonight Gweny is back in her room watching Lion King and cried until we brought Simba back because we had left him on the couch. Absolutely adorable...

Hadley has Tiana and Prince Naven hold hands because they are married. Instead of Mama Ode she says, where is the grandma at???

Crashed with her best pal...

Once again, blessed with a perfect weekend!!

Aunt Mandie & Uncle James' Wedding

November 4th was the big day for this couple and Mark and I had the honor to stand up with them for their big day. It was a great day off for Mark and I. We dropped the girls off early and enjoyed breakfast before all the festivities started. Then off to the salon I went to get a "blow out" as they kept telling me it was called?! Next Mark and I headed to the hall to start our beauty process. Well beauty process for me and the girls whereas Mark was just helping keep the boys on a timeline...parenting skill I guess :) Luckily my parents were able to come in town to help with the crazies...they made it through the ceremony with only one sound. The reception my dad, mom, and I spent keeping the kids out of James and Mandies' arms because that's the only place they wanted to be!!! They made it till the party stopped, in pjs by the end but staying happy and dancing like nobody was watching. It was a great evening. I will have to scan our pictures from the photo booth at some point- they are special :)

The hall was gorgeous, perfect in every way. The bridal party had a little area to prep in which was handy!

James' sister, Jennifer and Rhonda strike a pose.

Jennifer and I...

Rhonda and I...

Before we headed to the park for the professional pictures we took the time to take a group shot. That would be me in heels and a fancy dress at six months pregnant- luckily the dress was able to be altered perfectly and it didn't do bad covering my figure up :)

I made Mark pose with me since we were both dressed up...and in a pretty park.

My girls are getting too big. I forced them to do a family shot (one of these looks familiar, I'll give you a hint...Christmas cards!!!!) They were so happy to be in dresses and at the party it was almost impossible to get them to sit still...

We are so blessed : )

Yes this would be the cake cutting with Hadley running through the front!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look at me and Parker breaking it down with big sis Hadlebear.

Hadley sucking Grandma Bebe onto the dance floor and Gweny working it with PawPaw.

Dancing is in her blood...

By the end of the night it was "anything goes" kind of philosophy. Gweny got ahold of ANOTHER cupcake but went straight for the frosting, and only the frosting. She is kind of delirious at this point and the pictures really show it....but she sure does love her PawPaw

It was definitely a fun evening for me and the girlies. I never really saw Mark but he passed out really quick when we got home so I'm sure he enjoyed himself!!!

Rehearsal Dinner

The wedding was November 4th so on that Thursday we got to practice then enjoy a feast. The girls were so excited about the wedding practice and wearing the dresses they picked out.  Like a bad mom I didn't bring entertainment so they were like wild animals in the small ceremony room but that's what keeps it interesting :) If we didn't have another one on the way I wouldn't be able to stand how big these girls are. It absolutely melts my heart. They are completely their own individuals and their personality differences shine through all the time. Sassy and playful Gweny wanted the hair done to the max, and her little country chic dress with skinny jeans underneath. All for Uncle Jiptz...

 Of course we had to eat something before because my kids are maniacs...meaning food all over her outfit too...and her face!

Hadley wanted a bow, fancy and reserve my Hadley girl is. She chose the dress to wear for the night. Dad thought it looked like PJs but I thought she was precious...

All about doing "a show" Hadley had to get on the stage/platform to start the singing and dancing show...

At dinner all the kiddos had to take the cameras and get crazy shots.

Gweny tried so hard to take a picture. Her hand of course is on the left, but I just adore Hadley's face here.

Gweny was willing to take the pictures but soooo mad at the thought of being in the pictures...

I wish I could say holiday pictures are next, but after a filled Thanksgiving weekend I realized I didn't get my camera out one time. Mark had his Ipod so I know we got a few shots with Great Grandma Lucy that I will post later. We crammed a lot of playtime in with the nieces and nephews and definitely enjoyed counting our blessings :)
 Also we started the hunt for houses back home...finding what we hope/think could be our future home!!!!!!!!!!!! Granted the stars have to align, but it doesn't mean we can't hope and pray that this is our path to get back to my roots :)