Our annual photo shoot with Heidi didn't go as well as we had hoped this year between the cold and Lilly being uncooperative, but Heidi still managed to get some great shots!!
Avery, Age 5
Lillian, Age 1 1/2
A couple more cute ones...
Since we will be at Grandma's for Christmas, we decided to give the girls their present early this year. This morning we had a scavenger hunt that took them all over the house, then finally outside to find their gift.
Katelyn and Avery both danced in the Nutcracker this year. They had a wonderful time and hope to participate again next year.
Avery was a Pollichenelle. Her favorite part was jumping out from under Mother Ginger's skirt. Instead of painting red cheeks on them, the make-up people decided that cutting the cheeks out of red paper would be a better idea. The only problem was that the only way to keep them on was with glue. Yup- her cheeks are stuck on with good ol' Elmers. Talk about OUCH!! I felt bad taking them off her! Other than that, she really enjoyed being a Pollichenelle.
Katelyn was a snowflake. She loved her costume. She did learn however, that the prettier the outfit, the more uncomfortable it is! She did a great job with her dance, and is looking forward to trying out again next year.
We discovered something very cool this year. Did you know that you can write to Santa and ask him to let you borrow an elf for the holiday season? As long as the elf is done with all his or her chores at the workshop, Santa will let them come and stay during December. The only condition is that the elf has to go back home with Santa when he comes on Christmas Eve.
We asked Santa to send us an elf, and the kids requested a girl elf. We were so surprised one morning when we woke up to find Brenna sitting on our counter!
She is a cute little elf, but she can get a bit mischievous at night. Most of the time she just finds some fun, and sometimes she even brings the kids presents!
One morning we woke up to her using my hot pad as a sleeping bag! She had made some cookies and left them on the counter for us.
As much as we didn't want to have to buy a new table right now, we really love the one we got. It is counter height, and folds out to be able to seat 8. We only have four chairs right now, but we're hoping to get the other four with our tax return. ;) (Or should I say that *I* am hoping to and for now, Dave is going along with it!)
We've had quite the adventures around here the last couple of weeks! One day as I was taking a shower, Katelyn came pounding on the door yelling that there was water coming from the ceiling downstairs. Lovely. We called the plumber out, and we are now the proud owners of a large hole in our ceiling! :)
Lilly is my first child that refuses to have her hair done. As soon as I put something in it, she rips it out. This morning she not only let me put ponytails in her hair, but she left them in for several hours! I was so excited!
This is what Lilly's hair usually looks like! (Lovely, isn't it?!?) Emptying the cupboards is one of her new pastimes. The lid drawer is her favorite, because then she can climb in it!
We've been trying to talk Kate into cutting her hair for months now. She really liked her long hair, but then she heard about Locks of Love. She felt bad for the girls who lose their hair due to illness, and decided that as soon as her hair was long enough to donate, she would get it cut. Here is Kate holding her TEN INCHES of hair! She was so excited to send it in, and she loves her new hairdo!!
This year for Halloween Katelyn was a Forest Fairy, Avery was an Angel, and Lilly was a Hershey's Kiss. They all had a great time trick or treating!
Katelyn
Avery
Lilly
Okay, so I'm a bit late here, but here are the pictures from Avery's birthday on October 19. She had a great day! She was very surprised when she got dressed that her clothes still fit. She was sure that the second she turned 5 she would grow out of her clothes!
Avery got a "My Size Barbie" for her birthday. She thinks it's the coolest thing ever! I have to admit though, it creeps me out sometimes. Every once in a while I'll catch a glimpse of it standing in the corner or sitting on the couch staring at me. I have to do a double take to see that it's just the doll!
Instead of having a big party with all of her friends, Avery opted to just take one friend to Build a Bear. This is Meagan, Avery's best friend, and their matching hippos with matching names, Purple Spots. The girls all had a great time at BaB!
Maegan, Avery, Kate, and Lilly with their new Build A Bear friends!
