Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

We went to Church on Christmas Eve & Nana Gayle made us all an amazing dinner afterwards.  For some reason I didn't take many pictures on Christmas Eve or Christmas day.  We were pretty busy with the kids and helping them open/put things together though too.

They sure love opening presents

Ellie got a Calico Critters tree house… and now half of the pieces are missing because they are literally the size of my fingernail

Maree got Dr. Barbie for animals 

Santa presents

These umbrella's were quite exciting!!

Maree and Ellie both got scooters from Nana and Papa - and those are technically the biggest hit of all the presents.  Maree ZOOMS around the house on hers.  

Christmas Day

A present from Marc :):)  The plan is to stack the kids birthstones… he just decided to start with mine!

Nana & Papa with Maree & Ellie

Christmas back in the Midwest

Nothing excites our girls more than getting to go on an airplane.. AND learning they are going to see their cousins!!  The first day back in Missouri I wanted to see my moms side of the family.  It's always so hard to try to fit everything in during the short time that we are back… but I grew up going and visiting all of these relatives MANY times throughout the year… and I usually only get to see them every year or two now.  SO, I try to cover a lot of ground.  I'm so thankful we got to visit my Grandmother Tom Tom when we did.  Recently, her health has been on the decline… but when we saw her she was amazing & remembered who I was immediately.  She was so good with my girls too…

Tom Tom with Maree 

Maree giving her kisses from Minnie and Micky

Ellie showed her Minnie Mouse too

Missing my mom in this picture

One with her by myself - I learned so much from her

And one with my girls and her too

Next stop was Tom Tom's actual house that I always visited for every holiday and two weeks every summer…I have SO many memories here.  My Aunt Nancy has been slowly remodeling this house because it is now outdated.. and it is pretty fun to see the changes!

I got to meet my cousin's baby-  Kylie!

We had to take them up to the room I always slept in

Love my cousin Penny!

Next stop was at Madget Demolition to see my Aunt Julie and Uncle Andrew!

Maree thought Andrew was just amazing

And the girls loved Aunt Julie and the puppy too!

For the remainder of the trip we stayed in Kearney and the girls couldn't have been happier!! Maree was attached to Caylee's hip and Ellie floated between them, Anna, and Jordynn!

All the cousins together

Maree with Grandma Robbie

Ellie's favorite gift

Maree's favorite gift - Thank you Brett & Tara!!

THEN… Santa showed up!! What a cool surprise!!!

she sure LOVES Santa

The 3 Amigos

Best buddies

The whole family - minus Gigi's family and Matt!

All tuckered out after a very busy day.  Maree couldn't be separated from Caylee… clearly, she's sleeping on her head!

Saying goodbye was VERY painful - she told me so many times that she never got to hug Caylee goodbye.. but I have picture evidence

Tickets.. what a cluster of name confusion

Slept the whole flight

My girls are growing up!

December Random Pictures

I decided to try a new style of Christmas lights - I wrapped rope lights around our fence.. and I have to say they looked pretty cool!  Also pretty awesome that it was almost 80 when I put them up

My attempt at a "candy cane" - it looked even cooler from the park behind our house

Miss Twinkle and Mr. Flash made their appearance this year too!  

Being 2 and 4 must be better ages for understanding Elf on the Shelf..  the threat of the naughty list was quite powerful this year

We also had QUITE the shock this month. Or I did.  I took the test with no one home because I knew I couldn't possibly be pregnant but was just going to rule it out before I got Marc worried… 

Later that week we had dinner at Mastro's.. and of course as soon as I said "No Martini for me"… they all knew.

This girl.  She loves being Mama and playing with all this… right in an inconvenient walk way

sometimes she brings them to me in my bathroom.. and that is really fun to take all the way back to the other side of the house

We went to a party at the W hotel… not quite as fun without a cocktail! 

We decorated ornaments too 

December in AZ also means rain.. and my girls have an umbrella obsession

At 5 weeks I had lots of pain and cramping - apparently it was just a cyst rupturing.  But, I've never had an ultrasound so early… how crazy to see so early on!

Modeling "Bling in the New Year" shirts and bows from Portia's Closet.

We had an impromptu DQ visit.  They wanted cookie dough blizzards.  I got oreo.  Guess what happened next… yes. Mine was the only one eaten.