Jeff & Amy's Visit

A few days after Christmas Jeff and Amy drove down from my parents' to visit us. We enjoyed the time we got to spend with them! The girls were absolutely thrilled and it was like Christmas all over again with the presents that they brought down from them and others. We enjoyed just hanging out, eating good food, and playing games.

Christmas

Christmas this year was very quiet for our family, well as quiet as it can be with two excited girls in the house. We stayed home since I was 38 weeks pregnant and traveling wasn't the best idea... On Christmas Eve we got together with a few other families for dinner. After spending time with friends we came home and the girls each got to open one present - a Cinderella ornament to help them remember their Disney World adventure in 2011.

The next morning the girls checked out their stockings before we had to get ready to go to church. Conveniently they received a few items that were appropriate to take to church and enjoy. What a smart Santa!

After church we continued the rest of our present opening. It was hard to get Audrey to look at us at all, so all the pictures of her look very similar to this:

Rachel was much more willing to pause and pose for us:

Overall I think the girls were pretty pleased with what Santa, mom, dad, grandparents, and cousins gave them. They have definitely enjoyed their new toys, dresses, cowgirl boots, and hooded towels. Andy and I both received a few stocking items. Christmas day we all took naps, talked to family members, and enjoyed leftovers from Christmas Eve dinner. It was very nice and relaxing.

New Look

I know both grandmas are anxious to see their Rachel... Yesterday Rachel got quite a bit of hair cut off. For years she's wanted to grow her hair long, so we've just been doing trims. And it's taken forever to get her hair somewhat long. But just a few weeks ago she decided she wanted to get her hair cut short like her friend Jenna's. I talked to her quite a bit about it, just to make sure we weren't going to have a meltdown once it was done. But she was set on it. Last week at school she told all her teachers and friends that she was going to look different after Winter Break. And she does look different! We love it! Rachel's happy with it and is enjoying flipping her hair around. :)

Christmas Dance Performance

On Tuesday we got to go watch Rachel perform the Christmas dances she's been working on. She was kind of sad she couldn't keep the white dress, but I reassured her that at the end of the year she'll get to keep her costume for the big recital. I really like that they have these mini performances at the studio. I think it helps get them ready for the big one at the end of the year.

At first they showed us how they warm-up for each dance class:

More dance exercises:

The ballet performance (Rachel was very excited about getting to dance with a nutcracker):

The jazz performance:

Audrey's Birthday

Audrey's birthday celebrations began 2 weeks before her birthday. While we were up at Papa and Grandma Michaelson's, we went ahead and had Audrey open her presents from them.

Very excited!!!

Audrey was thrilled with her new dress-up and her play food and scanner.

Two weeks later, on December 11th, we celebrated at home. Audrey was so anxious... So, we spread out the present opening to all day long. She opened her first present (from us) after lunch. And it was the one thing she requested for her birthday. About a year ago Rachel received a cape with a "R" on it at a party. So, Audrey decided to request a cape with an "A" on it...

They are pretty well coordinated now (Audrey wanted the same colors as well):

After her nap she opened yet another present from Papa and Grandma Smith. The girls have had so much fun this past week playing with the play-do. We've always had play-do, but we haven't had many tools. So, they've had a ball!

After dinner Audrey opened 2 more presents. One from the Hoglund family and she loves her new jacket:

And another gift from the King family. Audrey was thrilled to get a Snow White shirt:

After a wardrobe change - new outfit and jacket on - we got out the cake:

Audrey did a fabulous job blowing out the candles:

It was fun this year to have family join in on the celebrations. We are enjoying have Craig, Natalie, Chase, and Landon so close. It's not often that we have family around to celebrate birthdays, so we're enjoying the change.

A few days later Audrey went and picked out a doll from Uncle Jeff and Aunt Amy:

I think Audrey's birthday was a success! She was spoiled by so many with phone calls, cards, and presents. She is one lucky who girl has lots of people who show her love. We are so grateful for Audrey and all the joy that she brings to our family.

One month to go...

Believe it or not, there's only one month left for our little guy to get a little fatter and a little stronger....

I am blessed to be feeling pretty good. The biggest complaint I can offer is being tired. But who isn't tired??? :) I'm also feeling pretty massive, but who isn't at 8 months? I'm still able to enjoy my cycling classes at the gym. I sleep pretty comfortably - there's just a few bathroom breaks needed every night. This baby boy keeps on dropping. The past 2 times I've been to the doctor, he tells me he's dropped a little more. I've gained 17 pounds so far. The hospital called today to verify my insurance information and informed me of what I was expected to pay when checking in to the hospital. So, we are all squared away there. The nursery is coming along. I was spoiled by my friends with lots of clothes. I've got them washed and folded (his drawers look the best they'll probably ever look). Boy clothes are definitely fun as well! :) If you're wondering, no, we still haven't decided on a name. Poor little guy... He will get one, we just don't know what it is yet. The girls are getting very anxious. Just today Audrey told me she wanted her baby brother to come out. I told her not quite yet... So, here's to surviving the final month!

Work Family Christmas Party

Andy's work has continued the tradition of a family Christmas party, which I enjoy much more than the fancy adult one. Although we definitely don't go there for the food. I haven't been impressed with the catering the past 2 years. But the girls enjoy seeing Santa, getting their faces painted, getting air-brushed tattoos, and ice skating at Discovery Green.

The girls in front of the Christmas tree in the lobby at Andy's work (couldn't get a good smile out of either of them):

Enjoying ice skating (we love the double-bladed ice skates):

Andy was in charge of the girls this year on the ice. I have a hard enough time when I'm not pregnant, so I wasn't even going to attempt ice skating while pregnant. Audrey went around the big rink once with Andy and Rachel never cared to. The girls had fun skating around the little kid ice rink.

A video of them skating (don't mind National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation in the background - it was also movie night at Discovery Green):

Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas does not forget the little girls that used to live in Holland. On the evening of December 5th our doorbell rang and the girls raced to the door to see what Sinterklaas had brought them.

Checking out what they got:

This is definitely a fun tradition that we have enjoyed continuing. It helps keep some memories alive for the girls of our time in Holland.

School Happenings

Rachel is loving kindergarten. She adores her teacher, has made lots of new friends, and has so much to report to me every day as we walk home from school. There have been some fun days at school the past couple months. The last week of October was "Drug-Free Week". Each day had a certain theme. Rachel really enjoyed crazy hair day:

She was also pretty excited about slippers day and that her daddy walked her to school that day in his slippers as well:

Houston schools don't celebrate Halloween - there's no dressing up and no parties that day. This year they decided to make it Career Day. So, the children were allowed to dress-up as what they wanted to be when they grow up. Kind of a pain, because it may mean buying 2 costumes. But luckily we have lots of dresss-ups and Rachel is still pretty sure about being a dentist. So, here she is on Halloween ready to head to school as a dentist:

The following week we prepared a poster about Rachel's grandpa (my dad) who served in the Air Force during the 1960's. Rachel was pretty excited to take a poster to school and a few days later we even saw it hanging up on the wall in the hallway.

This past week Rachel came home from school telling us that Sinterklaas and his white horse had come to her school and left everyone an eraser. I was a bit confused and figured she just meant Santa Claus. But sure enough, it was Sinterklaas. She was so excited when her teacher was talking about Holland and showed everyone Holland on the globe. Rachel raised her hand and told everyone she used to live in Holland. The next day they learned about Kwanzaa. So, I'm assuming they are just learning about different cultures and the celebrations they hold in December.

Rachel sure does enjoy school!

Thanksgiving Weekend

We headed up to Hughes Springs, TX to spend Thanksgiving with my parents this year. We were able to convince Craig and Natalie to join us as well. The cousins had fun playing and everyone enjoyed being spoiled by Papa and Grandma Michaelson. We got up there late Tuesday night since we had to wait for Rachel to get out of school. On Wednesday we relaxed, did some shopping, and did some prep for Thanksgiving dinner.

On Thanksgiving we enjoyed a fabulous meal. We also spent some time outside. Rachel tried fishing, but no one had any luck this time...

The kids enjoyed a luxurious tractor ride:

Plenty of time was spent on the swing. The kids also enjoyed watching Papa's burn pile. And I love this picture I caught of Audrey with my mom:

On Friday we headed down to Longview. The kids enjoyed lunch at Chuck E. Cheese. Lots of games were played and a few prizes were won! :) We stopped at a few stores, but we weren't crazy Black Friday shoppers. The one Black Friday deal I wanted, I was able to score online. No need to hit Target at midnight. We gathered supplies to make Gingerbread houses that evening. I wanted my mom to help me since every time I attempt making Gingerbread houses, I fail... The three kiddos enjoyed decorating their houses. Here are the girls' finished masterpieces:

There was lots of time spent indoors as well. All the toys Grandma collects kept everyone pretty happy. Even the toy box was fun to play in:

The kids got into puzzles Saturday afternoon. Audrey really enjoyed the help she got from Grandma:

After naps, the men decided to brave the yucky weather and take the kids for a quick boat ride on the lake. They didn't last too long, but you have to fit in a boat ride somewhere.

On Sunday we drove home. We certainly had a good time. The adults enjoyed playing games each evening once the kids were all asleep. There was lots of laughter! It's a blessing to have my parents 5 hours away. I still haven't ever had to make a turkey on my own. One of these days I need to pay attention... There were lots of things to be thankful for this year. We are truly blessed!