Putting up Our Tree

When we got home from Thanksgiving we got out our decorations and put up our Christmas tree.  Although the girls "helped" last year this was the first year that Annette was actually capable of hanging decoration on the tree.  Carolyn tried but more often than not Emily or I would have to rehange the ones she put up or she would ask her sister for help.  Regardless, it was fun to watch the two of them get excited about decorating the tree.

 

 

 

Annette was really good at decorating this year.

 

 

She was very conscientious about where she placed each decoration.

 

Carolyn helped decorate too.

She was tryinng so hard to get them to stay on the tree.

 

 

Both girls had fun decorating though.

 

Time to put the star on and Carolyn's going to help.

 

Reach, Carolyn, reach!

 



Great job Carolyn!!

 

Merry Christmas!

I had to include frowny face Carolyn (she was just pretending)

 

After their bath the girls got to wear their special winter/Christmasy towels.

Christmas with Gramma & Poppa.

A couple of weekends ago we had Christmas at Gramma & Poppa's.  I was lone wolfing for most oc the time there as Emily had to work, so that meant that I did not take as many pictures as we normally do.  So there are fewer here but I still felt like sharing them.



 

 

 



 

In the car on the way to Gramma and Poppa's Annette was drawing made up animals and telling me about the.  This one was the Stingkraneks.  It's a mean monster, it looks cute but when you get close it opens up its mouth and bees come out that sting you in the eyes.  That is exactly what she said, I promise.

 

Carolyn and Austin loved the train (honestly they all did but this was the only picture I took of it)

We tried to get a picture of all the kiddos in front of the tree...

and tried again...

 

and again.....

 

and finally got a halfway decent one.

(there are another dozen pictures very similar to this one on my phone that I am not subjecting you to)

In the car on the way home, Carolyn broke into one of my presents and ate half of my swedish fish.




 

The girls both got Legos from Uncle Larry and Aunt Vicki and really wanted to play with them

 

Annette really liked them.

 

And she paid close attention to the instructions.

 

Carolyn was a little more haphazard.

 

But she liked them a lot too.

 

She really liked attacking the zookeper with the animals, like the giraffe.

 

Annette finished with her grill!

 



 

They both really liekd their new shopping carts too.

After all that playing the girls were both pooped.

Ella's Birthday Party!

The day after we got home from Mema & Pepa's for Thanksgiving, our friend Ella had her birthday party.  We loaded up the Family Truckster and headed to the mythical Land of Pears and giants for the festivities.  There were lots of people there and the weather was great.  The girls, although tired, had a lot of fun playing with all of their favorite friends.

 

 

 

 

The bounce house was a hit as usual.

 

 

 

For a while Annete, Carolyn, and their cousins (both first and second variety) dominated it.

 



 

Everybody had fun bouncing.

 

 



 

When it was time for the cake the kids found an awesome vantage point.

 

But Cody positioned himself in prime cake position.

 



 

They waited expectantly for the candle to be lit.

 



 

Then just as excitedly for the cake.

(Carolyn's face is awesome in this pic.)

 



Annette made her way in to help Ella.

 

But she didn't need much help.

 



 

Then it was time to decorate your own cupcake!

 

I can't tell if Annette is enjoying this, can you?

 

Pure skill.

 

Cake wrecks here we come!!

 

Then she gave it to Mommy, awwwwwww.

 

It looks pretty yummy.

North Pole Express

One of the highlights of the trip to Mema and Pepa's for Thanksgiving was the trip we took to Grapevine to ride the North Pole Express.  It was a cool little train ride on the Grapvine Historic Railway.  It was my first time to ever ride on a train and the girls too.  It was really cool, they had a little play before hand, then on the train they sang songs and gave the girls' a gift, and after we returned we got to make Christmas ornaments.  It was a pretty cool little deal.

 



 

 

 

We all enjoyed the Christmas carols in the show.

 

 

 

Ready to ride!!!!

 

 

 

We all made it onto the train safely.

 

Mema and Pepa were ready!

 

 

Annette was entranced by the rocking of the rails.

 

Carolyn was very excited too.

 

The girls each got a little bell from the train Santa.

Annette loved it.

 

Those bells sure can jingle.

 

And jingle.....

 

And jingle.

Mommy helped Carolyn ring hers.

 



 

Silly Carolyn and Mommy.

 

 



 

The girls found a frosty to pose with,



 

and then they posed with a giant ornament!

 



 

Annette wouldn't pose with Mommy and Daddy though.

 

She finally came around and we all had a good time.