The Wonderful Joys of Christmas!

Fondue time!

Dress up, just what Reese wanted!

Reese wouldn't sit still long enough to take her picture with me, but Ramsey will always still sit in my lap, she is such a sweet little girl!

The girls with their girls cousins.

The girls getting ready to go over to Grandy's to see all of their cousins!

I can't believe that Christmas has come and gone! It is just so fun to watch the girls get excited about opening presents, leaving cookies for Santa and food for the reindeer. Christmas Eve we spent at Matt's mom and dad's with his side of the family. One of my favorite traditions that they do is chocolate fondue. Reese really got into the fondue eating this year and Ramsey loved it too. Christmas morning I basically had to get the girls up because at 8:00 they were still sleeping, so I started loading the dishwasher so they would wake up. Reese's face was priceless when she saw her Princess Musical Vanity that Santa had brought. Ramsey also liked her new baby and crib fer her babies. Both of our parents came over Christmas morning for brunch. It was then nice because everyone took a Christmas nap! We then went to Matt's mom and dad's to open presents and then to my mom and dad's to open presents and for dinner. The girls just got so much, too much as always! On Saturday we all went to Nanny and Pop's to have Christmas dinner. Today I have spent the day cleaning up the living room and re-organizing the toys in both of the girls rooms. Hopefully our basement will be finished within the year, so I won't have to worry so much about where the toys are all going to fit! We are heading to Bowling Green tomorrow for a basketball tournament!

Christmas Card Photo Shoot

Reese enjoyed being with her Cousin Gehrig! Aren't they just so cute together?
A couple of weeks ago, I borrowed a friend's camera (thanks Amy) to attempt to get the girls picture for our Christmas card. If you don't already know, taking pictures is a task to say the least! Making sure all the outfits are ready with the right bows, shoes, etc. Well I had it all planned, or so I thought! Wrong! I headed down to Glendale to the already spotted places I knew I wanted the girls pictures. First, Reese said she couldn't wear her black shoes because they were hurting her feet, so I told her she didn't have to walk in them, but that she could just put them on for the picture. So yes she walked across a two lane highway with one shoe on and the other off. Next, she wanted her jacket on because she said she was freezing and it was 60 out that day or something close. So, now Ramsey has on her boots with her Christmas dress and because Reese had to have her jacket on, now does Ramsey. Do you think her bow matched her jacket? Well no of course not. I couldn't get one good shot by myeself and I was so frsutrated. Thankfully Amy showed up and was able to get a good one of the girls on the bench that I just had to have their picture taken. There were a few other good ones that I got also, but man that was a chore!

Making a Gingerbread House with Gran!

Well we started a new tradition this year, making a Gingerbread house. I have to say I was excited when mom invted me to help with the Gingerbread house, I just am a big kid still I guess. For our first one, I don't think we did too bad. It is impossible to get them to look like the box anyways. Gran also did several other crafts with Reese over the past couple of weeks, Reese really likes going to Gran's house!

Reese Singing at church

Last Sunday Reese sang up front at big church. I was really nervous about her going up on stage because the last time she sang on a stage she wanted the microphone for herself and she pushed a little boy to try and get the spot that she wanted. So this time, she did better but right at the end she wanted to touch the micrphone, at least she didn't fight anyone over it. The second service after I went and told her to not touch the microphone, she decided she would stand there the whole time with her hands in her mouth! Of course I videotaped the first service and then I took pictures the second service, so all of the pictures she has her hands in her mouth! The kids at church did a great job with the Christmas play, I always look forward to those! I can't wait until Reese can be in the play.

Basketball has started!

Basketball is in full swing right now! The girls and I really enjoy going to the games. Reese has a few friends that she plays with at the games, which is really nice because she can now entertain herself and she now knows that she can't get on the floor. Ramsey doesn't like for me to hold her at the games, she wants down, so the only way I can keep her in my lap is to feed her. We usually go to the game with McDonalds, or a cheese roll up from Taco Bell. You will always find my bag a sucker and that usually keeps her occupied for at least a quarter! Right after Christmas we will be heading to Bowling Green for a couple of days for a tournament. Reese is so excited about staying in the hotel.

Thanksgiving Day

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving with both of our families. It makes it really nice that they are located one minute apart from each other. This was the first Thanksgiving in many many years that my Nanny got to spend it with her two sisters. We also finally got a family picture with Ramsey in it, that included my mom, dad, brother and grandparents. We had a great day with family and wonderuful food of course!

Ramsey's One!

On Sunday we celebrated Ramsey's first birthday with family here at our house with a ladybug theme. The cake turned out adorable! She loved her cake, but didn't get into opening presents very much. She just laughed at everything when we showed her what her toys did. She is ofically walking just about everywhere that she needs to go. Happy Birthday Ramsey!

Halloween outfits

Here are a few pictures of the girls in their Halloween outfits for church.

Pumpkin Carving/Painting

Of course the night that we decided to carve pumpkins it was raining, so we brought the project inside, bad mistake!! First, we have had the pumpkins since the first of October and when Matt brought one in it and put it in the kitchen sink it had already rotted and nats were flying everywhere coming out of the pumpkin. Reese was upset that we had to throw that one away, but luckily we still had two more. I carved hers and daddy was suppose to carve the other one, but instead he came up with this great idea that we would let her paint the other one! Funny how he made the suggestion and then leaves the room! She had fun, that was the main thing! Let's just say it is mandatory that it is an outside project next year!

Halloween 09'

Well I can't believe how long it has been since I have posted! I guess that is what teaching, coaching, and parenting can do to you! We had a great Halloween. This was the last first holiday for Ramsey. Since last years' trick or treating in our neighborhood wasn't the greatest, we decided to go over to my mom and dad's. Ramsey didn't make it too long trick or treating because she wanted out of the stroller, so we took her back to mom's and let Reese go longer. Reese was Dorothy and Ramsey was a Lady Bug. Mom had wonderful barbeque after trick or treating! What a great night!

Ramsey is taking steps

This week I got a call from our babysitter that Ramsey had just taken six steps. I was glad and sad at the same time. First, I wanted to see it when she started taking off and second that makes me feel like she is not a baby anymore! She is 11 months as of Friday. So, she is going to be a much earlier walker than Reese was at 13 months. Here are some video of her walking this week, I think it is funny how Reese is her personal cheerleader for everything!

Olivia's party!

Last weekend we celebrated with cousin Olivia her 4th birthday. The kids got to run and play in a gym in their dress up, it doesn't get much better than that. Reese is going to be Dorothy for Halloween so she decided to get more than one wear out of that costume. She did change outfits several times though. She had a great time and we are looking forward to another birthday party this weekend. Happy Birthday Olivia!

Mak and Kate

Mak and Kate are our family friends from Japan. They were formally Matt's aunt's foreign exchange students. He was in a couple of weeks ago to visit and for work and he has a son that was born just a month after Ramsey was. He brought back for them some Japense pj's and here the girls are in them! See you next time Mak. Kate also brought Reese some Hello Kitty stuff from Japan as well!

Huber Farms

Of course we picked a rainy day to go to Hubers! We always go with my mom and dad to pick our pumpkins and we just had to go this year since it was Ramsey's first pumpkin patch, but as you can see she didn't get to do too much in the patch. Reese picked out her pumpkin and Ramsey's. I hate that she didn't get to do some of the fun kid stuff, I guess that will have to wait until next year! We did have a great meal though!