Big STUFF!

Scarlet is pretty big stuff now! She takes 2-3 steps to me and just squeals and gives big kisses and hugs when she arrives. She is so proud! It is the cutest. Oh, and did you know that Adeline can also take little tiny steps to me, giggle, squeal, and give me big hugs and kisses when she arrives?! ;)

Cookies, Pink Christmas Trees, & Rudolph

Adeline thinks cookies, pink Christmas trees, & Rudolph are some of the best things about holidays.

Big Girl Bed!!

Adeline is very proud of her big girl bed! When you come over, that will be the first thing she wants to show you. :) Scarlet especially likes climbing on it and rolling off onto pillows.

Hello, Mr. Gingerbread Man!

Adeline took great delight in eating her gingerbread man, giggling hysterically as she nibbled off his legs and arms.. saving his head for last.

Christmas Stories

Adeline and Scarlet enjoyed reading holiday stories with Gaga Jody.

Giving Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We have so much to be thankful for this holiday season! As always, we enjoyed our time in Wichita. We shared many laughs, great food, and made more memories. Thanks so much to Keith, Susan, & Sam for such a fun time.

If I had a penny..

If I had a penny for each time I see this face a day... ;)

Christmas Music

Adeline only wants to listen to Christmas music, which is fine with me! The girls are getting in the spirit with their little snowman that dances and sings. I am slowly starting to decorate today and "Elf on a Shelf" compliments of Gaga & Papa Martin will be making his grand appearance after Thanksgiving. Adeline is very excited for Christmas and pointing out those early bird decorations around town. When we ask her what she would like for Christmas she responds, "A Christmas Tree!" I think we can do that! This will be Scarlet's first Christmas, so much fun!

First Snowfall!

A perfect day to put a pot of potato soup on the stove and stay in our pjs all day. Today is the first snow of the season and it is REALLY snowing. I feel like we are inside of a snowglobe. The girls are just waking up from their naps and I am excited to show them the snow because when they went to sleep it was still raining. Now, it is not only snowing but sticking to the ground too.

Great Gaga!

A great visit with Great Gaga today. She told me a few stories about her childhood that I hadn't heard while Adeline & Scarlet kept everyone busy. Adeline loves playing with all the different bouncy balls that Grandma keeps around the house for the kids. Scarlet was entertaining everyone by making the infamous "pig face" over and over again. The drive home was a little long with a lot of teasing back and forth between the girls (yes, already at 2-1/2 and 10 months!), I think the girls have had enough drive time the last few days. Gaga Jody rewarded everyone with some yummy pasta for dinner. I think we will all sleep well tonight, it has been an eventful last few days. But, very fun.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Our pink butterfly and purple flower had a great time celebrating Halloween with their cousins. It was filled with GHOULosh, pizza, cookies, treats, glowsticks, and boy v. girl keep-away game- I am proud to announce "girl power"! Scarlet and I headed home while Andy and Adeline topped the night out with going to a neighborhood for some trick-or-treating. Adeline loves making "creepy Halloween faces" and pointing out all of the pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns around town.

Izby the Giraffe

Tanganyika Wildlife Park

The Tanganyika Wildlife Park (http://www.twpark.com/)was such a cool experience for everyone! We were able to feed and pet a giraffe- I think the prettiest animal I have ever seen that close up, her eyelashes were beautiful!!

As you can see from some of the pictures we were able to interact with kangaroos, lemurs, and lorikeets.. We were even able to see baby white tigers. Adeline was loving every minute--- except when a lorikeet landed on her head and "tried to eat her bow". I have more pictures to post, I just need to get them from Susan's camera and the pictures will narrate the story of the lorikeets for me. It was really too funny! Both girls (or I should say all 4 girls) had a blast. Scarlet would make little squealing sounds when we would get close to the animals.

We will definitely visit the park again. The animals had a lot of space and their habitats seemed to be more natural (for lack of a better word) than many other places in captivity. It was educational and the guides were very knowledgeable.

Happy Birthday, Gaga Susan!

We had such a nice visit for Gaga Susan's birthday. The girls and I were able to go a couple days early and Andy came for the weekend. On Susan's birthday we enjoyed dinner at a yummy Italian restaurant and topped the night off with cake and candles at home. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! I am so truly thankful for having such an amazing mother-in-law and friend. We love you!