Silly Times!

Layla's Personal Concert

The girls got out every single dancing and singing battery operated Christmas toy for a "special concert for Layla". Now, that is one lucky dog.

Where's Scarlet?

Scarlet keeps getting more and more mischievous. 

The Wonders of Christmas

Bill's 70th Birthday

The girls and I went to Corning with my mom to celebrate my Uncle Bill's 70th Birthday.  All of his siblings surprised him with a 50's song and dance.

 Connie, Tom, Monica, Jody, Matt, Peppy, Bill, & Kathy

My mom and her sisters (Connie, Monica, Jody, Peppy)!

Surprise Stop!

On our way home from preschool we met Gaga Jody for a little unexpected treat.  

Oh, Christmas Tree!

The girls are very excited this year about Christmas lights.  They love spotting them as we are driving, so you can imagine their excitement as we started to decorate our tree and put up Christmas decor around the house.

One more... pleeeeze!

Scarlet is pulling out all of the stops for another sugar cookie from the bakery.

Coming Home...

Playing in the Leaves

Who else drove?

3 Chics & a Chevy

Susan drove Lindsay & I to get a movie in the old Chevy.. we had quite an adventure.

Layla checking on Adeline

Layla was extra attentive to Adeline when she wasn't feeling well.  

Tractor Rides

Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without our tractor rides through the neighborhood.  I even gave the tractor a spin this year.  :)

What we love about Thanksgiving....

Since Andy and I were engaged in 2003, we have been spending every Thanksgiving in Wichita.  My first Thanksgiving it was Keith, Susan, Andy, Sam, & me.  This year we were plus 3, adding Scarlet, Adeline, & Lindsay.  There are so many things we love about our long holiday weekend in Wichita, most importantly time with our family and the amazing dinner that Susan makes with such love and....

cuddles & movies

playing in the leaves

 Sitting on the porch watching the many squirrels & birds

 pumpkins & plenty of pumpkin pie

 playing in the yard among evergreen trees and collecting pine cones

 autumn skies

 tractor rides

 getting spoiled by Gaga & Papa 

 and how could we forget Black Friday poinsettias

and many memories made...

Cough, Cough

We spent Thanksgiving morning at the hospital because there weren't any urgent cares open.  Adeline found a way to entertain herself.  She was sent home with some medicine for croup and is doing great!

These moments...

.... melt my heart.

Family Photo!

This week at Adeline's school they are doing activities surrounded around family.  We were asked to bring in a family photo.  As I was searching my pictures, I had just a ton of pictures but not an actual family photo since last winter!  So, tonight in an attempt to send Adeline to school with a family photo we snapped a picture using the self timer.  Unfortunately, out of the 3 pictures there wasn't one picture with both girls looking.  Layla was too concerned with Scarlet's apple to put on her best camera face.  And at the end of the day, I think this pretty much captures our busy family and I love it.

Zoo Mornings

I just love the zoo on mornings when school is in session.  There are so few families there and we are able to enjoy our time.  Today, we met Kumari & her boys.  Each of them picked an animal they wanted to see and that is how we navigate the zoo.  So today, we say jelly fish, tigers, bears, and ended with the carousel.

Quiet Evenings

Although, I am not crazy about it getting dark so early; I do have to admit I enjoy being able to just stay home with quiet evenings.

Ladies & Gentlemen!

Adeline came out of her room ready to play pretend in quite the costume.  As she hid around the corner she instructed me to announce her very specifically, "Ladies & Gentlemen, Welcome to the Reindeer and Frog Princess Show!"  And yes.. that I did, over and over again as she gave Scarlet and I quite the performance.

Just Mommy & Me

Now that Adeline goes to Preschool two mornings a week, Scarlet and I have a little time when it is just the two of us.  On one of those mornings we normally get our grocery shopping done, but on the other morning we do something fun together.  Although, even on the morning that we are running a couple errands I think Scarlet enjoys being an "only child"... even if it is for only a couple of hours.   But, she is always ready to pick up Adeline from school and gets very excited when we pull up and go get her from her classroom.  This week, when we picked Adeline up and I got both girls buckled in their seats Adeline very seriously turned to Scarlet and said, "Scarlet-  I am sorry to tell you this but you can't be my best friend anymore.  Nina is now my best friend.  I am just sorry about that."  And so it begins...

Itty Bitty City

The girls had fun at the new exhibit, "Itty Bity City" at the Children's Museum.  From everything from a city bus to a weather station to explore they kept busy and took long naps when we got home.

Funday Sunday