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A Preschool Performance (and more!)

Larkyn and her preschool friends had a Christmas concert before winter break.  We got to enjoy listening to her practice many of the songs leading up to the performance, however it was delightful to hear it in concert.  Sue and Mark (my great aunt and uncle) joined us for the concert too.  

Camdyn stood on Sue's lap for most of the concert while Shea took video and I took pictures.  Below is a picture of her taking a double take at Mark I believe.  It took her a few minutes to warm up again!

The concert was made up of three different 3-year-old preschool classes.

Larkyn and her visitors and teachers.  Camdyn wanted in on the pictures as well!

Larkyn, Tessa, and Luke

The evening of the concert we had Sue and Mark over for dinner.  They of course brought gifts for the girls.  They had a great time playing together and exploring their new toys.  Sue and Mark gave them a felt sandwich making kit and wooden food. Camdyn also go a Hello Kitty stuffed animal book.

Sue was a trooper.  Larkyn was getting her all ready for going to a Ball.

Larkyn loved the Hello Kitty so much she was asking for one for Christmas by the next morning.  Shea and I were thinking it was a good thing they were learning how to share their toys and know that we don't always get everything we want.  However, that is not what Sue was thinking:) as she secretly dropped off an "orphan kitty" on our front porch with a note attached that read:

December 18, 2013

Dear Larkyn,

I went to the store today and heard a Kitty crying. She cried "meow, meoooow, meeeow!" I said, "What is wrong Kitty?" She said "My little sister went to live with Camdyn and I miss her sooo much. Boo hoo!" "I want a mama too!"  "Poor Kitty," I said. "I can help you. Camdyn has a big sister too.  Her name is Larkyn. I bet she would love to be your mommy!"  Kitty 2 smiled with all her whiskers and said "I would love to live at Larkyn's house. Larkyn is Camdyn's big sister and I am Kitty One's big sister. That would be wonderful to have Larkyn for my Mommy." She sniffled and stopped meowing sadly.  She started singing happy songs like "I am a happy Kitty because Larkyn will love me." So Happy the Kitty ran and jumped in my car and meowed "Please take me to Larkyn and Camdyn's house!" So I did. I hope you will be her Mommy. 

Love,

Aunt Suzy

P.S. Her name is now Happy Kitty because she is loved.

 Gotta love the "grandmas" of the world!

The Best Birthday Ever!

My family helped me celebrate my 31st birthday in style!  I couldn't have asked for a better day!  We had letter pancakes after church.  (Shea is very creative in his pancake making!)

 

The girls gave me a Birthday book they had been working on with Shea during the week.  It was absolutely amazing.  I loved the photos and the hand written notes, names and drawings they added. Such a meaningful gift! 

The best part...Shea found the idea on Pinterest! The book is made out of paper grocery bags and tied together with ribbon.

Shea and Larkyn went to work on mixing cookie dough for a chocolate chip cookie ice cream cake.  Shea also cooked my favorites on the BGE...brats and burgers for dinner.

 

The ice cream cookie cake was absolutely delicious!  We all LOVED it!

The night ended with Mercy Watson and a Bible story with my girls. 

I feel so blessed!  

A visit with Santa Claus

The girls were all ready for our annual trip to see Santa.  For the past four years we have been able to schedule an appointment to see Santa.  I know it seems kind of rediculous to schedule an appointment with Santa, but it is for sure the best way to do it!  You don't have to stand in line for hours with whining, tired, and hungry children. You arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time, wait about 10 minutes at the most and get Santa for about 5 minutes.  As Larkyn gets older she enjoys going more and helped Camdyn get ready for it too.  

 

Looking on to see Santa...Camdyn looks a bit concerned, but did really well!

 

Santa takes the time to sit and talk with the girls so they feel comfortable with him.  He asks them what they want for Christmas and if they have been good girls, following directions, etc.

The girls got to sit in his big chair for the picture!

The best part was the chocolate they got at the end of the visit!

YUM YUM!

 

The final product...

The best things about Christmas time...

Sisters decorating the tree...

Sisters Snuggling under warm blankets...

Sisters painting Manger scenes...

Sisters in Christmas Pajamas...

Sisters admiring the lights on the tree and sharing their thoughts.

Smiles, Love, and Laughter!

Thanksgiving 2013

We spent Thanksgiving in Wisconsin with Shea's family. It was a great LONG weekend filled with fun times with family. We watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, helped put up Charlie's Christmas tree in the newly finished basement and found a train to put around it!  Larkyn found some of Breally and Cayden's old Hawaiian outfits and played dress up.  She entertained us all with her dancing skills and invited Sis and Janny to join her. On the afternoon of Thanksgiving we went out to Shea's aunt and uncle's house.  He was able to show the girls and me his Grandpa's farm and where he use to play as a kid.  His uncle Paul (Art's brother) and Justin (Shea's cousin) took us around the farm and showed us the animals.  The girls were not thrilled with the animals or the smell, but Larkyn did attempt at feeding the pigs.

On Friday morning May May, Shea and I did our annual Black Friday shopping, though we skipped all of the Thanksgiving Day openings.  We went to the Menards opening at 6 AM and hit up a couple other stores.  Nothing like years of the past, but always a good time!  Later on Friday, our family of four, Janny, May May, and Sis went to Strawberry Lane Rehabilitation Center to visit patients.  This is the place Sis spent some time at last summer and we wanted to spread a little holiday cheer.  The week before Thanksgiving the girls (and Shea) had been working on coloring pictures and making projects to bless others. It was such a wonderful reminder of the love and giving spirit of children.  Larkyn took right to the staff member who brought us around and walked right into rooms without hesitation.  She pulled a picture or project from her bag and handed it to the "stranger".  She talked with them and told them what she had made.  Seeing the faces on the residents there was priceless. What a blessing and a great opportunity to teach our girls the spirit of giving!

Other than hair in curlers for both Sis and Larkyn, we spent some good quality time baking and decorating cookies.  I can see this becoming an annual event now. Especially because I got a cookie/cake decorating set for Christmas.  Hmm...was that a hint that I was suppose to bring that back next year???:)  Janny was very detailed in frosting her cookies, whereas many of us just spread the frosting on without further thought!

Camdyn got into frosting her cookies...figuratively and literally!  

She loved eating the cookie the best!

Larkyn couldn't wait to eat her cookie either!

Notice both of the girls' tongues.  Just like their Daddy!

Later in the weekend Breally was feeling better and came back to help us make a Gingerbread House.  We got very detailed along the way.  Breally made a frosting drip which turned into some great icicles.  Larkyn called it Sis' house because of the wheelchair we made for out front.

We are THANKFUL for our wonderful family and friends!

Girl's Weekend!

Mid November my college friends and I got together for a "Women's weekend" and the kids got to tag along too!  Thanks to Jessi for hosting such fun weekend full of good food, friendship, recalling memories, play time and ZUMBA.  The kids ranged from Age 6 (Kindergarten) to 6 months.  All girls except Jonathan, who is the youngest. Norah was a huge help with the little girls, as they followed her wherever she went and wanted to do whatever she was doing! At one point she was the "mom" putting all of them to bed! Little Skylar was all smiles for the weekend:)

We set up an obstacle course and everyone participated!

Look at all the girls!