Parties!

Ryan and I went to the Arlington Heights Fire Department Party earlier in December.  It was fun to get all dressed up, and I'm finally getting to know a lot more of the guys and their wives. It was a super fun night with lots of dancing.  And of course I didn't take any pictures =(

The next weekend, we went to the AHFD Kids Christmas Party.  This is seriously awesome. There are crafts, food, a balloon lady, an entertainer, cake, cookies, and then Santa comes and brings them all a present.  WOW!

Parker waited patiently for his name to be called.

I really didn't think Adley would like Santa, but she did!

They both got a little magnetic doodle.  I think they liked them.

Later in the week, we decorated the ornaments we were given at the party.

The week before Christmas, my friends and I got together to have a little Christmas Playdate.  We made cookies, played a game, and the kids loved being together =)

Yummmmy!

Christmastime is here!

Christmas time is upon us!  This December just feels totally different because usually Ryan is home a lot and we do a lot of fun, festive things as a family, but with him being in Paramedic school and having clinicals, it took a while for it to "feel" like Christmas. 

We got out the Christmas decorations, and Parker did that annual trying on of the tree skirt.  

The first year it was down to his toes!

Then we put it on Adley.  

We did our Advent readings, and often times the kids would "read" to us when we were done reading to them. How sweet is that?

Parker stamped some Christmas cards one afternoon.

They danced to the Christmas songs at church.  Priceless.

Gingerbread Boys

I made this felt tree for Parker 2 years ago. 

Adley watched him put up the ornaments.

 The boys drank some eggnog.

The kids and I went and got the tree, and then we all decorated it the next day.

We watched Charlie Brown Christmas! My personal favorite.

Parker made some beaded candy canes, etched a Rudolph,

 And made a nativity sticker picture =)

We went to Bass Pro Shop.  Adley rode the horsey, Parker drove some remote control trucks and shot some arrows.

 They were having a total blast...no really they were!

That's more like it.

We rode the carousel, too =)

I'm thankful for the time we got to spend as a family!

Growing Growing Growing

The kids are growing so fast!

Here they are making our favorite snack, cuddling, and eating popcorn.

Parker is starting to read and write!  I can't believe he's old enough for that already!  He still loves farm and construction machinery.  He likes moving sand and rocks with the bulldozer and dumptruck in his sensory bin.

He gets to play Reader Rabbit on the computer at the library now.  

I loved playing that when I was little!

He got to stay up and play with Grandma and Aunt Bonita during rest time one day.

He likes playing on his playmat.

Adley is talking quite a bit.  She doesn't talk in sentences, but she has enough words for you to understand what she is telling you.

She practically takes up the whole pack-n-play now. 

She really loves talking with Papa and Grandma on Skype. 

 She has a super cute "funny face" that we've all caught on to.

She's super cute in her track outfit!

I don't know what she's eating here...

She picked her pink truck up and put it on this bin to drive it.

 Her hair is getting a little out of control!  It's cutest in pig tails.

I sure do love these little cuties!  I'm so happy to spend my days with them =)