Now, for some nicer family moments...

The girls helped me make some Christmas cookies earlier this week. They had a great time putting on the sprinkles. Alyssa worked on one snowman and decided she wanted it to be all white. So, she picked out all of the white sprinkles and added it to the cookie - I didn't think she would ever finish! Lainey is ready to start adding sprinkles!

Creating their masterpiecesFriday, before going to the zoo and visiting Santa, I took the girls to the museum. There are days when the girls do nothing but fight constantly. Luckily, Friday was not one of them. They played great together, and Alyssa really looked out for her little sis when bigger kids came around. We all had a great time!

I didn't even have to push Lainey around in the stroller!

Ryan showed up right before it closed and got to go down the slide with the girls. Alyssa was definitely the champion slider.
After the museum, we headed over to the zoo to see Santa. If you have not seen the video in the previous post, then you should check it out. Then, come back and look at these nicer family moments again. That way, Ryan and I won't seem like totally evil parents. After the zoo, we went next door and checked out the trains. Alyssa did a great job with the scavenger hunt!

Yes, we're THOSE parents

Have you seen the parents that make their children suffer through something, just so that they can get a picture. Yeah, that's us. Ever since Alyssa's 2nd Christmas, we always go to the zoo to see Santa Claus. And, each year we buy the picture. Well, we REALLY wanted a picture of the girls with Santa this year to follow tradition and to add the photo to our current collection. And, Lainey REALLY doesn't like Santa. Let's just say we won't be winning any parent of the year awards. At least they took the picture very quickly (look for the flash).

I'll be posting some nicer family moments, like baking Christmas cookies and going to the museum, later this weekend.

Just enough snow

There was just enough snow today for Alyssa & Ryan to go sledding. Lainey is sick, so she stayed home with me and we got to cuddle. Ryan took Alyssa to Paul Ruster Park. There's a big hill there and we've never taken the girls there out of fear that they'd be run over by bigger kids. Ryan said there were only a couple of people there - he and Alyssa had a great time!!!

Making the trek back to the top

Tagged

Kari tagged me on her blog, so I think this means I'm required to provide the following information:

4 tv shows I love to watch:
1. 24
2. The Office
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. House

4 of my favorite restaurants:
1. Fazoli's
2. Olive Garden
3. Los Cucos (Texas)
4. Cafe Adobe (Texas)
5. Willie's (or maybe it was just the margaritas & hanging with the Saltsmans)

4 things that happened today:
1. The girls and I ate cinnamon toast for breakfast
2. We put up Christmas decorations
3. We went to Meijer to buy a little Christmas tree for the girls. and a woman saw us looking at them and gave us a free one she had and wasn't going to use
4. Watched Lady and the Tramp II during family movie night

4 things I'm looking forward to:
1. CHRISTMAS!!!!
2. Our tradition of taking the girls to the zoo to see Santa
3. The Kuebler family vacation to Destin
4. Lainey being fully potty-trained

4 things on my "wish"/hope list:
1. The economy turns around
2. All family and friends stay happy & healthy
3. Run a marathon with Michelle when Lainey & Joey are in first grade
4. Lainey being at least a little potty-trained :)

Alyssa Pic

Had to share this picture of Alyssa with everyone. Papaw took it last weekend and sent it to us. This is one of my all time favorite pics of Alyssa - such a pretty girl!

Here's the big pic:

Alyssa's Field Trip

Alyssa went on a field trip to Beef & Boards to watch Snow White. I got to go too and it was really fun! The show is definitely geared towards a kid audience. Sleeping Beauty will be showing in the spring, so I may look into taking Alyssa and Lainey to that one. Here's Alyssa with a couple of her friends getting ready for the show to start:

Alyssa and I enjoying the show

Lainey's 3rd Birthday

The Birthday Girl with her new "3" shirt from Uncle Brett & Aunt Shawna

The birthday cake - Ryan and I worked very hard on this... it was hard work but worth the effort

Making a wish & blowing out the candles

Papaw & Alyssa

Mamaw & Aunt Beth with the birthday girl

Memaw & Alyssa

Lainey with her cousin Lauren

Pepaw & Chewy

Aunt Tracy & Kylie

Lainey loves her new cat

Princess Grammy & Maya

Ryan & Alyssa

Crazy Lainey with her Aunt Beth

Chewy is ready for the party to be over

Lainey, Alyssa, & Eli bonding after the party by eating chips together

The kids playing "Poop Monster" - yes that is the official name, don't ask me why, I didn't invent it

Uncle Moose's Birthday Dance

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I watched Eli last week and decided to make them dance so that I could video tape it for my brother's birthday. I thought they did a pretty good job!

If you can't view the above video, go to the following link: http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/owner/V1ysaFdpedJToDZI#/owner/V1ysaFdpedJToDZI

Happy Halloween!

The girls had a great time this Halloween - I think they set a new record for how much candy they collected. Last year Lainey tired out, while Alyssa and I hit a few more houses. This year, she was able to keep up with her big sis, and was actually running from house to house. The girls dressed up as the princesses from the movie "Barbie and the Diamond Castle." Alyssa dressed up as the "pink girl" and Lainey was the "purple girl." I guess they don't remember the actual names of the characters. Anyway, here's a picture of the girls posed together outside:

For those of you who wanted a close up picture of our beautiful Lainey's face in the above photo, here you go:

Let's try this again...

Okay, I give up!

Here's a pretty picture of the "pink girl"And here's a much improved one of the "purple girl"

Our family of pumpkins
Alyssa designed this one on her own and Ryan carved it - I think it might be one of my all time favorites!

Lainey wanted a gorgeous jack o' lantern, I tried my best
Happy Halloween!