Playhouse Disney

I was trying to do our Christmas post before this one but I just spent an hour downloading to a slide website with the pictures and I was just about done and it shut the computer down and went crazy on me so for sanity sake here is another post of something else fun we did. Not really Christmasy but was over the Christmas time so it works. We took the girls and went with my sis, her hubby, and Cousin E to see Playhouse Disney Live on Stage. It was so cute. We saw Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins, My Friends Tigger and Pooh, and Handy Manny. Kylee watches all these regularly and Katie doesn't sit through any of them but catches little bits when they sing. The kids were on the edge of their seats the whole time. Kylee really got into it (into it for Kylee-still kind of quiet but did the songs and motions)so I was really proud of her and Katie and E clapped, did pat pat pat, and E was great at Blast Off. I also got roped into buying and Annie and June and a snow cone. This usually wouldn't happen but I was still in the Christmas spirit of giving:) All in all a fun afternoon as a family and fun time with our cousin.

Merry Christmas To All!!

We have been busy enjoying this Christmas season. I can honestly say that I have had the best time this last month celebrating with my family and starting our own special traditions. A couple fun traditions we celebrated were Charley and my annual Christmas date night. Since we were first married we always set aside one night of the season for each other. Last night was that night. My mom came over and kept the girls and we set out on our date. One of the traditions is to always go to a new restaurant and go to the movies. We went to Kirby's Steakhouse. It was only so so. I think I was a little disappointed with the food but we had the best conversation and time just talking. Then we saw August Rush, yes more girly of a movie but good. Charley really is good about seeing these with me every now and then:) All in all a great night and so glad that we have our own tradition, just about the two of us.
Last Sunday, we took the girls to ride the tarantula train for the North Pole Express. They loved it and even got to see Santa. Katie still is not interested in him at all but Kylee has really surprised me and done well. Katie is in love with trains so this was a fun trip for her and Kylee kept saying this is the best!!

After the Train ride we went to Target and let the girls buy each other a gift. Kylee really got into it this year. She was so happy to buy for Katie. She even remembered what they did last year, I had forgot we did it last year. Kylee got Katie a FurReal Pig and Katie got Kylee a game We of course helped but it will not be long before they can do this on there own.

This morning we let them open the gifts from each other and a couple more. They really got into it and hugged each other as a thanks. Sweet sisters!!

We are off to AR in the morning to celebrate with Charley's family. We want to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!!

Katie's First Haircut

Today I took Katie to get her first haircut after I dropped Kylee off at school. If you have seen Katie recently you have probably wondered what is wrong with the back of her hair-long on one side, short on the other. Well, we wonder the same thing. She is a thumb sucker and hair twirler and her hair thinned out this past summer a lot so it left her back hair strange. So after getting advice from a couple wise girl mommies I decided to go for it and cut it all off. It is the only way it would grow in evenly and neatly. I had Charley make plans to meet me for lunch in case I was upset and for support. I never dreamed I would have to cut my little 22 month old daughter hair off, a lot!! So you can see the before and after pics. She was a trooper but I had to hold her hand the whole time and if I even moved an inch the crying started. After the cut I fell completely in love with her new short look and it looks so good in the back. It is really growing in thick and healthy. When Kylee saw her she said "Oh sister, you look so cute. I will tell you hands by your side when you twirl your hair:)" We love this little Katie!!!!Playing with trains, one of her favorite things, before the cut.
Before the cut, crazy uneven hair:)
Don't you leave me mommy!!
If you look closely, I am holding her hand in the picture, that is why she is not crying:)
After the cut, Doesn't it look cute? It is short but I think she can pull off the short look!!

Santa Fun

Saturday was our big Santa Day. Our neighborhood had a breakfast with Santa time and then that afternoon you could sign up to have Santa come to your house to pick up the list and see the girls. I was anticipating Kylee being super shy(she was )and refusing to get near Santa (she did great). Katie on the other hand was terrified, at the Breakfast and when he came over. Here are some pics and funnies on the day
Above is Kylee's official Christmas list, she wants a Polly Pocket Race Car, Barbie Fashion Fever, Computer(WHAT?????), Makeup, and princess movie. She is getting most of this but what about the computer. She said like Cousin Kayden has. I think she is thinking of some gameboy or something.
Breakfast with Santa, You really can't see Katies face but she is not happy and is mad I am holding her there. The minute she got off his knee she was fine:)
Waiting on Santa to come over, Katie took a little snooze and then woke up and ate the top off a permanent marker and got pink all over her Christmas outfit. I had to quickly change her, Shout the dress, throw in the wash as Santa knocks on the door (early) So I quickly change her and off we are to meet Santa. BTW-the marker did come out:)
Kylee was timid but did great. She was sharing her list with Santa. He was a funny little Santa. Kylee told him where to put the toys, where the cookies would be, and then her told her he would like Oatmeal Raisin cookies. WHAT!! Are you kidding Santa, Kylee is so literal I am going to have to have Oatmeal Raisin cookies, what about Sugar cookies. Oh no. Silly little Santa . They told us when they left he would send Kylee and Katie a letter in the mail. So cute. I love the innocence of Santa.
Our annual family picture with Santa!!

Deck the Halls

Deck the Halls and Deck my blog, holiday style. I am feeling very excited for the Christmas season to begin. This past weekend we have been preparing for the excitement. Kylee has been asking for months when we will put up the tree and get out the jack in the boxes. A note on those-for Christmas every year my mother in law gives the grandkids an ornament from the Hallmark series and Kylee's are Christmas Jack in the Boxes and she loves them. So, Sunday we got it all out and she's been playing with them. Katie likes to bite them open, skip the spin the crank, just bite it open.


On Saturday, We took my parents to the Gaylord Texan for lunch for their birthdays and took Christmas card pics of the girls. It was quite challenging to get a good photo of both of them looking pleasant but we managed to get several good enough for a collage type card. Those card pictures are really exhausting. I was sweating and tired of saying to Kylee:If you will look at the camera we will get you a milkshake and to Katie please just sit down . Below is a sample, Kylee probably earned her milkshake in this photo but is holding Katie in a elbow squeeze so she won't jump off the barrel. Is bribery bad? I think I learned that in parenting classes but I think when Christmas card pictures are at stake it is OK?!?



Decking the halls of our house. I let the girls put most the deco on our tree but most of all of it was put right where the girls are in the picture below. It is so funny that they don't notice it all rearranged the next hour or so. They had a ball and really got into it. Katie wanted to do everything Kylee did so it was very interesting.

See Kylee hang the star!
Then See Katie hang the star!


The girls also have a pink feather tree for all their decorations. They put everything from their ornaments to beads, crowns, necklaces, and they have continued decorating it over the last few days. That is why I have this tree. They can do whatever they want to with it.

One of our Christmas traditions we started two years ago was after we decorated the trees and house, that night we pop popcorn with M&M's, the girls put on their Christmas PJs for the first time and we cuddle on the couch and watch Polar Express. It has been so fun and Katie got to join us this year. It was very fun.

I Am Thankful

On the eve of Thanksgiving, I can't help but start to think of all the things I am thankful for. I thought I would blog some of them so I could look back on them. A few weeks ago a lady at church spoke on being Thankful and I really have taken this to heart and try to be thankful a lot more and about more things. So my first and probably obvious thankful thing is :

1.The Lord- I am thankful he is my Savior, healer, giver, All in all, forgiver, friend, redeemer, father, and on and on. I am honored to be his child. I look around me and know that the only reason I can list anything else is because of his love and grace for me. I am undeserving but he still reaps blessing upon blessing on me. I am thankful most for him.

2.My husband-I love Charley with all my heart. He truly puts us first in his life. He always tells me he would rather be with us than anywhere else and he shows us this. If I ever need anything he is there. I have been with Charley for13+ years and I know we will be together forever. He is my best friend and the one the Lord hand picked just for me.
3. My Sweet Kylee-She is just the sweetest, most thoughtful little girl. She loves Charley, Katie and I with every piece of heart. She walks up and gives us hugs and kisses all the time. She tells us kind things all the time. She is just as sensitive and tender hearted as I am (apples don't fall far from trees) but I know God will use that for his glory.She is a great daughter and I love her dearly. (a side note-she dressed herself up and got my camera and told me to take pics of her and she would pose, this is one of the pics-she is silly and girly too)
4. My cuddly Katie-As busy as this little21 month old is, she loves to cuddle her mommy and daddy. She is the first to remind us to pray and the first to let us know exactly what she wants. She loves her sis so much and tries to do everything just like her. She is a joy to have as a daughter and I enjoy watching her learn-She is a sponge. She brightens our day by singing Twinkle, twinkle little star and itsy bitsy spider. Her laughter is contagious and she never meets a stranger. I pray God will use her for good. (another side note-this is a picture of Katie trying to climb out of the crib-I went in after naptime and found her doing this, my camera was close in hand so I took a picture).
4. My family- From my own family to my inlaws- I am blessed with a family that loves the Lord and each other. My girls love everyone in our family so much. They mean the world to them and Charley and I. We love yall and are thankful for yall.

5. My friends- I love that God blessed me with friends. I couldn't do with out them. They are such a sweet precious part of my life.

6. My church-I love going to a place that glorifies God and reaches out. I am thankful for the freedom to go to my church and all the great things going on there.

7. Now for some little things I just love and am thankful for-chocolate, Fall and Spring, Disney World, Pizza, Coke, movies, DVR, shopping by myself, eating out, did I mention chocolate.

A few weeks ago I started a Thankful journal with Kylee where she tells me the 5 things she is thankful for each day. This was an idea given at the Mentoring Women that I talked about above on being thankful. I thought I would share her list from tonight since I shared mine:
Kylee's thankful for:
1. food and Thanksgiving
2. Family and friends
3. God
4. Kayden
5. Mrs. Davis
She thinks of her own things, we don't help her at all. It is neat to see her little heart spilling out a little and to keep record of it.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. If you are reading this, I am thankful for you!!!

Look A like Meter

OK so I stole this idea from several blogs because I thought it was so cool. It is official Katie looks more like Charley and Kylee more like me. I am sure this is for real so no more talk of both the girls being Little Charleys. :) I was actually really surprised that Kylee looked more like me. I would like to see how this really works. I'm sure it is not super scientific but it sure is fun and so easy. Go give it a try!!

Last night was Kylee's Preschool Fall program and it was the cutest thing ever. They sang 5 songs and Kylee did great and sang and did all the motions. I just love her little preschool. I have several pictures below to help show off the fun night. The first one is a sign that hung on the first 3 rows :"reserved for pre-school paparazzi". I laughed about this forever because it is like that. The parents with video cameras and digital cameras or nicer are so excited to catch a glimpse the first rows are priceless and this school has it figured out and it works great. They put these signs on the first three rows and save those seats until it is time for your child's age to perform and you go up close. It is so perfect. I took tons of pictures and didn't feel the stress of where I sat when I got there because when Kylee performed I was on row 2. Where's Kylee? Can your find her performing? This is the cutest bunch of kids and they sang and performed so sweetly.

Sweet Little School Friends!! Kylee is so blessed with some great friends from school.

One of Kylee's great teachers, we just love her school year. Kylee always acts so shy when we see her teacher so she was giving her a sweet hug and I got a precious picture.

Can't forget Miss Katie, she was so good during the program and loved singing and dancing to all the songs. When it was time for the Open House Katie ran into the room and pulled up Kylee's chair and took a seat. She is ready for school (I'm not):)

Go To Sleep Sweet Baby

Yesterday I was feeling completely under the weather-sore throat, congestion, headache, etc. So Charley took off so I could rest and get better. I was so appreciative to him for a much needed get better rest. So he took Kylee to school and then he hung out with Katie. After lunch, I walked out of my room and this is what I found- two sleepy heads. I couldn't resist the picture opportunity. I almost fainted because my kids don't do this. Although Katie is my sleeper, she needs her sleep. She still sleeps at least 12 hours night and takes a 2-3 hour nap. If she doesn't get this sleep it is no fun for anyone. So, after I took the picture I took her to bed and she slept until 3:30 so a 3 hour nap. I went back to resting and woke up feeling much better this morning.


A little side note-Do you notice the thumb sucking? Yea, its her bad habit. It is really cute but I can already see how it will be hard to break. Any advice that I could get started on now.