Tree Trim Party!

Ryleigh, Haylee and Bella

Cousins...

Watching the trains...

Ash decorates

sombody is somber...Ashlee refused to smile...Haylee and Kris don't mind!

Every year we have my parents tree trim party...all the sibs and kids get together and we eat tons of food and drink tons of drinks and have a blast trimming the tree...coincidently, it always falls on my sisters birthday, so we celebrate that as well...needless to say, fun for all!

A Time to Read...

Every night Jim and I take turns reading to the girls...but now we've incorporated having Haylee read to us, or just to her lil' sis...nice way to end the day!

O'Christmas tree.....

The girls were so antsy to decorate the tree on Sunday...so we promised after dinner, we'd get right on it. Well, putting the lights on it was a PIA...not to mention, took FOREVER...so by the time we got that done, I was losing my jolly ole' feeling....but, I put on some Bing, and that helped put me back in gear. We only had 2 balls break...but worth it for the fun time the girls had! This thing cost $75, and for that reason, I'll keep it up until VALENTINE'S...:)

Cutting down the ENORMOUS tree....

Ash and Haylee playing house Jim trying to cut down the tree

Haylee explains her wish list

Teepee time

Our HUGE tree

before heading onto the hayride

Ashlee

A nice day to pack up the family and head to Coleman's Farm to get our tree...kids loved playing in the huts and on all the swings...then it was off on the hayride to get our tree. Jim had the hardest time cutting it down! Good lord, this thing is WAY bigger now that it's in our house! And Santa was there so the girls got another chance to sit and chat with him...Jim loves this whole family experience...I'm more inclined to just get a nice artificial tree...

FLASHBACK Friday...Evolving...

age 3

age 1

age 2

It's funny watching Ashlee grow. She was completely opposite of her big sister, Haylee, who was very outgoing and not shy, where Ash was very shy and timid...she'd scowl at you before she'd smile at you. They were both EASY babies...never fussed or cried...just total different personalites! I look back past the last couple years at Ash's pics with Santa and have to laugh...as you can see, she was not liking the big man very much....and now, she says, "he's my friend!!" Anyone that gives gifts is a friend-o-mine!

Toscana's Night

What a great night out to be with friends and help celebrate Karen's birthday!! We all had such a great time running into people we haven't seen in awhile, especially Lisa Marshall! We did a celebratory shot for K$...of course! And ended our night at Taco Bell...man was that delish!

HAYLEE: Student of the Month Award

We are SO proud of her...2nd year in a row...:) AND she was just awarded the "Most Caring" award at the YMCA...so we'll celebrate this w/e after we get our tree and decorate it. She wants to go roller skating and then go to Friendly's....DEAL!

A night of friends...:)

For me, it's called Wednesday WINE NIGHT...but, even at the last minute, a nice gathering of good food, and good friend's...SO much needed from a hectic work week! At least we'll end our week with a FUN night out Friday @ Toscana's with more good friend's...YAY!

Must be Santa....

A classic song....with santa...:)

Santa Visit....

Every year, my Aunt Bonnie hosts a big party the day after Thanksgiving...and she has Mr. & Mrs. Claus come, read a story to the kid's and sing Christmas songs, then each child gets a pic on Santa's lap and gets a gift. We love this day because I see ALL my cousin's that I don't get to see often enough, and they bring THEIR kids, so you can imagine how crowded it is...but so worth it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving in Lancaster...delish food, and SO MUCH to be thankful for!!!! I ate a TON, not to mention ALL the desserts....I'm still stuffed! Well, it was a great night up until it was time to leave. Ashlee and Haylee were to spend the night there, but as we were leaving, I felt Ash's head as she was sleeping and it was hot. Took her temp 5 times...a FEVER! I couldn't leave her there...so she came home with us. I had packed some Motrin with me, so I gave her a dose of that, and she was fever free by the time we got home. BUT DUMMY ME, didn't chose the right cough meds...I gave her the 'expectorant' instead of the 'suppressant' and needless to say, she coughed quite a bit last night...ugh! So, this morn she's fever free, still has a cough though. We were supposed to go see Mr. & Mrs. Claus at my Aunt's house tonite with ALL the cousin's, so we'll see how that goes...I'd hate for her to miss all that fun! My lunch with Joey though, is most likely off...boy he won't be happy...darn, sorry JOE! Kids are unpredictable!

Friday night FUN!

After this w/e, we are booked solid until January, so I had an itchin' to make a nice pot roast and invite some family over for dinner Friday....pot roast, pumkin pie, tons of appi's, egg nog and other cheer...Kids got to make their own sundae's...it was so much fun!

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: friends/xmas 2000

Another party @ Union Street!

Mikimoto's

Chrissy, Jody, Staci, Mo, Raegan, Karen, Kim, Tina

Tina, Kim, Mo, Staci
Kim and her main squeeze, Justice

A fantastic time out with girlfriends...enjoying good food, drinks and gabbing it up!