Bellevue Botanical Garden d'Lights

As in past years, we headed out to Bellevue Botanical Gardens to see the holiday lights display. We managed to miss the rain but it was still pretty cold!

...And the fun continues!

Christmas was another fun-filled day - spending time with family and opening lots and lots of presents. Thank you to all of our family and friends which made this year and the holidays so special!

Abi's first glimpse at what Santa left

Checking out what Santa and the reindeers ate during their visit

My favorite Christmas present (a surprise gift made by Abi at preschool)

Santa brought Abi a Princess Grocery Cart - YEAH!

A perfect picture of Brady celebrating Christmas

Abi and Brady enjoying one of their new Christmas toys

Grandma and her kids

2 Peas in a Pod

Christmas Eve

Although we had a rough few weeks leading up to Christmas, which included two sick kids with croup, many sleepless nights and even a trip to the emergency room, we were all feeling better and very excited by the time Christmas arrived.

Our Christmas Eve started with Santa pictures (we had to get in line so early that Santa had not even arrived at work yet...and we still had to wait for over an hour! Thank goodness both kids cooperated and we got a really cute picture.)

Abi made some Magic Reindeer Food at preschool that we sprinkled in the front yard

Then we headed to Christmas Eve Mass...

...but first we got to open one present (and surprise, surprise - it's was Christmas PJs)
Brady wasn't interested in his PJs - just the tissue paper!

Next, we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's to celebrate with all of the Drevniak's:




And last but not least, we left some goodies for Santa and the reindeers before bedtime!

Gingerbread Houses

In keeping with tradition, we headed over to the Worsley's to decorate gingerbread houses. This year was a bit more hectic (& much louder), as we had 3 additional kiddos all under the age of 1! Despite the craziness, Abi got her house decorated and we had a great time.

Next year, I am going to try to be prepared and follow the directions by putting the gingerbread house together a few days before decorating. Perhaps, this will prevent the entire house from falling over on the drive home and having to resurrect it with dry, hard frosting...then again, I recall saying this last year too!

...and it's time to go!

Let the Fun Begin...

With Christmas only 10 days away, we have been in crazy-busy holiday mode. Despite Abi having back-to-back double ear infections, she has been a little trooper and has still managed to enjoy many of our Christmas traditions and holiday fun. So far, we have visited Santa and his reindeers at the zoo, saw the drummers (& falling snow) at Snowflake Lane, made Christmas cookies, decorated the Christmas tree and even managed to squeeze in some shopping.

Here are some recent pictures, with the exception of Snowflake Lane - I forgot to put the memory card back in the camera although it was probably a good thing since Abi cried throughout most of it - complaining that the "music was too loud". It must have not been too bad though because she has been begging to go back ever since.

Abi's Favorite Part of the Day...Advent Calendar

-Visiting Santa (& his reindeers) with Cynthia, Colby & Paige-

Feeding the reindeers

Abi & Colby

Paige & Brady trying to stay warm

A visit with Santa Claus

Cynthia, Paige & Colby

Me & the kids

-Trimming the Tree-

Abi carefully hanging her princess ornament

Brady happily watching as we decorate

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks to Jeanne & Jim (aka - Ferryboat Grandma & Grandpa), we had a nice and relaxing Thanksgiving Day! The food was delicious and it was fun to catch up with friends and family.

Just catchin' up with Dad

Helping Grandma with the pies - everyone needed a little taste...

...and Abi got her fair share!

Playing with Grandpa

Thankful

As Thanksgiving approaches, I have been talking to Abi about the concept of thankfulness. A few days ago, I thought that all of our discussions might be making an impact when she told me, unprompted, that she was thankful for Sadie.

During this same time, with Christmas right around the corner, Abi has also been intensely studying the Toys R' Us catalog. This year, she has decided to ask Santa for a Disney Princess grocery cart and she is a bit obsessed with the idea. We talk about it, write about it and draw it on a daily basis.

Apparently there still seems to be a bit of confusion about the idea of thankfulness because when I picked up Abi from school today, she took her arts and craft project out of her school bag and this was what I saw:
I almost fell over on the ground with laughter. Can you imagine what her teacher was thinking?

Well, now I can say that I am thankful for the smile my daughter puts on my face every time I look at our mantel and see her work of art proudly displayed!

Disney On Ice

Last weekend, Josh & Colin took the girls (Abi, Regen & Claire) to see Disney On Ice. Abi was really excited all week and we prepared by watching countless hours of Disney On Ice videos on youtube. Evey time we would watch a video, she would tell me that she was going to give Ariel a big hug and kiss when she saw her. Well, she didn't get an opportunity to do that, but she did get to see Cinderella up close, which was definitely a highlight. She had a great time and now asks me on a daily basis when she can go back.

All dressed and ready to go

All three princesses checking out The Little Mermaid exhibit


Although it is hard to see Abi in the sea of princesses, she is the one toward the bottom of the screen, waving at Cinderella with her wand. If you listen closely, you can hear her saying, "Hi Cinderella".

The "Cars" Show

The Lion King

...& Abi's favorite - The Little Mermaid