Saturday, December 29, 2012

Christmas 2012

 
Santa came!
We finally had to wake Josie up around 7:45 Christmas morning.
I'm sure that will change in the upcoming years!
Santa brought Josie an art easel, American Girl Bitty Baby,
a backpack, puzzles, art supplies, a scooter, a HUGE floor piano and matching pj's for Josie and her baby doll.  He also didn't forget new sippy cups, markers, scissors and a book (per Josie's requests on her Christmas list!)  She sure must have been a good girl this year!
 

 
Santa also left a very special present for Josie to share with her entire family.
She had been asking for an Ipad.... crazy, I KNOW.  She loves Nonni's Ipad and we really thought that we would get her a Leap Pad, but after realizing that the Leap Pad PLUS multiple games that she would want would be quite an expense in itself AND the fact that our laptop crashed recently....... We decided that maybe we should ask Santa for an Ipad for our entire family.  So, he was very sweet to think of all of us on Christmas morning!











 After TONS of fun and a yummy breakfast at home, we went to Nonni and Popee's to celebrate some more!
 
Sweet Stella...... She may possibly be the SWEETEST baby ever :)  She's so laid back!
 
Josie and Olivia playing "Hot Potato!"
 
Josie, Jessica and Stella


Mott- Mott
 
 
Olivia and Josie with Nonni
 
 
Singing Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus. 
The girls did a great job decorating his cake!

 
My sweet baby girl and I with her new Bitty Baby Twins!
 
Matching Pj's for Josie and Bitty Baby!
Finally going to bed after a long, fun-filled day!
We had a wonderful Christmas....
We are truly blessed!
I can't believe that we will have a 6 month old baby with us next Christmas! :)


Christmas Eve 2012

 
I worked for a little while on Christmas Eve and then rushed home to get us ready for all of the festivities!  Elfie dropped off a present Christmas Eve morning and told Josie that he had to head back to the North Pole to help Santa, but he left her something special to wear on Christmas Eve night.  He also asked her to wait until her Mommy got home from work to open.  So, I had a very anxious little girl waiting to open the present when I returned home.  Elfie left Josie a Christmas nightgown!!!!  She felt very grown up!
 
 
 
We did some last minute wrapping and cooking and then we all got ready for church.
When we arrived at church, Josie was asked to be a special angel in the service.  So, she was dressed up in a pretty white choir robe and had a gorgeous gold halo on her head.  I was so sad that I didn't have my phone or camera with me!
 

Then, we quickly went to Grandmommy and JJ's to celebrate Christmas!!!!
We enjoyed some YUMMY food and then the girls were ready to open some presents!

I think somebody loves her new red cowboy boots from Granny!
 

 
Sweet Cousins..... Merry 1st Christmas, Baby Raine!!!
 
 
The BIG surprise of the night was that the girls got a trampoline from GM and JJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOOOOOOOO FUN!!!!!!!!
I hate that I couldn't get better pictures, but trust me.... they had lots of fun!
We then ran by Nonni and Popee's house to see Brian, Jessica, Olivia and Stella.  They had just arrived for Christmas.  Then,we went home to put on our pj's and put out our cookies for Santa and we sprinkled reindeer food in the yard for Santa's reindeer.  

Pre - Christmas Activities

Wow, what a busy month!
I haven't had much time to blog.... so, here's a quick recap of December!
 
Elfie showed up at our house early in December.  He was quite mischevious this year, but Josie didn't find it very funny.  She didn't want him to get in trouble! 
 
 


Josie has really practiced her letters this month and is getting really good at writing her name.
We have finally conquered the "J" consistently (it's no longer backwards like it is in this pic!)
She was so proud!
 
Gingerbread house decorating............... Josie might or might not be on a
sugar high in the picture below :-)

Christmas Program at School
 
Sweet cousins after the program

 
December is Grandmommy's birthday month.  So, we had a little pizza party in her honor!
 
 
 
Josie and I did  a lot of cooking and baking this year.  She loves to be my big helper (esp. when she can wear her Dora apron)!
 
 
Gingerbread house from School
 
Cookies for Santa!
We decided to make chocolate oatmeal no bake cookies..... I told her that I heard that Santa really likes those :)

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

BIG SISTER!!!

 
 
I know a little girl that is excited to become a BIG SISTER in June!!!!!
 
We look forward to becoming a family of four!
 
When we first asked Josie what she would think about becoming a big sister, she said, "Let me think about it!"  Then, we waited a couple of minutes and asked again.  She then said, " That would make me happy."  She's such a sweet and loving girl.... I know that she will LOVE being a big sister and will be the best helper!  

Sunday, December 9, 2012

December Fun

Josie is very excited about her Me Board for school (she calls in a knee board!)
The letter of the week was J.  So, Josie and her friend Joel created Me Boards with lots of family pics!


LOTS of fun Christmas happenings going on around here.
 
 
We made ornaments!!!

 
 
I had a great helper this year while I decorated the tree...
 

My cutie........
 
 
Children's Christmas Parade around the town square (gotta love a small town!)
 Look!  Baby Graham and Baby Reece joined us!!
 
 
 
Cousin Jack was there, too!  They loved riding their bikes!
We even got our picture made with Santa, but I forgot to download it :(
I will do that later!
 
 
 
We found Bryan and Claire, too!  Sweet friends!

 
Aww!!!  Josie LOVES Jack :)

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving week has come and gone.  I'm just a little behind :)
 
Here's my little turkey....
(When did she become such a "teenager" with that pose?!!)
 



Josie & Baby Raine
 
 
Silly cousins....
 
 
We enjoyed a  delicous dinner with Josh's family on Wed. night and then a great lunch in Jackson with my family on Thanksgiving day.  It was fun being with everyone and creating fun memories!
However, as our life goes these days, Josh was quickly back to studying for finals and this is where we found him most of the weekend (and this past week).  Finals start Monday morning (Prayers appreciated!!!)
 


Unfortunately, our little gal was sick over Thanksgiving weekend.  She finally crashed Thanksgiving afternonoon!  If you know Josie well, you know that she NEVER slows down much to nap!  So, this was a big sign that she was not her normal self :(
 
 
We are gearing up for Christmas around here!  Josie and I enjoyed a few Christmas activities this weekend while Josh was studying (I will post details soon!)