Christmas Day 2011

Malaina and Lilly playing with Lanies lip gloss.

Titi Lilly and my sweet, Lilly Marie- this is who Lilly is named after!(my mom's sister)

Daddy and Lilly

Papa and Lilly at my sister's house.

Princess Lilly opening gifts from Grandma Linda.

Lilly and Jordan

Christmas Day was spent with Ryan's family in the morning and afternoon and my family in the evening. We went to Ryan's sisters for brunch. Lilly opened presents, played with her favorite Jordan and we ate and relaxed! It was a perfect middle to our long day. From there, we headed to my sister's to be with my mom's side. We had a huge dinner, desserts and some wine! The kids played, danced and opened more presents! We were pretty tired by the end of the day (really before we even got to Ryan's sisters). Lilly was beat, she feel asleep on our way to my sisters. But, we managed to perk up. It's all about being with family ~ and that's exactly what we did. Christmas was perfect.
We hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends.

Christmas Eve, Eve and Christmas Eve!!

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Lilly had a cute top on, but she's always hot!!

Before she got hot!!

Christmas Eve
(do you love her pretty bracelets)

Unfortunately, we lost almost all of our pictures from Christmas Eve, Eve at my parents house and Christmas Eve. What you see is all we managed to save. I'm hoping my family has some pictures we can copy. This year, we went to my parents house to celebrate Christmas with my parents and us kids (and our kids too). Of course, my parents went above and beyond what they should do for all of us! The kiddies got tons of gifts and even us adults. We all loved everything! On Christmas Eve, we went to my dad's aunts house. This is a tradition that has been going on since my dad was a kid. Santa visits with a bag full of toys and stockings! This year Ryan dressed as Santa, I did have pictures but they're gone. He did awesome!! He mastered the "ho ho ho" over the past 3 weeks and the "Merry Christmas". He was a hit! I was hoping to get a picture of Lilly with Santa, but she was scared. Actually, the most scared I've ever seen her with Santa, go figure! It must of been the "ho, ho ho" she'd been hearing for so long... ha ha
Merry Christmas~

Christmas Morning

Lilly checking out her new trampoline from Santa and everything else hanging on it!

Christmas day began with Lilly beyond excited to see that santa really did come to our house. She went downstairs and saw her presents sitting there. In her morning voice, jammies and a huge smile on her face she says " santa really did come!" It was priceless. She was thrilled to see all her gifts sitting there.
Watching her open all her gifts from us and Santa was worth all the shopping and wrapping!! We had a great morning!

Santa Comes to Wixom

Waiting in line for Santa

Waiting to see Santa

Look, a new game!!

The Wixom Firefighters organize a morning to eat breakfast with Santa. So, we jumped on it and ordered tickets. Your way in was a food donation. When we got there, we were so suprised at how nice it was. One room was for visiting santa and the other was for eating. They served pancakes and juice. While waiting for Santa, they have it decorated so pretty with lights, trees and more. In line Lilly was excited to see Santa, but when it was our turn, she barely looked at him. I told her, I would hold her and go up there with her, which I did. Poor thing just doesn't like dressed up people at all. She gets nervous. So, we went up together and took a picture. Lilly got a gift, it was a nice gift too... again we were surprised. Thats a lot of gifts to buy for all of the kids! We will definitely do this again next year!

Holiday Nights At Greenfield Village

The music house... we walked in and all the adults moved aside for the kids. They walked right up to the front, grabbed the bells and joined in the Christmas caroling! It's hard to tell, but it was oh, so cute!

Being Silly... it's hard these days to get one where they are all smiling!

At the beginning of December, we took Lilly to see Santa at Greenfield Village. We met up with my Brother, Stacie and the kids. It was a chilly night, but bundled up it was bearable! The kids had a ball going in and out of the houses, eating candy from the candy store, watching the action on the streets and seeing Santa. Santa wished Preston, Malaina and Lilly a merry Christmas, it was neat. The kids loved seeing the reindeer too. It was definitely a great way to get us in the holiday spirit!

Random Pictures

Playing at Jungle Java with Preston.
Lilly and the girls at the Tarchalski Thanksgiving.

Someone's having fun!

Getting ready to go to dance!

We went to watch Walled Lake Western's Football team play!

Apparently, we took a snap shot here and a shot there. So, it's just a bunch of random photos. We didn't get any pictures of Thanksgiving at my parents house and we only got 2 of the girls eating when we did Ryan's family. Oops! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with whom ever you were with. I am more than thankful for everthing I have- family, friends and good health!

What to do on a rainy Sunday?

Play on the computer...

Sleep...


Color...

And... make cookis with play dough!

We had a great day- I love days like this! Just doing, nothing! But, our nothing turned out to be a relaxing day home. We don't get too many of these!!

Lilly Lately

It's been a while since I've updated you on just Lilly. It dawned on me the other day that I've slacked in that department.
As you know, Lilly is 3 1/2 years old and acts like an old lady some days and a teenager others! She has a funny and silly side and a very serious side too. If you are around her for long enough you'll hear her favorite word...butt cheeks. Just the other day, she tried out shut-up and that didn't go over well in our house. She understands that we don't use body words (thank you Miss Kelly) and we definitely don't tell people to shut up! Aside from her new words, she has an imagination that takes her to far away places. She's dying to fly and really wants to take a rocket to outter space! She invited me, Ryan, Preston and Lanie and she also said she'd take her blankie and Sophie (her stuffed dog). She's very aware of her feelings and how others are feeling. She pointed out to me what my face looks like when I am mad (I had no idea until I started work this year and realized that the "look" I give my 2nd graders is the look I give Lilly). Lilly loves to play dress up, in her kitchen, grocery store (I'm the cashier with a silly English accent), barber shop, color, write and dance! She knows how to write her name without me showing her where her letters need to go and she finally mastered the "y". She's very interested in what words begin with and loves to point out letters in words. We think she's pretty smart!
Lilly goes to Miss Kelly's 3 days a week and to my parents every Wednesday with Preston and Malaina. She is learning something new everyday. We didn't send her to preschool this year, we felt like she was around other children enough and was learning- so why change. We are happy with our decision. Next year, she'll go! Speaking of school, Lilly understands that I am a teacher and that I have students. She loves to come up to my school! But, she especially loves when I get home so we can change in to our "comfy" clothes!
I wish we could stop time, because I am loving this age! I say that about all her milestones, but theres something about 3 that's just so much fun! We are truly thankful for our sweet girl! Life just doens't get any better than this!

Halloween

ITrick or Treat

Lilly and her friends Madison and Grant

Getting ready to start hitting the houses!

Jessie, I mean...Lilly!

It seemed like Halloween lasted forever this year~I was kinda happy when it was all over. We did so many fun Halloween activities this year. It all began with the night at my parents, followed by trips to the cider mill, then the panther hunt, trick or treating in downtown Farmington and then.... Halloween night! Oh, and she had a party at Miss Kelly's too. Trick or treating was fun this year! Lilly walked by herself (no wagon or holding needed), and she made it all around our sub. It's about 40 houses! She started off strong, and ended with "mommy, I'm done, lets go home". I was the one that pushed her to finish the last 2 houses. Why not, right? Lilly was Jessie and one cute Jessie I might say. It was a nice change from all her princess dresses!
The house was decorated for Halloween, and the next day, it all came down! We are on to our next Holiday, Thanksgiving. And... my favorite- Christmas! I can hardly wait to put up my tree. A friend asked me at work if it was up already. Soon, very soon!

Panther Hunt

The city of Wixom organized a Halloween night for kids. We were looking forward to a fun evening filled with trick or treating, hay rides, dancing and more! Lilly was so excited to dress up as Jessie from Toy Story 3. The weather was more than perfect;everyone had a great time. We plan to go again next year. Another fabulous fall night!

Fall is Fabulous

This past weekend we went to my parents for some fun, Fall activities planned by my mom. First, we had the best dinner ever, which consisted of spanish rice,a roast and wine!! We told the kids that if they wanted to decorate cookies, they had to eat their dinner first, and you better believe each child cleared their plate. Sometimes small bribes work!! Lilly, Preston and Malaina decorated cookies with frosting and sprinkles. I couldn't believe the coordination they all had. I do this activity with my students at school and this is hard for some of my little friends! After, my mom had these adorable goodie bags stuffed with Halloween candy, shirts, books etc... everything a child loves. Then, we went outside for a bonfire and took advantage of the gorgeous evening, we don't get too many of these in October. The kids played and the adults chatted by the warm fire. It was a great kick off to a Fabulous October.