Christmas!

All dressed up and...waiting, waiting, and more waiting...

Dave and I.

My babies.

Group shot.

Uncle Jon, Amelia, Ava, and look close - Jenna! "Here I am!"

Harley Davidson rocks!

A big score - Ava with Kanani!

Angry Birds...

Jenna playing Andrew's guitar.

All dressed up for Grandma & Grandpas.

Grandma and Amelia.

My girls with their girl cousins can be crazy!

It's been a busy weekend. Yesterday my side of the family came over for Christmas Eve dinner. We made lots of food. We then waited and waited for everyone to come. All was smooth until Amelia came down with a mysterious stomach bug about half way through the excitement. Poor Amelia's party time had to stop. Good thing though, it only lasted for several hours. Last check at 11:30pm, Amelia asked if Santa had come. I said no, so she said, "he must be in Florida right now then". We slept til 4:40am when I got the call from an awake Ava and Amelia. They were ready to roll. I squashed that excitement very quickly. We slept til 7:00am (Drew slept a hair longer). Everyone was very pleased with their gifts. Andrew with his cd's, guitar and clothes. Amelia with her Nintendo 3DS, and Angry Birds stuff, Ava with her American Girl Doll Kanani and her Barbie clothes, and Jenna with her stroller, high chair, crib, Minnie Bowtique, Dora and books. We all took it easy, played with our gifts, and then got dressed up for Grandma and Grandpa's house and a cousin time visit. We had a wonderful weekend with our families. Merry Christmas!

Questions from Ava

This is what Ava came home with yesterday.

Santa, Christmas, Santa, Santa....

The girls at Church having Breakfast with Santa.

Awww, parkly lights....

Adventure Park drive through light show.

Amelia & Ava before school sporting their scarves. So fancy.

Another week of sickness for Jenna. Can you see Jenna and Minnie?

Jenna, Santa & Mrs. Claus at Andrew's Holiday Program.

Drew receiving his gift from Santa.

Ava's creation. Gingerbread House decorating with her class.

Jenna showing us the ornaments on our tree.


Here is a quick look at what the weeks before Christmas look like around our house.

Celebrate 8!

So....8 years ago today and over 3100 long miles away, our daughter was born. Receiving the phone call that she had arrived, and then the five month wait for her arrival home were moments that we will never forget. Most importantly though, Amelia brought us light in a time when we needed it the most. Happy 8th Birthday to my girl, Amelia Hope! Love you more than you know.

Amelia enjoying the birthday balloons after school today.

Those balloons again...

Dave, the girls and Amelia's cake!

Amelia showing off her new game.

Happy Birthday Millie!

Jenna at 32 months...

Here's Jenna on her bike. She can "bike" down hill - steering and all, it's the up hill that's hard. :)

From our Trip...

http://www.themountainpress.com/view/full_story_free/16574007/article--Park-popular-destination-on-Thanksgiving-weekend-?instance=features

FAMILY ADVENTURE!!!! - TENNESSEE

Our first stop at The Natural Bridge in Natural Bridge, Virginia. We walked under the bridge, saw the butterfly exhibit and even hung out for a stretch in the employee lounge!

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What's New?

That's Jenna today in her cute t-shirt. In good spirits, but still fighting the mystery stomach bug..

That's Amelia and her ever changing smile. She lost her 6th tooth last night!

What's Cooking?

Amelia wanted to cook a recipe out of her class cookbook. Ava wanted to help...and in Ava fashion she helped by making silly faces, not helping with the actual cooking and eating the ingredients...

Looks good Amelia!

And...Voila! the finished product! Worms in Dirt!

Here's a Heart Secret Blog quiz. What's up with Jenna?
She's sick, but is rallying...

A Member of Daisy Troop 81647

Ava started Daisy's today!

3 girls minus 10 teeth

Amelia is the sister expecting a visit from the tooth fairy tonight. For those of you counting...that's 5 teeth lost for Amelia, 5 teeth lost for Ava, and 0 teeth for Jenna. Now that I look at it too, that's 3 girls wearing their brother's pj's.

31

Here's Jenna today at 31 months...and surprise! she's wearing those same Dora pj's/"universal daily go-to outfit". She's quite the fashion plate in those pj's, her monkey coat, and her frog rain boots. Not only does Jenna wear Dora, but she speaks Spanish like Dora, makes and follows directions like Dora and so on. She loves Dora and her Bubble Guppies tv shows, having quite the monopoly over the family tv set. She enjoyed Halloween, trick or treating to every house and not being pushed out of the way by the bigger kids. She came home with two lollipops in her mouth. She will hopefully soon forget about her hidden candy bag which we had an all out war over yesterday. Jenna also loves to talk shapes. She'll still say "hearts" for goodbye and goodnight, but will also say, "squares", "diamonds", "ovals" and so on.