Happy Valentines Day!

It's been awhile since I have posted any pictures...so sorry! But I have to say February is just not a very exciting month as a stay at home mom. I mean don't get me wrong, I love our daily dance parties and dress up time, but nothing out of the ordinary. Well, that is until last week. The week began with what I thought was going to be a great semi-warm day trip to the zoo. We packed a lunch, loaded up the car, and made the 45 minute trip to the zoo complete with talk of animals and the sounds they make. Then we arrived at the zoo only to learn it is closed on Mondays during the winter. BOO! So, instead we checked out the not-so-toddler-friendly state museum and walked the canal...Then Izy and I visited Jac's school for her Valentines Day party. Oh so fun!
In this next picture Jac decided to "decorate" my face with stickers...
One of the crafts they made at school that day was this heart and I just love it...
The next day we went to a party with a few of our friends and Izy sported her first pony tail!!
Over the course of the week we also made lots of valentines and delivered them to lots of special people! Saturday, the actual Valentines Day, we spent a day together. Just the four of us. We went to church and even splurged on a romantic dinner...at Steak n Shake. Ha!

Week O' Birthdays

This past week we celebrated Nic (26) and Jac's (2) Birthdays! Nic isn't to fond of huge parties or making a big deal of his birthday so we opted for dinner at his favorite...Benihanas. It was really fun! Happy Birthday babe; you are the BEST!! The girls were totally enthralled with dinner...On Friday, one of our cousin's turned 3. We celebrated Soph's special day at the firestation with cake at her house following. Jac was a little unsure of the truck and the firemen at first, but she eventually figured it out. It was actually a really informative trip and one I would recommend to all parents and kiddos!

Later that evening, we went to the barn for a joint family birthday party: Soph & Jac.

Soph was an old pro at blowing out the candles...Jac, not so much!
Mama's baby girl...
One of her favorite gifts was from Aunt Ca, RAIN BOOTS!
On Jac's actual birthday, we invited a few of her friends over for a "stock the kitchen(Jac got a new one for her birthday!)" birthday party. She anxiously awaited for her friends all day...
To incorporate the kitchen theme, Jac made all the girls aprons and let them all help her make pizzas for dinner. Izy was not so much into the pizza making, but rather the pizza eating!
All the girlies hard at work!
Spinach anyone?
Hands down favorite pizza they made...EVERYTHING! They actually made a total of 6 and they were really good.
Happy Birthday to Jac!
Izy wins the award for keeping the apron on the longest (only cause she could not take it off!). Oh and in the background you can see her new kitchen...
A 2nd birthday for Jac has come and gone. Somedays it seems like she has been here forever and others it is as if I have only barely begun to know her. But either way, I would not trade her for the world. Everyday is a gift! It has been so fun over the past year watching her personality develop. I love you baby girl; Happy Birthday!

Going to the Chapel

And Steph's gonna get MARRIED! On New Year's Eve, my sister and her boyfriend of a few years, Jason, got engaged. They are planning to wed this summer. Hooray! Congrats Steph and Jason! So, it is full force wedding planning mode around here and I am lovin' every minute. The day Steph got into town we headed to the bridal shop to try on some bridesmaid and flower girl dresses. Jac and Izy are gonna be the cutest flower girls ever!

Then, this past weekend we went to a Bridal Show at the Ritz...with lots of free champagne, appetizers, and cake. My kind of party!
Jac and Izy came along. Um...not exactly the setting I enjoy bringing toddlers to, but they were angels. And loved every florist booth and travel agent set up...mainly because each one had their own selection of candy!
The wedding is a little less than 200 days away, so Jac and I made a countdown...and its on!
All of the wedding excitement, has gotten Jac in the mood to play dress up a lot lately. She has been practing with her heels...
And Izy has been trying on different necklaces...
With Jac's help, of course...
Oh the joys of having little girls! They are both to precious...loving life and each other dearly! Izy is taking a few steps now. But only with Jac's help, of course. And Jac ventured out into the snow for the first time yesterday and decided she had a love/hate relationship with cold and snow. This was a love moment!
Well, that is our update for now! Congrats again to Steph and Jason! We are so looking forward to the next few months! And to everyone else...stay WARM!! It is pretty dang cold outside!

Happy New Year!

We just hung out at home this year for New Years with a couple of our good friends. The girls celebrated before they went to bed...Well, before and after. Izy decided to wake up and fuss during the 11 o'clock hour, but I am kind of glad she did since her dad went to bed early. Iz and I brought in the New Year together!

Merry Christmas!

It has been an awesome week celebrating Christmas together with the family! Christmas Day we were at our house the whole time. We actually stayed in our jams the whole day too! Jac was so into EVERYTHING, which was so fun. First things first, stockings...

Gram, OWO, and Aunt Ca all spent the night and helped out with opening, putting together, and playing with all our new presents.
This is Izy holding a very special present...a grenade from daddy!
Aunt Ca's special gift was her favorite shirt from junior high & high school made into a pillow...AWESOME!
Jac got lots of dress up clothes, but was especially fond of these earrings...
Santa brought Izy a new chair to match her big sister's.
The big for Jac from Santa was her very own car...she was so excited that she started playing with it before it was even put together!
She was also very active in helping OWO put it together...
The big present for the girls from Gram and OWO was an Escalade...they were both a little unsure of pressing the gas pedal to make it move, but were in love with getting in and out while turning the radio on and off!
We are so blessed to have some amazing family to exchange gifts with and spend time with over these holidays! Daily we try to instill in the kids to be thankful for the gifts they have been given...Jesus, family, grace, toys, clothes, a house, etc. I am without words to express my true appreciation for these things. We love you all and hope you are enjoying these last few days of 2008!

Christmas Eve

This Christmas Eve the girls and I actually spent most of the day chillin' at home until the afternoon service at church. It was so fun getting them all dolled up...and they just looked so dang cute! It was not the easiest thing to get a good picture of Jac, but this one is pretty cute...showing off her notorious "serious face."
It was even more challenging getting a picture of the two of them together, but here is my best attempt!
After the service, we went over to Nic's aunts house for the annual family Christmas party. This year all of the kids (and me) dressed up to act out the Nativity. Jac was a sheep, Izy was Jesus, and I filled in for Mary.
Here is the whole "cast"...
It was not the greatest acting I have ever seen, but I am sure Jesus and Grandma Anna enjoyed it and that's all that really matters!
We had a great time hanging out with family...until our little lamb was ready to hit the hay!

Family Time

Have I mentioned how much I love Christmas? Well, we wanted to do something festive together, so we started another new tradition this year...gingerbread house making!
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