December News

 Decorating Kylee's First Christmas Tree!

 Intrigued!

 Zoe LOVED decorating this year...

 Zoe's area on the tree :)

 Zoe's Penguin costume she made at school...

 The girls...

Santa's Little Helpers

 

We have had a very BUSY December, as usual.  The girls were sick just about the whole month and have just started feeling normal again, so that definitely added to the exhaustion of the season.  Kylee has had three antibiotics for ear infections, so the poor thing was eating and sleeping horribly.  We are still trying to get her back to sleeping through the night.  Despite the ear infections, she has grown up so much this month.  She is showing signs of wanting to crawl, but more so pull herself up and standing.  Her coordination is getting pretty good and she can pick up "puffs" and put them into her mouth, is clapping and kind of signs "all done" (she just throws her hands up...it is pretty cute).  She has transitioned to formula during the day and nurses only at night now.  Object permanence is becoming more apparent, as she looks all around for toys she has dropped.  It is almost time to start planning birthday parties!!!  CRAZY!!!

 

Zoe has grown up a lot lately too.  She was so excited to help wrap presents and always wanted to know when she was going to get presents and when she got to open them.  It has been such a great transition with Zoe and her sister's arrival.  She is the best big sister and always is attentive to Kylee's needs.  At school, Zoe is talking and interacting more.  Our hope is that she continues to become more comfortable with her classmates, so we can start having playdates with some of them.  She is so detail oriented that asking her about school is so easy.  We find out so much about her day and she also plays school at home, so we hear her sing and "play" with her friends from school.  Her letter recognition is coming along and she is doing so well counting, putting numbers together, and writing her name!  We cannot believe she is almost 4!!! 

 



Congratulations Papa!!!!

 YiaYia and Papa

 

 All 5 of us...

Uncle Todd, Papa, and Daddy

 Blowing Papa a kiss!

 

Congratulations Papa!  We are so proud of Papa because he was recognized for his retirement last night at the Physicians' Dinner Party at the Ritz Carlton.  It was a very nice event.  (Zoe just said, "Yeah, and Mommy looked so pretty."  I will take a compliment whenever she dishes one :).)  Zoe is proud of her papa too, so she blew him kisses from home!!!  



Black Friday

 Ryder and Zoe...waiting for Santa to appear from the sky!

 Mrs. Claus was there too!

Santa's Reindeer

 "Santa's Little Helper(s)" went shopping with us EARLY.

We took off at 6 am on Black Friday to shop a little.  It was a last minute decision the night before and we didn't need much, but the girls are our alarm clock these days, so we figured we would just browse.  It was a great morning and then we met my mom and Ryder to see Santa parachute in from an airplane.  It was really neat, but there were a lot of people.  They had train rides and crafts, but the lines were VERY long, so we didn't stay long. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

 "My socks are just like my cousin, Tasia's! ;)

 Kylee's First Thanksgiving

 Playing Candyland with my cousins...

 Learning to play nicely and share...

 Zoe and Grandma

 

How could you not be thankful for those two little girls?!!!

 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!  We enjoyed the holiday and my aunt and uncle's house.  Zoe had a blast because she played constantly with my cousins Kristine, Karen, and Katherine.  She had a blast!!!   Kylee got to hang out with my cousin's baby boy, Sebastian.  They were learning how to share their toys :).  Shaun and I are so blessed with our two little girls.  Everyday they bring smiles to our faces and make life so wonderful!  We are very lucky!!!

Kylee's First Halloween

 Daddy and his girls :)

 Zo drew the face for David to carve...we wished him luck :)

 David helped Zo carve her pumpkin...

 Zoe got the hang of trick-or-treating this year...

 So proud of herself...

 

Daddy and Jeff (Silly guys!)

Halloween Parade

At her school near home, Zoe had her first costume parade.  Shaun took a half day this time for it and after the parade, the kiddos sang some songs.  Of course, Zo just stood there, but at least she didn't put her fingers in her mouth.  Shaun and I sometimes wonder where she got this shyness from.  Slowly, but surely, she will get the hang of performing.

Trunk or Treat

This was our first year participating in a Trunk or Treat event.  We went to our friends' church and it was just the right size for Zo.  It was super hot, so the girls were only partially outfitted with their costumes.  They still looked super cute.  Kylee is our little pumpkin, so it was only suiting.  Zo picked Raggedy Ann.  We had a lot of fun and are excited to participate again next year.  I need to come up with a better theme (and game), now that we understand what this is all about.  Zoe also got to do a cake walk!  That was my favorite at my elementary school carnivals.  She didn't win, but she had such a good time she asked to "play" three times.  That is a pretty big step for her because we usually have to encourage her to try things and do them more than once.