Merrry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!  We are always so blessed to have family around for the holidays.  Our week was filled with celebrations and time with family.  Zoe and Kylee have been troopers and fought through their colds to make it a great week.  By Tuesday, Kylee was diagnosed with double ear infections.  I believe the drainage that caused them is from teething, not the cold...she has three of her two-year-old molars coming in at the same time.  Lots of drool, drainage, and whining, but she was still such a champ, one get together after another.  A few highlights are the house is FULL of Frozen, a new bike for Kylee, all the girl grandchildren got matching dollies, Zoe is going to learn to sew, and she is designing new fashion!  Kylee was stoked to just get a Minnie Mouse cup :)  She loves her new coloring kits that Santa got them and of course the really neat ride on toys that came from Montana.  Thank you to all that made the girls' Christmas extra special.  It has been a blast watching them play together all week and we are really enjoying our time with the girls.

Citizen of the Month!!!

Perplexed?  Why in the world are Mommy and Daddy here???

Mrs. Reeves had really wonderful things to say about Zoe!

 Proud Mama!

 Citizen of the Month!!!

Proud Daddy!

We had taken a half day on Friday, the 12th, for Zoe's play.  Then Monday, in Zoe's homework folder, we received a note from Mrs. Reeves that Zoe had earned an award and the ceremony was on that Thursday, the 18th.  We had to go, so we rearranged our work schedules and made it happen.  This was such a great award for Zoe.  We are so proud of her being such a role model to others in her classroom and working hard to excel.  She has been such a hard worker!  The next day we rearranged our work schedules, so we could help out at Zo's holiday centers.  That was really fun and we could see how her class operates and how very responsive they are to their teacher!  It was a busy week at Zoe's school, but so worth it!  We are beside ourselves with how well Zoe is doing.  Keep up the great work, Zo!

Zoe's Gingerbread Play

Ready for the big play!

Get the show on the road!

 All done!  And she did FABULOUS!

 Proud Mommy and Daddy!!!

Zoe and Mrs. Reeves

Wow!  Zoe has come a long way in two years!!!  Starting preschool, Zoe would rarely talk, definitely not sing or dance, then last year, her teacher's goal was to get her to sing and dance with the other kiddos, and she barely did.  During her performances the first year, she wouldn't sing or dance, then she did a little last year and no one would ever believe that she was ever like that this year!  Her teacher says she is reserved in class, but will still sing with her friends.  She did a fantastic job and so did both of the kindergarten classes.  Shaun and I were very impressed how well ALL of the students did during their performance.  Great job Zoe, you sang so well and your movements were in sync with all the rest!  You have become such a performer, Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!!!

Christmas Preparations

Zoe helped write Kylee's Santa letter this year.  (Mommy had to finish because Zoe had already written hers and she was tired :))

Zoe wrote her letter herself, Mommy suggested some punctuation, but that's it!

Always looking up to someone...most of the time it is her sis.

 Hanging ornaments...

 Decorating the gingerbread house...

 Zoe loves making patterns now...

 Finished gingerbread house...beautiful!

Preparation and decorating for Christmas this year was such an adventure!  Zoe and Kylee really seemed to love decorating the tree.  This year has been so much fun preparing for Christmas.  We even baked more than ever before...matter of fact, we baked twice because we ran out of the first 10 dozen we baked.  The best part is Kylee singing Christmas songs!  In her little voice, she sings "Silent Night", "Jingle Bells", and "Oh Christmas Tree" AND all of Zoe's gingerbread play songs.