Fun Pictures

 I found a hammock at a yard sale this last week. The kids have loved playing on it, the one morning they cuddled up and Dylan read books to Cadence. :)

 Being silly...

We were really happy to have Aunt Michelle with us for a few days. The kids always love having her full attention and another person to play with. :)

 

 For my birthday Mark bought me a vintage cruiser bike and made me a wood basket (along with Dylan's help). I love it. It was the perfect gift!

Christmas Day

Christmas morning I woke up with strep throat and felt awful. I was awake long enough to see the kids open their gifts and was back to bed...bummer

The kids had a great morning opening gifts!

New rolller skates for Cadence and a large cardboard color rocket ship for Isabelle

Dylan got a new BMX bike!

Hula hoop!

 

 We headed over to Mark's parents house for dinner and Christmas. I still wasn't feeling good but didn't want to miss out so I curled up on the sofa for most of the evening. Needless to say that since I wasn't feeling well...and Mark isn't a fan of taking lots of pictures there weren't any of them opening gifts :(. But it was a nice evening and the kids got lots more of great stuff!

Christmas Celebrations Begin!

Every year we have a Christmas celebration with the Whittemore's. This year we had to plan it a few days before Christmas and it started our festivities for the rest of the week!

 And then on Christmas Eve we headed over to my parents house to celebrate. We of course had to continue the Christmas story play tradition. This year Mark filled in  as "Joseph". :)

 All the kids had a great time and received great gifts!!

 My dad built (but was Mom's idea :)) Isabelle her very own kid size picnic table. She loved it and right away set up her new tea set.

 Cadence received a new big bike. She has been asking for a bike without training wheels for over a month now, so she was super excited about learning how to ride.

Lights

 We went out one driving one evening last week to look at Christmas lights. Last year we found a house that has a major light display near our house, so we returned again this year and it again was the highlight of the evening. :)

Earlier in the day Dylan had his Christmas party at school. They had a great time making gingerbread houses.

More Christmas fun

 Cadence had her Christmas musical for her preschool, super cute! She had one part of a song where she sang with one other little girl...they were the "red & white cows" :)

 

 Dylan also had a small Christmas performance in the morning at school. They sang 2 fun Christmas songs one included some air guitar time. It was really funny!

 Isabelle actually asked me to take a picture of her (she usually hides from the camera). She thought she looked so silly with the elf hat on.  And Cadence looking super cute in her Santa hat. :)

Isabelle Dance Recital

 Isabelle had her 1st dance recital last Friday. She has loved going to class every week but we walked into class and she saw that all the families were there to watch the class and she wanted nothing to do with it. She refused to wear her dance shoes and I basically just had to leave the room in the beginning in order for her to stay with her teacher...which she held her hand during almost the whole recital.

 She was still so cute! :)

Grandma Day

 Last week for Grandma B. Day (every Tuesday) we went to the train park. Isabelle is so shy...with everyone until she is totally comfortable. Shy to the point where she hides and I think at this point it is just her habit with my mom and sister. She didn't want to do anything unless it was with me but I made her ride the merry go round with my mom...and then it was funny because she was hiding from me and didn't want me to take a picture of her. :)

 We rode the little train together and the pictue below captures her somberness (look at her sleepy eye)! :)

  I loved the simplicity of her holding my finger the entire ride...

 

 

 

Fun picture of Jolene and Mom :)