Princess Party

This past Wednesday my sweet niece Cheyenne turned 4 years old. I can't believe how the time flies by. 

This afternoon we went to her Princess birthday party. Every morning this past week Emma would ask me if it was time to go. Then she would tell me that she wanted to wear her "tangled dress" and give Cheyenne her present.She was so happy today when it was finally time to put on her dress and go.  The girls really had a great time. I took several pictures but haven't gotten them off my card yet but Autumn sent me these and I almost died. I just had to share them. She took them just as we were leaving. I will try to get mine uploaded tomorrow. Hope you all are having a great weekend so far. 

Little Biter

Ryleigh has hit a stage that I hoped she never would. She has become a biter. :-(  Emma never bit anyone so this is all very new to me. I had a feeling she was going to start biting though because when she gives kisses, she started using her teeth a little too. It never hurt, but I knew that she would bite someone one day. She first bit Emma last Friday on the arm. Then a few minutes later, she bit her again on the same arm. I wasn't in the room either time so I'm not sure why she did it. I don't know if she is unintentionally doing it or if she is getting angry.

On Sunday we were at my mom and dads house and Emma started crying. I knew immediately what had happened. She bit Emma on the face. This time I was 100% sure she was trying to give her a kiss. This pictures doesn't even show how bad it looked.

I just don't know how to correct this problem. I absolutely hate that she is hurting Emma too. Hopefully this is just a short phase she is going through and it will stop soon. 

Fun Afternoon

So I had a really great blog post planned for today but unfortunately that won't be happening. Normally we do the same old thing around here but today we got to do something new. I was so excited to show you all some cute new pictures buuuuut, I just uploaded my pictures and they are horrible. There is either something wrong with our camera or the camera operator. That has yet to be determined. So instead I am just going to tell you about our fun afternoon. 

Josh was out of town again last night and came home late tonight so I decided to take the girls to a place called Safari Nation this afternoon to kill some time. This place opened up maybe about 5 or 6 months ago and I saw commercials for it on tv. It looked so awesome so I hopped online and saw all the pictures and read everything that they offered. Safari Nation has about 5 different inflatables as well as a ballocity center. It has a cool zip line and the Coconut Cabana. It is a really neat place for kids and it is so clean. I have been wanting to take Emma for a while now but I wanted to wait until Ryleigh could really enjoy it too. Autumn took Hailey for the first time last week and she said my girls would love it, so we gave it a shot. 

Emma and Ryleigh had SO much fun. It's no secret that my girls are vertically challenged...like me, so climbing on things is a little difficult. Emma went from place to place and never looked back. However, the first time she went into the inflatable, she got lost and was hysterically crying. No other kids were in there and apparently its got a lot of tunnels and can be a bit confusing. One of the guys who work there had to go in and find her and help her out. They have a little section for 3 and under and Ryleigh was able to go bounce around. We were there for about 2 hours and then it was dinner time. Emma threw a FIT when I told her we had to leave. She whimpered the whole way home too. I am doing my best to get control on that behavior but at least it lets me know that she had a great time. 

Half way through, the girls shared their first slushie at the "Coconut Cabana."  It was a really great afternoon and I hope we can go back soon...maybe with daddy this time. 

While Josh was out of town I got two redbox movies to watch. I always get my chick flicks when he is gone so I don't have to make him sit through them.   :)

I got The Help

and I also got Crazy Stupid Love....but that wasn't even worth talking about. Autumn warned me about it.....I should've listened. 

I know I am probably one of the last people to see the Help but I'm glad I finally got to watch it because it was such a great movie. I really enjoyed it. There is a movie called The Vow coming into theaters around Valentines Day and I am dying to see it. 

Susan G Komen Basketball Game

This past Sunday my sister, Autumn, held a fundraiser basketball game. She is planning to walk in the 3 day walk again this year in Chicago and this was a way for her to raise some money. She got several girls together that went to our high school and played with her before. She also had a few girls from different schools. There was a pretty good turnout and she raised over $500!!

She held a raffle too. Cheyenne got to pull the tickets.

These are all the girls that played. 

It was a very fun event and she did a great job putting it all together. 

Warm January Days

I can't believe we are already a week into 2012. This past week I spent a little bit of time getting things ready for school. My classes start this Monday and I'm actually excited to be starting back. I am taking 4 classes this semester for a total of 13 credit hours. I think I can handle more but I want to see what this is going to be like before I try that. I am taking a math class, international business, logistics, and an english class. My english class is about argument based research so I don't know how much I'm looking forward to that. But I'm excited to learn. Each step is a step closer to where I need to be. 

We have been having a really warm winter so far. One day this week it was only about 35 degrees and now we are back into the 60's. I LOVE winter so I'm really not happy about this. I want some snow! One good thing about this warm weather is that we can get out in the yard and play. Before Christmas I made a list of things the girls would like and gave it to Josh's mom and also his brother. One of the things on Emma's list was a tee-ball set. I wasn't quite sure how much she would like it but I am so glad Sam got it for her. We got it out today for the first time and she loved it. Ryleigh was more interested in taking the ball off before Emma could hit though. It made for a really great afternoon. 

Aren't these girls just the cutest?!

They are both constantly doing so many new things so I've decided over the next week or so I'm going to take notes on all these things so I can document it here on the blog. I get so used to everything they are doing, but I want to be able to remember what they were like years from now. My little Ryleigh will be 2 in a couple of months and I just keep realizing how she is not a baby anymore. Speaking of Ryleigh turning two, I have finally found the perrrrfect theme for her birthday party. I just need to get started with everything. 

I hope you all are having a great weekend. 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!!

I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday season. I am really looking forward to 2012. I think it is going to be a great year for our family. 

I started off New Years eve with my little family. Of course the girls went to bed at 7:30 as usual. Josh and I ordered some pizza and watched Dick Clark's Top 40. Josh never makes it until midnight anymore. I had to work on new years eve for several years and I've gotten to spend the last two at home, but Josh was asleep both times. I watched the ball drop at midnight and then went to bed shortly after. I can't believe how quickly time is passing by. It seems like 2011 just started and now it's over. This past year was a tough year for our family. We had a lot of struggles but I like to think that this year is going to be better. The things that make you struggle can only make you stronger right? I sure hope so. Along with the struggles, we still had some great times and made some great memories. 

I don't make resolutions. I can't remember the last time I did. My main goal for every year is to spend as much time with my family as possible and soak up every minute. 

I hope 2012 brings lots of great things to all of you! Happy New Year! 

Play Time

The girls were given so many new toys for Christmas this year. Most of the fun toys are in Ryleigh's room because she has more space in there so we go in there a lot and sit on the floor and play. The girls are really good about sitting together and playing with one thing at a time. Emma tries to show Ryleigh exactly what to do with each one. I love seeing them together because they are so sweet to each other. 

 

Our Christmas

This year we had a pretty good Christmas. It seemed to go by so fast, as it does every year though. We started our celebrating this past Friday. Usually we see Josh's family on Christmas night but this year Josh's brother was not going to be here on Sunday so we changed it to Friday but also had planned to see his parents Christmas night. We spent Friday night at Josh's parents house and we were able to spend time with Sam and Lyndsey and also Josh's grandparents. We had a nice dinner and then let the girls open up their gifts from Sam and Lyndsey and also GiGi and Papa. Ryleigh wasn't really into opening up gifts much this year. Once she had one thing, she didn't realize there was more stuff. Emma was a pro at opening her gifts and some of Ryleigh's too. Emma got a little T-Ball set and a TAG reader book from Sam and Lyndsey. GiGi and Papa also gave her 2 TAG reader books and a puzzle. Ryleigh got a  Peek-A-Shoe Octopus and also a Little People Noahs Ark. These little girls were so spoiled and they were just getting started. 

Sam helped both girls open up the gifts they had gotten them.

On Christmas Eve we went to my mom and dads house for dinner. The past couple of years it has just been us and my mom and dad, but Katie got to come this year. We were so excited to have her there because she has worked Christmas eve night the past several years. While we were there my mom and dad gave Emma one of her gifts so that the girls could play with it. Emma got a Princess Tea Cart. It is the cutest thing ever. My mom sat on the floor and put crackers and water(tea) in it so she and Emma could have a tea party. I didn't get any pictures but I have it all on video. Emma really loves it and has played with it a lot since then. 

Once we got home from mom and dads house it was time to put out cookies and milk for Santa. We put Ryleigh to bed first because if not, Santa didn't stand a chance. Emma was so excited when she went to bed. She is finally at the age where she sort of understands Christmas but I don't think she quite knew what to expect in the morning. I'm sure next year will be even more fun. 

Christmas morning the girls got up and Emma came to see what Santa had left. She got a princess sleeping bag and also a Cinderella dress. She was so excited and she has worn that Cinderella dress most of the time we have been at home now. When Ryleigh came out of her room I tried to direct her to the tree but she went straight to the refrigerator. She is a creature of habit and she HAD to have her milk before doing anything else. After her milk, I brought her over to the tree and she got a Whacky Ball from Santa. She LOVED it. She played it most the time we were opening presents. 

This year Emma got dress up shoes, puzzles, an Innotab, and a princess game for her Innotab. Ryleigh got a Mrs. Potato Head Silly Suitcase, a shape sorter, and a Weeble tree house. We try really hard to stick to the 3 gifts rule every year. The girls did really well this year with opening gifts. Emma was very respectful and waited her turn. She also said thank you for everything she received. It is so important for them to learn to be appreciative and also to know that it really isn't about all the new toys. 

Once we were done at home we headed to my mom and dads house again. We got there really early so we went ahead and started opening more gifts. Josh and I received our gift from my mom and dad a couple of weeks ago. We got an HD Flip video camera. They gave it to us early so that we could record Emma's parade and also Christmas. We love our new camera and it is going to capture so many memories with our girls. Mom and dad gave Ryleigh the cuuuuutest baby stroller and cabbage patch doll. Emma got a princess piano.

Ryleigh loves getting kisses from Papa. She has been in such a lovey mood lately. She is giving TONS of kisses to everyone and will come hug you all day long. When I say "I love you Ryleigh" she climbs up on me and gives me at least 10 kisses. She is in such a sweet stage right now. 

Aunt Katie really spoiled the girls too. She helped Emma open up some dress up clothes that she got her. 

Nana and Papa gave Cheyenne a guitar for Christmas and it was very popular with the girls. Emma LOVED playing it. I see her wanting one in the near future.  :)

We left mom and dads around 11:30 and came home for lunch and to let the girls nap. We had plans to see Josh's parents that night but we found out at lunch that his mom's dog had been having seizure since Christmas eve night and they had to go to the emergency vet. We ended up spending the rest of the day at home and playing with all the new toys. 

We got to see Josh's parents on Monday afternoon to exchange gifts. The girls got some really cool stuff from them also. Emma got an Innotab game, puzzles, some kitchen supplies, a sticker book, and another game. Ryleigh got a ball popper and a Laugh and Learn Picnic Basket. 

I took the Christmas tree and all the decorations down first thing Monday morning. I do that every year because once Christmas is over I am ready to move forward to the coming year. I am so excited about starting 2010 and can't wait to see what is in store for our little family. 

We really had a wonderful Christmas and we are so blessed to have amazing family to spend it with. I hope you all had a great Christmas also. 

Just as a little side note....please don't take this as me listing out every single thing that the girls got for Christmas because that is not my intention. I use this blog to document everything and I like to look back and see what the girls were interested in and what they got for Christmas.