Gingerbread Men!

As you know, i'm obviously catching up on blogging :)  Back before Christmas we had the opportunity to decorate cookies with our very bestest friends the Pietzolds!  It was a learning experience for all and I think some un-licked candies MIGHT have gotten on the cookies...but no guarantees :)

 At this point the men had to go into the oven and the kiddos had to go to bed to anxiously await the real part they were excited about: eating, I mean DECORATING with candy!

Finally the cookies were cooked and ready to be decocted! Well, kinda...first Mommies had to do a very important part, this part proved to be VERY hard to be patient through!

FINALLY it was their turn!

They each got a bowl of candy and a sheet of cookies..as you can see...we had mixed opinions about what one should do with said candy :)

But they did each take their decorating VERY seriously :)

And the eating very seriously as well! 

So much fun! Love this little family and what good friends they are, not only for our kids but also for us :)

Last day of Preschool (before Christmas Break)

Our little preschool has been such a blast these last few months. Its been amazing to watch our little critters grow so much in their ability to follow directions and enjoy structure.  Just last night I came home from a meeting and Ann had been watching Katey and shared with me that they had played "preschool" for a chunk of the time and that Katey was a great little teacher. Even making her sit on her "spot" (aka a place mat) and calling her "honey".  I love it!  She LOVES preschool and can't wait to go every tuesday.  Here are just a few snap shots of our last day before christmas break, we decided to do a craft day and make wrapping paper :)

Such a fun little group! Just for fun here is a pic of them in September when we started :)

Love these Kiddos!

Christmas Dresses

Just thought I'd share some pictures of the beautiful Christmas dresses that Grammy & Grandpa picked out for the girls :)

"Who me? I'm not doing anything with these presents!"

I didn't get any incredibly beautiful and happy pics of the two of them together because right after this endearing sisterly hug Katey got a little two into it and anna fell off the chair onto the ground biting her lip and I was scrambling to keep the blood off of the beautiful Christmas dress.  My intention was always to try another session...but alas even though I am a photographer MY children do not always comply :)  

Dixie Thanksgiving 2011

This year ALL of us were able to go up to my parents cabin for Christmas!  Its the first time all four grandbabies have been there together and although it was tight quarters we had a blast :)

We had an early rendezvous before Dixie as Ben & Kelsey, Joe and I, David and Nana & Pappy all met just outside of Elk City for quick hugs and leg stretches then back in the car for the last stretch until the cabin.

Right away Pappy had his girls in his arms :)

And Nana took the older ones on a quick adventure to look at the river :)

 When we got to the cabin there were plenty of fun & fascinating things to do.

The next morning, the snow was perfect so we were out to play!

Joe & Ben engineered a pretty sweet sledding hill!

 

 
 Then it was inside for warm up time :)

 

Reading Time...

Cuddle Time...

Some Snacks :)

And lots of silly fun :)

 

We did get outside quickly to get a few family photos done :)

It was a great weekend but it had to end eventually and Ben & Kelsey were the first to have to return to the real world :)

 

We still had one more day and made the most of it :)

Katey got to ride on the snow mobile with Pappy,

And feed the birds on the porch with Nana

Anna was more into eating the bread than sharing it with the birds :)

Another great holiday full of great memories!