Christmas

Rebecca!

Pajama day and biscuitville on the last day of school!! Daycare is closed from the 22nd to the 2nd- a little crazy with it being so busy for me at work but we've had the neighborhood girls come over to help out and they have been great!

The Wednesday before we got to go to Rebecca's dance class for a holiday showcase. Here comes Suzy snowflake! So cute!!

Fortunately there was an open number near our corner because Laura was going to dance like those big girls. And she was actually pretty good!

That week Matt had been in New York for CPE so I went up to meet him for the weekend and Ms. Joan kept the girls. Thank so you so much Oma!!! We had the best time!

Baby Pickens!! Mary Martha was also in town for a fun weekend so we were able to visit with them for a little bit on Saturday afternoon. We also had super with Erin and Ryan on Friday and Matt's work friend Manny on Saturday.

The rest of the time we just shopped and saw the sites. Here we are in Central Park. It was very pretty and freaking freezing. I think I was wearing every single piece of clothing I bought.

When we got back it was Christmas!! Rebecca made an ornament for us at school and drew a picture of our family on the bag it came in. I really love this picture. Rebecca always makes Matt the tallest and I love it that I am pink and Laura is wearing a hair bow.

We went to Granny Marie's on Christmas Eve for the most delicious breakfast for super!

White Christmas! That night everyone spent the night with us

Christmas morning!! I did have cute pink santa pajamas for the girls but they did not want to wear them at all. I mean, nothing says Merry Christmas like purple cats.

Elsa and Anna! They were too excited to stand still. Rebecca asked Santa for an Elsa doll for herself and an Anna doll for her sister. She was so excited and really surprised when she woke up to find exactly what she asked for. Santa nailed it. My parents got them the most amazing treasure chests full of frozen toys. Minds blow.

Matt and I got the girls sleeping bags and rain boots.

And Oma got them bikes!!

We missed to Fosters but got to Skype a little bit on the big screen.

Last night we went to 6th and Vine for our annual Christmas dinner celebration with friends. So much fun!! We may or may not have ended up at Gatsbys. I not sure why this picture was taken from so far away. #boys #plaid

Sweetie

So many fun things

Laura Lou!

First haircut! She did great! Rebecca went first then Laura was excited to get a turn. She wants to do everything Rebecca does but she is still so little and so cute. I think Rebecca started using perfect grammar as soon as she started talking but Laura does not. She will hide and say, "Where is me? Where is me?"

Rebecca is an old pro (at getting haircuts and cheesing for pictures). She is also so cute. This weekend she said, "Mom. My fingernail polish is coming off. Can you reduce it?"

Friday was the Christmas program at school. It was great! I'm pretty sure we were in and out in 15 minutes.

Stinker

Charlie! After the program Rebecca spent the night with her Oma and we spent the night with the Anders. It was Matt's work Christmas party. We went to the party for a minute then to Liberty Oak for dinner and it was so much fun!

Saturday there was a live nativity at church with real animals!

Sunday we went to Mooresville to visit with the Bentons and meet baby Barnes. He is precious!!

We also went to the Elkin Christmas parade! So many floats and so much candy. Awesome!

Quiet Pint

Christmas Time

Laura! Cray

Thanks to the 2 hour drive home from Roanoke the Sunday after Thanksgiving (as opposed to 8 hours the last year) we were also able to go pick out our Christmas tree and decorate for Christmas!

Grouse Ridge. Thanks Jarrett!!

Beautiful!

The girls had the most fun playing with this silver tinsel. You will never guess where Laura is hiding.

On Monday Matt and I went back to work and the girls got to spend one more morning with Grandma and Pops before they left. Biscuitville! We are so glad they came! It was such a good trip!!

This weekend was good, too! We had breakfast at Stratford Station. I will sometimes ask the girls to pretend to laugh to get a good picture. They usually do really well with it. Matt goes a little overboard.

We made pumpkin bread!

And went to Frozen on ice! It was really fun. It's so nice that Laura is now big enough to sit still and really enjoy the show.

Oma got to come, too! Here we are at Zoey's after the show.

Like mother like daughter

Thankful

Rebecca!

We had the best Thanksgiving! The celebrating began the Saturday before with Granny Marie's 80th surprise birthday party. She said it was the first surprise party she'd ever had and she loved it!

Matt's family came over on Sunday for a Thanksgiving feast from K&W. Matt's mom also made some awesome sides.

Wayne and Betty brought Christmas presents!!

Ira came in from Minneapolis!

He is a punk rocker and true artist but recently did a mainstream music video to make some money. I'm pretty sure we watched it 20 times that weekend. Matt would play it for anyone who came over. Matt also stole Ira's phone and changed the ringtone to this song. IT'S A LONG WAY HOME

It was so great to see everyone! Rebecca was so excited to see her cousins Camden and Alison. As usual I really wish I had gotten more pictures.

Everyone stayed until late Monday and my then my parents came in Tuesday night. Crazy Christina and Sands drove through the night and got here Wednesday.

Later that day we all went up to Blacksburg where Aunt Anne made a treasure hunt for Rebecca, Laura and Jim. So fun!!

Keeping with tradition we played blackjack every night. The house always wins.

We had Italian food on Thanksgiving (which I loved!) and my granny said it was the perfect holiday. It really was.

On Friday we went to Woodstock to visit with my Grandma and Walt and Lloydine. She is doing great! The girls were not shy and loved performing their favorite Frozen songs for her.

Adorable! And so smart. This little cutie can say seven word sentences.

Saturday was the iron bowl!!! We drove to Roanoke and Steve and Ellen had everyone over for the game. Matching bowling shirts. I'm sure the team appreciated it.

Blessings