Only a few hours of Christmas day left

Today was such a fun day. Starting at 7:20 the girls both got up ready to open presents. Chadwick and I looked at each other, both excited as well and got the camera rolling. We were both excited to see the girls open their presents and experience Sophie's first Christmas.

I realized a few things today:

1. This is our first and last Christmas with 2 children. Next year there will be 3!

2. Sophie could care less at this age about opening presents. She just wants to crawl all over the empty boxes and mounds of wrapping paper.

3. It is a hard thing to share new toys!

4. My husband bought me a more thoughtful gift than I expected. A thoughtful gift that took over a year of saving and planning for. I am very blessed! (P.s. It's a new green laptop!)

5. Sophie loved her "last minute" stocking gift the best out of all of them- "Mr. Giraffe"

Here is a picture of each girl and their "favorite gift" of the day.

Here is Sophie with Mr. Giraffe. She loved Mr. Giraffe. She carried it around ALL DAY! Seriously, she was crawling and pulling it along by a leg or a tail wherever she went. We would lose it admist all the wrapping paper and she would wind up finding it. She's also doing her tongue roll trick for the camera.
If you were to ask Addie what she wanted for Christmas she would always say "Baby Chou Chou!" Granted, hardly anyone could understand what she was trying to say, mommy and daddy knew what she wanted. This is not technically a "baby chou cou" doll, but I think it's even better. It talks, giggles, says words, drinks from a bottle (even makes the sounds) and cries. Chou Chou came with her own bed, diaper bag (with bottles, paci, clothes, diapers, spoon, food dish) and a pillow and blanket. Addie loves it! She even went to bed w/ Chou Chou tonight and fed her a bottle while she dozed off.

We had a great Christmas and were so thankful for all of our family and friends that we were able to spend it with. Whether on the phone or in person, thanks for taking the time to wish us a "Merry Christmas!"

And now... Merry Christmas to all, and to all a GOOD NIGHT!

Needing a bit of fresh summer air

A few days ago, a friend and I were discussing how were both are so tired of winter already! We grew to hate it even more when we realized that we still have about 3 months of winter to go. The snow, the cold temperatures, the ice sticking to your car, the gray sky and slippery ground makes me want to stay inside. How in the world, we asked each other, are we going to make it for 3 more months?! My friend, Katie, recently posted 10 things she would do to make it through winter successfully and joyfully. I felt the need to respond and create my own list.

I have 11 things :<)

1. Music- I just got 3 great new country albums from my sis- in law! Yes, country- I am trying a new genre! After all, I love country line dancing. :<) hey... that could be added to my list
2. Country Line dance in my kitchen- and teach Addie a few moves!
3. Play more music myself. I can play the piano and should play!
4. Definitely be caught with a good book. Maybe picking a book with a warm season going on would make me feel better.
5. Research and learn more about gardening, that way when spring does come around I will feel prepared!
6. Plan our family vacation for next spring/summer... wait,I will be 8 months pregnant then! Okay make that summer/fall vacation.
7. Speaking of being pregnant... Enjoy life with 2 kiddos! Try to venture out to the mall to let them play.
8. Plan my next decorating attack on our house. Will it be the living room? Bedroom? Kitchen? Or the Brabsons coming over to help us refinish our hardwood floors?
9. Absolutely take more video/pictures of the girls every day.
10. Scrapbook, scrapbook, scrapbook! I need to catch up, and love doing it. It's the perfect inside activity. :<)
11. Learn how to make the perfect cup of hot tea and find my favorite type of tea along the way. Speaking of cute pictures... Here are a few recent ones. Addie and Sophie playing with the nativity.

"Baby Jesus!"Addie loves to point out baby jesus whenever we drive by a nativity scene.

Sophie with a funny face.

Addie eating the icing instead of icing her Christmas cookie