Christmas Cookies

Last week we got together with friends and decorated sugar cookies. The girls had a great time, rolling out the dough, cutting the cookies, and then "painting" the cookies with dyed egg whites. I don't know if the cookies were really worthy of sharing with others, as the girls have not quite learned the etiquette of cooking, meaning, a lot of "tasting" was done during the whole process!! That being said, we all had a great time.

It is not uncommon for Hailey and Madi to be dressed alike,

but when we arrived at Molly's, Madeline matched the girls too!

What a crew, hard at work...

Oh Madison...

Hailey loves to bake!!

"Painting" the cookies.

Not only did Madi eat most of her cookies as she made them,

she also licked the egg whites... oh, Madison!!

Christmas Town at Busch Gardens

A few weeks ago we went up to Busch Gardens and went to Christmas Town. We went last year, and hope to make it a yearly tradition as long as we are living here. We had a great time watching the shows, having dinner with Santa, riding the rides and even got to see a few snowflakes!!

Hailey patiently waiting for the Sesame Street show to start.

Madi's famous "cheeeeese"

The Sesame Street Christmas gang.

I found a hole in a tree and got caught trying to entertain the kiddos!!

Riding the train.

The Gang!!

These are some of our closest friends here.

Thanks to Shannon and Molly, I stay fairly sane.

We are so lucky to have met such wonderful people.

On the left is The Floyd Family and on the right is The Emerson Family.

(Of note, there are six adults and seven kids ranging in age from Hailey who is almost 3 to Emelyne who was about six weeks old, needless to say, we had quite the group!!)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

From: Hailey, Madison and Santa

Happy Halloween!!

And finally... Halloween night!! No, you are not seeing wrong, and no, we did not drink too much witch's brew... yes, the girls decided to switch Halloween identities!! Again, I am biased, but Hailey was an adorable little black kitty and Madi a cute little witch!!

The trick-or-treating clan!!

Madi, Hailey, Daylan, and Matthew

Trick-or-treat!!

Pumpkin Carving

Carving pumpkins with Daddy was a lot of fun!! Daddy did a great job cleaning out the pumpkins and getting them ready to carve!!

Daddy and his helpers!!

The girls with their kid friendly "carved" pumpkin.

Hailey can even pull off the hand on her hip sitting down!!

(We are in trouble!!)

Me and my sweet girls!!

The lighted pumpkins!!

I carved the pumpkin face

and Dave did a fantastic job on the skeleton!!

Trunk or Treat

After the fall festival, the girls came home took naps, and then headed out to go trunk-or-treating!! (They trick-or-treated at the decorated trunks from MOMS club.)

A little spunk was added to Madi's "spitfire-ness"

when she woke up from her nap!!

Enjoying a treat!!

Hailey too!!

Addy, Madi and Hailey

In front of our combined decorated trunk!!

Happy Halloween!!

Preschool Fall Festival

So the Halloween fun begins!! On Thursday, Hailey had her Fall Festival at preschool, filled with sixteen 2 1/2 year olds dressed in costume, and slightly afraid of their teachers, who were also in costume, and looking a little "un-teacher" like!! Needless to say with a little help from quite a few of the moms, we had a successful day filled with a parade, petting zoo, carnival fun, crafts and lunch. Wow, just typing that makes me slightly exhausted!! A special thanks goes out to all you teachers out there, your patience is a gift!! Being a little biased, Hailey made a pretty cute witch, and Madi too, was a cute little black kitty!!

Ready to head out the door!!

Madi was showing off a little of her "spitfire-ness"

not only refusing to look at the camera,

but on a terror that day.

Thank goodness Dave was home and was able to spend a morning

of daddy/daughter time with her!!

Hailey and a few of her classmates.

I think that this is all of them!

(With an added Dad as a bonus)

Actually, only half is Hailey's class, and the other eight

are in the Mon/Wed class.

Petting the little goat at the petting farm.

Hailey loved these baby chicks!!

Weekend in Pennsylvania

A couple of weekends ago we drove up to Pennsylvania to spend the weekend with Dave and the Donahue side of the family. We had a great time. The girls did great in the car, I was a little worried that the nearly 7 hour drive would be a bit much for them, but they were troopers, and did wonderful. Dave's cousin Karen and her family opened up their house to us. I was great to have some time to catch up with them, and Hailey and Madison were in heaven; Karen and Justin have three girls, Jessica, Sarah and Madalyn. Their were many new toys and lots of princesses to keep them entertained. Dave's Uncle Dave and Aunt Julie had a get together on Saturday. It was great to see everyone, it had been WAY TOO LONG since we had seen them. Grammy and Pop-Pop also flew out for the weekend and got to spend some time with us too. Here are a few pictures to enjoy. Dave had not seen the girls for a few weeks, and ALL of the pictures were of Hailey and Madison, but he did get some cute ones!

This picture just captures Madi's sweetness!!

Hailey playing with the hoops.

Daddy and his girls.

"Is this my belly button??"

Hailey found the dirt...

Close-up.

The cake and frosting tasted a little bit better than the dirt!

Hailey's First Day of Preschool... Part II

It is so hard for me to believe that Hailey is already starting preschool, granted, it is just a program for 2 1/2 year olds, but still, it is preschool!! Those of you that know Hailey, know that this was going to be much easier on her than me. In fact my Mom said to me, "it will be just like the day that you started Kindergarten." My Mom took the day off, because everyone said it was such a big deal, and then when she dropped me off, there were no tears, no hanging on her leg, no long good-byes, simply a "bye Mom" and I was off. Well my Mom was right, but at least she got a "bye Mom" from me...

Very rarely do I get a picture of the two of them!!

I love this one!!

Daddy even came home.

At least she took a picture with me!

Just a little excited!

Checking out her classroom.

Into the classroom...

and she was off!!

I poked my head around the door to say "bye Hailey!"

Her teacher replied "Bye Mom!"

Needless to say, she had a great first day and cannot wait to go back!

I thought that this poem that I found by Dan Valentine was amazing, as I had a few of these feelings as Hailey headed off for her first day. Enjoy, you might need some tissues, I know I did!!

I Trust You'll Treat Her Well

World, I bequeath to you today one little girl in a crispy dress, with two brown eyes and a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a batch of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I Trust You'll Treat Her Well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning and skipping off down the street to her first day at school.

And never again will she be completely mine...

Prim and proud, she'll wave a young and independent hand this morning, and say goodbye and walk with little-lady steps to the nearby schoolhouse...

Now, she will learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called...

She will learn to tune her little girl ears for the sound of school bells, and for deadlines...

She will learn to giggle and gossip... and to look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy across the aisle sticks out his tongue.

And she'll find her new heroes. For five full years I've been her sage and Santa Claus...her pal and playmate...her parent and friend. Now, alas, she'll learn to share her worship and adoration with her teachers (which is only right).

No longer will her parents be the smartest, and greatest in the world. Today, when the first school bell rings, she'll learn how it is to be a member of the group...with all its privileges, and, of course, its disadvantages, too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies don't laugh out loud...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or watch ants scurry across the cracks in a summer sidewalk...

Today, she'll begin to learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. That "the group" can be a demanding mistress... and I'll stand on the porch and watch her start out on the long, long, journey to becoming a woman.

So WORLD, I BEQUEATH TO YOU TODAY ONE LITTLE GIRL in a crispy dress, with two brown eyes, a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a batch of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

I TRUST YOU'LL TREAT HER WELL.