Merry Christmas

Santa came and left lots of gifts but more importantly we have lots of fun memories of this Christmas.

 Christmas eve was spent making cookies and getting ready for Santa. Although the girls are not old enough to really help in the kitchen, they did enjoy decorating them.

 We had some friends over for our Christmas eve celebration. Nana made some good food and directed the girls in some festive games.

Christmas morning was everything I had been hoping for. I wanted  to buy them a new Barbie Jeep for a while now. Well Santa delivered, and when they walked into the living room they were so excited. They opened half of their gifts then returned to the jeep to unwrap the rest.

We spent the day in our pjs playing with toys and enjoying every minute. I love the fact that my mom and sister have been able to visit with us the past two years. Sharing it all with them makes it that much more enjoyable.
I'm not sad its over, honestly I'm ready for things to go back to normal. At the same time I already started thinking of next year :)

Merry Christmas

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year

The window is open and I am loving every minute of it........
I realize there is a window of time regarding the "magic of Christmas" Both girls are now old enough to understand why we celebrate but not old enough to start questioning everything. Sean and I have spent many holidays together and the times before we had the girls were special in a different way, but we always though of how exciting it was going to be once we had children to share everything with. I have to admit Graces first Christmas was not all that exciting for her. Maybe it was because she was  only two months old.
Now we are enjoying all the small things, like decorating. Sean gave Grace a Santa and told her she could use it to decorate her room. She ran down the hallway with it so happy and said "oh my, Santa is going to love this"
I have memories of me and my sisters getting in trouble for rushing and trying to put the most ornaments the tree. Grace and Jordan were so sweet, they took time and was looking at each one and had to pick the perfect spot before placing it. Last year Sean let Grace place the angel on the tree so this year was Jordan's turn and after explaining that to Grace she was happy to let her little sister have her turn. We are counting down the days, Chip the elf on the shelf is here watching over them and every morning they are excited to see where he has landed. Grace is singing Christmas songs non stop and saying things like oh mommy I'm so excited its Christmas.
Every day they seem to be closer, we went to the annual festival of lights and they were walking around holding hands.They just make everything so much more enjoyable for us.

Bad bad blogger

Not doing such a good job here keeping up on our blog. Our girls are keeping up busy these days and life is only getting better.

Grace is 4!!!! We celebrated at Monkey Joe's this year, ever since that place opened she wanted to have her birthday there. She had a blast with her friends and classmates.
She went to bed Oct 11 and I swear she woke up a big girl. She has grown up in so many ways, her speech, attitude, everything seems more mature it makes me proud and sad at the same time.

My baby is 2.....wow how did that happen????? Even harder to believe because she is just so tiny. Took her for her checkup and she is a whole 24lbs (fully clothed). She is a little lady who knows what she wants we celebrated at Chuck E Cheese and she just had to have a Sponge Bob cake. Not sure where the obsession with Sponge Bob came from but there was no talking her out of it.

Our summer review

Its been a fun and busy summer, so busy that Mommy didn't find the time to blog so I am going to try and highlight some of the fun things that happened this summer.
The girls and I took a trip back to PA to visit and help my sister who was expecting baby David. The girls had so much fun with their cousins and I was amazed how well they adjusted. Grace was in heaven it was like a 3 week sleep over party.

 I was worried about how Jordan would adjust, she is very shy when it comes to people she doesn't know or see often. She is very attached to mommy and daddy but she felt comfortable right away. Uncle Brian and Aunt Tammy won her over quickly :)

 So baby David arrived and it was time to go home. As much as we enjoyed being with family there was someone who was missing. Daddy had to stay in SC to work so it was a long 3 weeks without him.
Since being home it seems the girls are so much closer. Not sure if they picked up on the way Jenna and Kylie interact because they are close. Or the fact that Graces bff Savannah moved? She would ask everyday for the first week or so being home to play with Savannah. Being a military family my girls will make friends just as fast as they lose them but they will always have each other.

 Grace is a little girl with a huge personality, that girl cracks me up. !!!!!

 We decided to put Grace in school this year, she could not wait to start. Its only her first week but she seems to be growing already. Gosh when did she grow up? I drop her off and we are not allowed in the class room we have to leave them at the door. While some kids are left crying and screaming for their mommy, Grace walks in with confidence ready to go. At 3yrs she makes me so proud, but at the same time selfish Mommy cant help thinking it might be nice to see her want mommy.

Well summers not over yet, although labor day is this weekend the weather stays nice so hopefully we can squeeze some more in.

Family

Our summer plans have changed a little, just us girls are going back to Pa next week. Seems my sister Tammy is having move problems with baby #4. I don't get to be home for a lot of family stuff and I missed out when she had her first 2 children because I worked and lived in Ca. We are closer now and being a SAHM gives me the flexibility to go and be with her and help as much as I can. The only thing is....I'm gonna miss Sean and I know the girls are going to miss their daddy. I'm already starting to feel anxious about it all, not to mention a 12 hour train ride alone with 2 kids. It will be OK, we are just a few hours away.

Its Summer

Summer has arrived here in SC and we have been busy going to the beach and hanging out at the pool. Nana visited for a few days and although it was a short visit, we enjoyed every minute. The girls love Nana and her suit case full of goodies. I'm sure the 50 plastic bracelets and 20 beaded necklaces that I am picking up everyday is some kind of payback :0) but the girls enjoy them so its OK.

Nana got to hangout with some of our friends here, that meant a lot to me. Being a military family we are constantly moving often not near any family. I am really lucky now that we have a group of friends we can rely on like our own family.
Its hot here...every day....all day... so we decided to buy a pass to our base pool. Its has a great little kiddie area and seems my girls are natural fishes. Jordan likes to lay back and pretend to sleep. Most kids I see are scared to put their heads under. Sometimes I really wish my girls has an ounce of fear, but they keep me on my toes.
I know I all over the place with this blog stuff but its ok :)
Here are some things the kids said that I wanted to jot down. Of course I thought it all was hilarious.
Me: why aren't you picking up your toys?
Grace: I am...ABRACADABRA as she waves her play magic wand

Sean: Jordan you need to listen and be good
Jordan: No , laughing
Sean: yes Jordan I'm the boss
Jordan: NO IM THE BOSS
then to continue to go back and forth as to who is the boss, clearly she is the boss LOL

weekends with Daddy

Daddy decided to take off Friday to get some things done around the house. We didn't make it to 10am before he declared it was too nice to be home working and wanted to do something fun. So off to Cypress Gardens we went.

We had a blast Grace especially liked the butterfly house and the resident duck that just wonders around. The highlight of the trip was the boat ride. Daddy paddled us around in the boat while Mommy held two very curious kiddies sweating and praying no one gets brave. It was  definitely one of those city meets country moments, but all and all we had fun.

The rest of the weekend was busy as well. Saturday is Rolly Pollie classes for both girls then we had a last minute cook out with good friends. Sunday church and for the first time in a while we all took a nap thanks to Daddy getting the girls settled. Let me be honest, nothing is better then watching the man you love being a real DADDY <3 Jordan has become very much a daddy's girl these days and I love it. Maybe I notice it more because Sean was gone that entire year Grace was small. Either way he is the best daddy we could have asked for.

Never will I take for granted the time Daddy is home

thinking

I have been thinking of trying to write a blog for a while now, if for nothing more then a place to return to and reflect on these years that are passing so quickly. We have a few people close to us who are expecting and Grace has been fascinated with growing babies. She is always asking about when she was in mommy's tummy and wanted to see pictures. Looking back at the day I became a mother still brings tears to my eyes. I wanted to be a mommy as long as I can remember and the second time was not any less precious. My girls are truly gifts to me and everyday I feel that. I constantly tell them I love them and now I can put into words here how much joy and love they bring to me.

Me and Grace

Me and Jordan