December Rewind

Wow! It has really been a crazy, busy month filled with parties, Santa, music and dance programs, food, family, friends, fun and two online classes for mommy!  Through all of the craziness we have counted our many blessings and enjoyed our time as a family!

On December 13th I was able to take the day off and attend Olivia's Christmas party at school.  Johnny went to Mema's so I got to focus all my attention on Sweet O that day! I've played the part of teacher at MANY classroom parties, but this was my first time being mommy at a school party and it was so fun!  The party was filled with games, treats and crafts!  Here are a few of my favorite pictures of my little preschooler and her buddies!

Next came Santa and cookie making at Mema and Papa's.  This is always one of our favorites of the season.  Olivia was so excited to sit on Santa's lap and tell him all about the Dream Light and Leap Pad games she was wishing for.  Our little man was way more cautious this year.  He had no idea who this guy with a beard was, and didn't want to go anywhere near him without daddy!

Such fun times with family!  I will be back soon to blog about the dance recital, cookie party with friends and all of our Christmas day fun!

He's Back!!

Our elf, Hank is back! Olivia is over the moon!  When we woke up this morning Hank was here!  He brought breakfast and his book that we'd been missing!  We read it together and ate a yummy Christmas donut for breakfast before daddy left for work.  Olivia called Mema and Grammie to tell them our elf was back!  She was so cute all morning as she turned to Hank and whispered "I've really missed you!"  It was such a fun morning!

 We love this book!  Such a cute story!

 Hank left us a note!! Olivia was so excited to read it!

I think Johnny LOVED the donut!! Yummy!

Pumpkin Fun!

Our little fam hit up the pumpkin patch a few weeks back.  Olivia was so excited to go pick a pumpkin and eat a pumpkin cookie! We headed to Carolyn's for a fun day! The kids loved feeding the animals, going down the slide, dancing on stage and posing for a few great pics.  We had so much fun!!

Cheese!

 I love pumpkins!!

 Lately, she is loving the camera!!

 We love you, daddy!! 

 I'm such a big boy!! 

 Carolyn's had a stage with music playing and Miss Olivia LOVED it!  She walked right up to the front  and started doing her boogie woogie piggy dance from DSOD!!

 I LOVE to dance!!

 Johnny loved it too!

 I love pumpkin cookies!!

 Daddy, this is the one I want!!

 How about this one??

 I got it!

Cheese! What a fun day we had!!

Family Pictures

For Lori's birthday we had family pictures taken! It was a beautiful day and we got many great shots. It was hard to get a 1,2,3 and 4 year old to freeze, look and smile at the same time!  As you can see, some of the best pictures of the day were not perfectly posed! Here are a few of my absolute favorites! I can't wait to hang them all over my house!

My favorite picture from the family photo shoot!  LOVE!!

It's official!  We have a preschooler at our house!   Olivia started preschool yesterday at Good Shepherd.  Michael , Johnny and I got to take our sweet girl on her first day! We met her teachers, Ms Tonya and Ms. Vickie, and got to see her classroom.  We could not have picked two sweeter teachers!  We know she will be in really good hands!  

When Michael picked up Olivia, Ms Tonya said she did great!! Olivia was excited to share all about her day!  She played play dough, went to the dress up center, made a new friend named Owen, and learned the word October! I think she has a great school year ahead!

We are so thankful to Mema and Auntie Em for their help getting Olivia to school and taking care of her before and after school on days that daddy and momma are working! We are blessed to have great family!

Cheese!  

I am so excited mommy and daddy! Can we go now?!!

I feel like she was just a baby! How is she already for school?? Stop growing up pretty girl!!

Poor Johnny was not a happy boy!  I think he knew his big sis was leaving him for a few hours!

There goes a little piece of my heart. Saying many prayers God will take care of her when we aren't there!

Cheese!

Waiting patiently to meet my teacher!

I love school!!

Big smile with Ms. Tonya and Ms. Vickie!

I am such a teacher! I had to take a picture of her special spot in the circle!

Checking in!

My classroom is so fun!!

Such a fun classroom!!

I had to sneak one last picture before we left.  Good-bye my big girl!  May you enjoy school and make many new friends!! We love you and know you are going to do great!!

My Little Gymnast!

Have I mentioned that I ADORE summer time??!! We are just having so much fun!  Olivia started gymnastics this summer and absolutely LOVES it!! She is taking at Mercury and doing great.  We go once a week on Tuesday mornings.  Olivia adores her teacher Miss Christine.  She is great with the kiddos and Olivia loves that she gets a little homework and a popsicle at the end of each class.  She enjoys playing on the rings, balance beam and trampoline!  I love that she has to listen, follow directions, and wait her turn. Olivia has had a cheering crowd at several of the classes!!  Thank you Mema, Rylie, Emery, Grammie, Daddy and Johnny for coming to watch our little gymnast in action!!

Olivia Turns 3!!

Our sweet girl turned three (over a month ago)!  We had her birthday party at the park in our neighborhood on Memorial Day.  Friends and family joined us as we celebrated Miss O!  The weather was sunny and beautiful and the kiddos enjoyed playing on the swings, slides and monkey bars.  Olivia is really into Hello Kitty these days so this momma threw together a little themed party.  Olivia partied with her besties and had a blast!! Michael grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and we finished with cupcakes and ice cream.  It was definitely  a day filled with fun!!  Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the day.  Sorry dad and Rod...I didn't have a single picture of you two!