The Fighter's

To Grammy's house we go!!  We had to go check out Grammy's Christmas decorations so off we went for a quick trip!  Here are some pics of the girls goofing around in the van on the way down!!

Doug spoiled us and bought front row seats to Disney on Ice! Olivia stayed home with a favorite sitter...and Ava, Kate, Doug & I drove downtown for a date night! Pizza then Disney on Ice. Girls loved it.

As a little girl, I remember my mom and I getting all dolled up to go to the Nutcracker during December.  I always felt like such a princess.  Such a special memory for me with my mom. Now...I get to bring my little girls to the Nutcracker.  They couldn't have been more excited!  Every day they asked..."do we get to go today??"  And finally...the day came.  We dressed them up in their fanciest Christmas dresses, I curled/sprayed their hair, they got to wear a little bit of lip gloss and one of my necklaces...and we were all set to go...to the Nutcracker with Grandma!  They absolutely LOVED it!  Kate was in awe at first...but they loved the music, ballerinas, the snacks (of course)!  But...I think i loved it even more...Ava wanted to hold my hand through the whole performance...and Kate sat on my lap.  I just love that sort of time with my girls.  They still are talking about it (I'm writing this post 1/7!)...Doug DVR'd a Nutc...

I think I may be crazy.  I'm not sure what it was that made me think I could do the following things all in the same day: 1.  Take all 3 girls to the doctor, by myself, for their flu shots.  It was mayhem.  Ava pretty much beat up the whole doctors office (and me & Olivia), and we left the nurses/docs with a symphony of loud crying girls.  I did win - they all had the shot...but it was just awful.  I had a long talk with Ava so hopefully this won't happen again, but whew!  Never, ever, ever, ever again.  Doug can take them next time (one at a time!).  It may take me a few days to recover from this public display!  2. Santa.  As if #1 wasn't enough for the day...we ventured off to the mall after naps to make a few returns and somehow got roped into the Santa line.  The girls and I waited in line for an hour.  Thankfully...they behaved...there was a little elf village and reindeer that kept them entertaine...

Winter is coming!  We love the white stuff around here, the coziness of a fire and snuggling up with family.  Bring the season on!!  Doug's first fire in the fireplace here at RP.  First big snow of the season!  Love it!  SOOO pretty:-)  And the girls had a ball playing in it!  Here is my view out my kitchen window...doesn't get much better! Kate catching snowflakes on her tongue...she loves to eat snow!                                                               Our winter wonderland!

It is Friday and I'm thankful today... For the snow covered outside I found when I woke up this morning!  I love snow - the sparkle, the sound of it crunching under feet and tires, watching the kids play in it (and I still like playing in it too)!  For the 5AM two day a week aerobics class I drag myself out of bed for - I get to spend 50 minutes Tuesdays and Fridays on me. Sweating my toosh off with one of my best friends, my Mom...and other fun ladies.  It is always a great jump start to my day! For the cup of coffee I'm getting to drink in silence (pre kids waking up) by the Christmas tree.  Quiet time with coffee is super! For our church and the fantastic moms I have met there.  We have Friday morning playgroups where kids play and mom's drink coffee, eat, chat and encourage each other.  I truly believe other moms help keep me sane!  For the anticipation of the weekend...when Doug isn't working and we can just...

The past few weeks Olivia has been fighting an ear infection AND teething (poor kid!)...making her tired, clingy, sad, whiny and attached at my hip.  But...with the help of antibiotics and some TLC she seems to be back to the happy smiley Olivia we know!  Getting into everything (especially Christmas trees these days), playing with her sisters and finally..not hanging on her mom (YAY...I finally have my hip back!).  I worked today and when I came downstairs for coffee, Olivia had this little outfit on (see below).  Kate apparently had picked the whole outfit out for her little sis and was very proud of herself.  I had to snap a few pics and when I said..."Lou Lou...lets take a pic" she walked over to the fireplace, plopped herself down, and gave me a wide toothy grin.  She must know this is the usual picture spot...signs her mother may have a picture obsession. She is getting so big!  Starting to say more words..."bye-bye, maamma (Grandma...

Doug and I got to kick off December in Columbus with work parties, sans kids!  Love hubby weekends!  Friday night we checked into the hotel downtown, snazzied up a bit and walked down to his work Christmas party where we ate tapas and drank wine.  It was so much fun...I just love the people he works with.  They are so much fun, easy to talk to, all around great people!  Lots of stories from the night...including a mustache shaving, tackling and shoe throwing.  I leave it at that:-)  It was fun!! Saturday we slept in, picked up lunch and went to visit our great friends the Wendorfs who just added another little girl to their bunch!  One of the MOST adorable babies I've ever seen!  They are some of our very favorite peeps (Katelyn's Godparents:-)) and I wished we could pack them in our car and bring them North to live near us!  Saturday night we went to my work Christmas party for dinner.  It was fun and neat to be a part of....

I am telling you what...September through December are my favorite months out of the year. But...December takes the cake! All the JOY!  Christmas music, get togethers with family and friends, the tree, the gleam of lights, ornaments that bring back fun memories, snow, Christmas cookies (my new favorite - caramel popcorn...made some last night with the girls...yum!), gift giving, snuggling with my girls to watch Christmas specials on TV, kids program at church...the list of favorites is endless for me when it comes to Christmas. I love it! And for some reason this year...maybe because I'm not in the process of moving, pregnant or walking around like a zombie 2 months post giving birth....I am on Christmas speed. I can't help it! We got back from our Thanksgiving trip and there is no denying it. Doug will just have to live with it. I think the girls are taking notes from their mother because they're right there with me...I'm having so much fun with Christmas preparatio...