Baking with Oma

It is not Christmas without making cookies with Oma.  My mother loves to be in the kitchen - why didn't I get that from her?????  My Great Grandmother made the most adorable christmas tree out of cookies for us when we were younger.  I still remember them.  This year, my mother was making it with Caitlin.  

 This was a big project.  I am not quite sure if Caitlin was more of a help or distraction.  Oma needed to get a certain number of stars cut out and Caitlin was not very concerned with keeping the cookie cutters in the right piles...  She loved playing with the beautiful stars!!!!  Sorry Oma.......

 Blake decided to come try a few.

 Caitlin was praying to keep the star standing up at the top of the tree.  She also said the sweetest prayer at dinner about being thankful that it was FINALLY Christmas Eve...

 The finished project - two proud girls!!!

 Caught in the act of eating sprinkles...

 This is one of my favorite Christmas PRESENTS!!!!!!

Christmas Eve

I think that I enjoy Christmas Eve even more than Christmas morning!!!!  I love watching my kids give each other the presents that they picked out, wrapped and have kept hidden for days.  They are so sweet to each other and are so excited about the gifts...  I love this little tradition!

Elf Elyse came back on Christmas Eve morning with a nice list.  Thank goodness they were all on it!!!!!

 Caitlin was inspecting the necklace that was taped to the top of her package from Madison

 We put their names on paper and pulled it from a hat to see who would pass out their gifts first.

 The hugs are so cute!!!!

 Blake loved his new Wii game from Caitlin ---  he picked her right up off the ground!

 Barbie from Princess Charm School...  Both their faces are so cute

 Army set from Madison

 Caitlin put the reindeer food outside...

Gingerbread House FUN!!!

My girls love being in the kitchen - they DON'T get that from me!!!!!  They look forward to making gingerbread houses every year.  It is so much easier to make now that I can buy the pre-baked pieces.  Brett and Madison made one together.

 Their house was very ACCURATE!!!  Those two perfectionists worked very hard:)

 Madison had it all planned out...

Caitlin and I made the other one.  Ours was very creative!!!!!

 Yummy frosting!!!!

Week Before Christmas

The kids had the whole week off before Christmas...  What should we do????  I was hoping to be at the ski hill several times, but the weather wasn't cooperating.  I can't believe that there is no snow in K-zoo!

We met up with neighborhood friends on Monday and went to Bounceland.  Tuesday morning; the kids, Izzy and I were off to the WARNER house.  We spent two nights there. The kids love playing together.  Of course Madison and Oma made some cookies.  On Thursday, we dropped Madison off at Grandma's for a little bit of "SPECIAL TIME".  They would be bringing her back to our house with them on Christmas eve.

Madison and Drake - these two cousins are only 5 days apart...

We went to Pirate Island on Friday with other friends.  It was the first time that Caitlin was tall enough to go on the water slides.  She was so cute...  She did the slides almost the whole time.  I actually visited with my friend while keeping an eye on the kids.  I didn't even have to get into a bathing suit!!!!!

Oma and Opa came down on Friday evening to spend a few days at our house.  The rest of the company would be arriving tomorrow...  It is so nice to be able to spend time with family over the holidays!!!  I love all the great food as well :)

These pictures were taken the morning of their holiday parties at school.  The girls loved their light up necklaces.  I spent the morning at school with the kids.

Otsego Swim Meet

Our third swim meet was against Otsego.  They were the champions last year.  We knew that it would be hard to come out with a victory...  We lost only by a bit.  Our kids were awesome.

I was a little worried about how the kids would react if they got beat.  I think Madison is pretty used to coming in first and second.  We talked on the drive there about just beating your OWN time and being a good sport!

I just love their new swim caps.  They look so professional now.

Madison is in the green goggles on the far left getting ready to backstroke

 This is her blasting off - she is a rocket off the wall!!!

 Go Madison...

 Blake improved so much with his diving.  He looks so cute on the starting block waiting for his turn in the relay...

 WAY TO GO BLAKE----  First place in the 50yard Freestyle!!!!

Ladies' Library

Madison and I went to a meeting at the Ladies' Library with her Brownie troop.  I never knew about this very historical building right in downtown K-zoo.  It was very interesting to hear the story about the history of the building and organization.  Of course the girls loved the treats the little ladies made for us. We also toured the building and then the girls sang Christmas carols.  Madison's social calendar is killing me.  She is one busy little girl...  I am looking forward to two weeks of no school or activities!

Our NEW Addition

 Meet ELFIE our Elf.  For those of you that haven't read the book, "Elf on the Shelf", you are missing out!  Elfie flies to the North Pole every night to report to Santa whether our three kids are naughty or nice.  He then returns before anyone is up the next morning in a different spot.  The kids have to try to find him every morning.  Elfie watches them all day...   Elfie has been in very crazy places.

One night Elf Elyse came.  She left a note telling the kids that Elfie was too busy helping Santa, so she came instead.  The girls loved having a girl elf.  She had a beautiful white skirt!!