Our first painting experience....

I know, I know... you all can't believe that I haven't let Makenzie play with finger paints yet. It's not so much that I didn't want her too, I just didn't want to have to deal with the mess either.:) But, the other day we did it together. At first all she wanted to do was paint with the Popsicle stick, no way with the fingers. That is where I jumped in and found my inner toddler. When she saw me playing with the paint, she jumped in. After that, she was sold and it's all she wants to do now. I love seeing her find such pure joy in little things.

G.G....

We went out to visit GG (we are calling her that because Great Grandma Givens was just too much for a two year old to say:)) I am sad that we haven't been out there more, it was so great to see her. She is the only Grandparent that Drew has or I am close to on my side, so the only Great Grandparent that Makenzie will ever know. We are so glad her have her as a part of our lives. She is a great blessing and we love her to pieces.
Everything else in our lives are pretty great. I think I just got over the 48 hour flu. How do people do that with kids and NO help? It would have really been awful if Drew wasn't able to help out as much as he did. I just hope his job thinks so too! I can't wait for this dang inversion to lift, it really drains our spirits. I just need some sun!! Love to you all!

Her new Tu-Tu

So this is the cutest thing ever. My dear friend Callie made this for Makenzie, and she LOVES IT!! She always asks to put it on so she can dance, and wouldn't dare dance without it! I can't wait to put her in ballet! So I might be pushing the dance thing on her a bit, but I swear the day she says she doesn't like it, that will stop:)

No nuts????

This was so funny, more funny than the video portrays - but she was trying to say Donut and keep saying "No Nuts". Drew and I were laughing really hard. Enjoy:)

No way.....

My little girl was on her way to a sleepover and wanted to pack her backpack that she got for Christmas with some toys to bring. Drew helped her and came walking around the corner and when I saw her my heart just burst. It burst out of love for her, and it ached so much looking at her realizing how old she is getting. She isn't my baby anymore and it kills me that I am already 2 years into her life and only have 16 more left of her in my arms. What a mom's heart goes through for each child, one would never guess.

I cry the day I take the tree down:(.....

Do you hear Michael McClean singing in your head? I hear that song every time the dreaded day comes I have to take all my Christmas stuff down. It really makes my heart sad. I love being a part of the world around that time of year, when everyone seems less quick to anger, and more eager to help or share a smile. I guess it starts with me to carry that feeling on. It helped to have Drew and Makenzie there that morning.:)

This little video is SO cute. This really made the whole day so bright and wonderful. Makenzie is so full of optimism it is contagious. We love having her bright spirit around.

How we brought in the New Year....

We were lucky enough to have our neice and nephew (Austin and Andra) and Grandma over for a sleepover . All us girls painted each others nails and toes which was so fun. Makenzie loved it! While we did that, they boys went upstairs to play the Wii.

Grandma even got in a hair cut that night:)

Later on when the "older" fold watched Eagle Eye, the girls crawled in our bed and watched Tinkerbell. It was so cute.

Makenzie couldn't wait for the sleeping bags to come out. She wouldn't hear of her sleeping in her bed while Andra was on the floor! So we pulled her sleeping bag down and they both slept together:)

Christmas morning at our house.....

Our little girl was so tired, we actually had to wake HER up at almost 9:30! I wasn't too upset because I know those days are GONE! I viewed it as my Christmas blessing;). She was a little confused at first why Santa wasn't STILL there, but we worked around that. Other than that, I'm not sure she really got the whole concept, but we had fun!

How HANDSOME is this man I get to call mine??!

Of course the $3.99 Care Bear bouncy ball was the BEST gift of them all!:)

The Little People Castle was a close runner up though:)

Pajama Party!!!

This year my mom (Grandma) hosted a PJ party at her house. She got jammies for all the kiddo's and we got to hang out and be together. Kimberly made some yummy soup with soup bowls and we ate that all up and laughed and played that night. All the adults wore there jammies too which was a lot of fun! Thanks Grandma!

Dude...HOW FUNNY IS THIS PICTURE OF TALMADGE???:)

Oh man these kids were wasted, but I wanted a pic of what the jammies said. So cute!

Oh Christmas.......

What an amazing time of year. There is so much that could be said, that everyone reading this with family or anyone to love at this time of year already knows. Sometimes I just can't believe I have all these amazing people surrounding me and love my family and I so much. I am so lucky to have everyone (except my brothers and their families that I miss SO much) so close to me. Makenzie will be very blessed to grow up with so much love around her.

This year Drew and I were lucky enough to have Christmas dinner at our house! We never have had the chance to host anything really, since we haven't lived here. We had everyone over for dinner and we played games (yeah for the Wii) and watched movies. It was so much fun!