Ho Ho Ho? No No No!!!

Today we made our 2nd annual trip downtown to the Festival of Trees with Grandma Carol.  We took Brynn last year for her first meeting with Santa but she was much more "observant" this year of being placed in some strange hairy man's lap!  Molly, however, was perfectly content! 

(Notice the progression of Brynn's facial expressions...from uncertainty to "get me outta here!")

Hoping that this outing with Grandma and the girls becomes a tradition.  Although they can't quite appreciate all of the beautifully decorated trees yet, a picture with Santa and Mommy is good enough for now...even if we're not all smiling!!

Country Livin'

On Saturday we spent the day at Kevin's grandparent's farm.  It was the most GORGEOUS November day (felt more like late September) and we were lucky to spend it outside at the farm. 

Kevin was able to spend some time helping add to Grandpa's wood pile...

Brynn spent all of her time exploring the farm and riding and feeding the horses hay (one piece at a time!)...

and Molly even got some fresh air snuggled in her Bjorn! 

Can't forget Ben...I think he's the one who slept the best after our trip to the farm because he got to run free all day with his favorite 4-legged cousin, Jake!

We all enjoyed Grandma's good cooking and getting that always appreciated feeling of relaxation.  It's amazing how great it feels to get out of town (even if it's only 40 minutes away) and spend the day outside with family and no time constraints or worries.  Too bad life can't slow down more often to allow us more of these days! 

Twas the Night Before Black Friday...

And all through the house....the floor was covered with store ads!  Brynn sat and picked each ad up, took a quick look, and moved on to the next one.  I took a few to her room as we got ready for bed because she didn't seem to want to be done looking.  Although we read a story, like usual, she kept reaching for the ads before I tucked her in.  Wonder what deals she'll be dreaming about......:)

Thanksgiving #2..... A Little Reflecting

We celebrated Thanksgiving today at Grandma & Grandpa Addington's.  We shared the day with grandparents, great-grandparents, siblings, cousins, and great aunt and uncles...how lucky we are.
The kids loved playing together and fighting over Grandma & Grandpa's attention.  The adults loved the great food, conversation, relaxing with full bellies as the kids continued to play! 

Cameron and Brynn sharing Grandma's lap for a story!

Grandma & Grandpa with the girls!

Why is it that when we look so forward to special days like celebrating holidays with family, that they have to fly by so fast?  Maybe it is just a reminder that I need to slow down and enjoy every day the same way that I do these days with family.  Too often we look to what is coming down the road instead of slowing down and just focusing on the moment...today.  I have so many reasons to be thankful and make everyday worth looking forward to and celebrating!

 

Thanksgiving #1

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Grandma & Grandpa Landherr's over the weekend.  The cousins got to spend the day playing and wore each other out, we ate lots of great food, and we sprawled out and relaxed...all things we are thankful for everytime we're with our family!

Madi, Brynn, and Uncle Bill playing outside.

 Madi holding Molly...looks like she had too much turkey!

Brynn coloring with Great Uncle Mark!

Another day reminding me of how lucky we are...surrounded by family and great memories.

Picture Day at the Farm

On Sunday we spent a few hours at the farm trying to get a few family pictures taken by Uncle Matt.  It was a fun day of playing with cousins, having lunch together, and then enjoying the beautiful fall weather.  Of course, the sun decided to come out right when we decided to start the pictures, interfering with our lighting.  We knew we couldn't complain though, as the sun felt great & helped the kids from getting cold!  Although we're still deciding on pictures for our Christmas card, we did get a few cute shots of Brynn enjoying the freedom of being out in the country (Molly was inside where it was a little bit warmer!).

A great day with family!

Tuesday...

"Mommy, what's our password?"

Grandpa Gary stopped by for some quick stories....we love his visits!

Madi came over for a little playtime...the girls & Ben wished they could go outside and play!

Starring.... BEN!!!

Ever since Molly has joined the family, Ben has landed on the burner...the one behind the back burner!!!  Everyday he tries his best to somehow get some much needed attention from anyone who will give it to him and does so in anyway he can.  Friends and family who come over for visits know all too well that they will be greeted by a dog who jumps, leaps, barks, and wags...making it very clear that he'll do anything to convince them to take him for a walk and out of this crazy household!   

I think the other day Ben decided that if he spends more time in the same room as the girls, plays with their toys, and uses their things then maybe he'll start getting treated like the baby he once was! 
 Ben's thought..."Molly never seems to have trouble with her playmat getting stuck on her when she gets up..?!"

Ben's thought..."If Brynn's going to leave her blanket on MY floor, then it's mine!"

Ben's thought..."If she spills her milk, I'm going to make a mess of it too!"

Ben's thought..."I can't wait for my sisters to be big enough to take me for walks instead of taking up all of the attention around here!" 

Playtime With Friends and Family

The girls were treated to lots of playtime this week...

Monday afternoon our friend and neighbor, Anna, came over to hang out with the girls while I got a few things done.  She and Molly even rocked while Brynn and I ran to the store!  The girls love Anna and her sisters.  She'll definitely be one of our top babysitters before too long!!

Then, on Tuesday, Gavin and his mommy and daddy came over for supper and playtime.  We're glad they've moved to Rochester and look forward to more kid and adult playdates! 

On Thursday the girls and I ventured over to Kenyon (Mommy's first roadtrip alone!!!) to play and have lunch with Aunt Leah, Aunt Kecia and the kiddos.  It was a fun afternoon for the moms and the kids and makes us look forward to the kids growing up together!

Cameron and Brynn playing the piano...until it "disappeared" thanks to Leah!

The playroom!  Emmy's enjoying the plastic donut!

Miss Harper

Cameron giving Molly some love! 

What a fun week!  I feel so lucky that my girls are growing up surrounded by such fun and loving people!!!

Daddy's Money

Brynn discovered Daddy's wallet, and like any good girl would, she went digging!  She made a mess of all of his credit cards, receipts, etc........

but.......it was a success!!!

Happy Birthday Grandma Cindy!

Yesterday was Grandma Cindy's birthday...a great day!  We spent the day with family and got some great pictures too!  Molly, Mommy, Grandma Carol and Cindy, and Aunt Steph went to Molly's first craft show in the morning...she's becoming quite the shopper, and a very cooperative one so far!!  She got her first "accessory" at the show and posed for some great pictures to show it off!

 Later on we celebrated Grandma's birthday with pizza, dessert, and playtime for the cousins. 

Happy Birthday Grandma!!

Fun With Tori on Friday!

On Friday Brynn, Molly and I got to spend the day with our cousin, Tori!  She didn't have school so she came to hang out for the day.  The girls love her so much and Brynn loves to play with her!  When Brynn wasn't keeping her busy, Tori was very helpful and held Molly for me so I could get a few things done...I even got to take a shower before noon!!!!!!!
Thanks for the fun day Tori!!!

Breakfast of Champions

To start off the busy day on a good note, Brynn had a breakfast of champions (thought I better post a picture of a healthy breakfast compared to the cookie picture last week!)....she wouldn't eat a banana broken off into pieces, so I figured we'd try it "big girl" style...and she ate the whloe thing!

After breakfast we decided it was time to dig the playmat out of storage for Miss Molly to try...she loved the blinking lights and music....but not as much as she loved Brynn trying to lay with her!

Later, we worked on writing the grocery list ...

...did a lot of smiling and cooing

...and went to the mall with Grandma Carol for a little outing.  We let Brynn get out of the stroller at Barnes & Noble and she absolutely loved pulling books off of the shelves and looking at them...she even picked out a few Christmas gifts!  Then, as we walked back through the mall to the car, Brynn was quite the socialite smiling at everyone.  She even wandered into the Coach store and tried to add herself to their window display...she will quickly learn that we buy purses at Target, not Coach!!! Thanks for the fun Grandma!

What a lucky mommy I am...another great day.

Wordless Wednesday

Two New Discoveries & Many More Smiles!

Another great Monday with the girls.  Hard to believe another week is here...I really hope they start to slow down a little!  It's amazing at how each day flies by, even if we are just hanging out and playing at home in our pajamas. 
As little Miss Molly sat content in her swing, bouncy seat, or Mommy's lap today smiling and cooing like crazy, Brynnie was off making new discoveries, like usual. 

After getting Molly situated after eating, I walked into the kitchen to find Brynn peaking at me through the window from the porch.  She thought she was pretty sneaky and cute.

 

I went around the corner and caught her in the act trying to reach for anything she could get her hands on!

I finally had to do a little furniture rearranging so she couldn't reach the window from the couch!  What a stinker! 

Her second discovery of the day is one that makes her brother, Ben, a very happy dog.  I've been trying to give Brynn her meals on plates in her high chair lately hoping she'll make less of a mess (ha!) and understand that "big girls" eat with plates & utensils.  But...she instead she discovered that if she lifts the plate up and tips it a little, everything that she doesn't want to eat slides into a neat little pile on the floor...perfect for Ben!  I guess the high chair tray is good enough for now!

Cousins and More Cousins

Tonight we got to spend time at Cameron and Emmy's house...Brynn & Molly's cousins.  Not only did they get to play, but their second cousins, Lexie and Sammy (who are here visiting from Dallas) got to hang out and play also...it was the first time the kids got to meet- how fun!!!  As you can see from the pictures, it didn't take long for the cousins to warm up to each other!  Great Aunt Judy spent time with us tonight too.  We are looking forward to spending more time with them at the party tomorrow night before they have to go back to Texas! 

Brynn giving Sammy a hug!

Brynn and Lexie!

Brynn and her cousin Cameron were having fun playing with each other!

Molly got some great cuddle time with Great Aunt Judy!

What a great night!